Does A Defense Of Preemptive Strikes Open A Global Pandoras Box?
By Jeremy Bransten Australian Prime Minister John Howard has raised a storm of criticism in Asia, in the wake of his assertion that Australia has the right to take preemptive military action abroad if it believes it is threatened by an imminent terrorist attack. Howard went one step further than the United States in laying out his national-security doctrine, saying Canberra favors amending the United Nations Charter to clearly reflect the right of countries to “anticipatory self-defense.” Does Howard’s proposal open a Pandora’s box undermining the foundation of modern international relations, or does it reflect new realities and merit serious consideration? Prague, 3 December 2002 (RFE/RL) — Australian Prime Minister John Howard earned support from the United States for his claim that Australia has the right to launch preemptive strikes against terrorist groups harbored in foreign countries, should it feel under threat of attack. Howard first spoke on the issue on 1 December. He has r
