McCain Refuses To Reject Bush Doctrine Of Preventive War: I Can’t Make A ‘Blanket Statement’
McCain Refuses To Reject Bush Doctrine Of Preventive War: I Can’t Make A ‘Blanket Statement’
Yesterday in a town-hall style meeting, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) left the door open to launching preventive wars against other countries, similar to the U.S. invasion of Iraq:
Q: My question is, if you are elected president, will you reject the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war?
McCAIN: I don’t think you could make a blanket statement about pre-emptive war, because obviously, it depends on the threat that the United States of America faces.
If someone is about to launch a weapon that would devastate America, or have the capability to do so, obviously, you would have to act immediately in defense of this nation’s national security interests.
Listen here:
The Bush administration and its conservative allies have often used the terms “pre-emptive” and “preventive” war interchangeably, confusing the American public. But as Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) noted on the Senate floor in 2002, the Bush doctrine of preventive war has dangerous consequences for U.S. security:
Traditionally, “pre-emptive” action refers to times when states react to an imminent threat of attack. For example, when Egyptian and Syrian forces mobilized on Israel’s borders in 1967, the threat was obvious and immediate, and Israel felt justified in pre-emptively attacking those forces. The global community is generally tolerant of such actions, since no nation should have to suffer a certain first strike before it has the legitimacy to respond.
By contrast, “preventive” military action refers to strikes that target a country before it has developed a capability that could someday become threatening. Preventive attacks have generally been condemned. For example, the 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor was regarded as a preventive strike by Japan, because the Japanese were seeking to block a planned military buildup by the United States in the Pacific.
The war in Iraq was a preventive war. There was no imminent danger. In his response yesterday, McCain responds to a question about “pre-emptive” war, but clearly leaves the door open to the Bush doctrine of “preventive” war. He stated that he would consider attacking countries who even have the “capability” to launch a dangerous weapon — whether or not there is an imminent threat.
In January, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said, “There’s going to be other wars.” After yesterday’s comments, it looks those wars may be preventive wars — like Iraq.
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He refuses to make blanket statements. Yet he does insist that Iran is Evil and Israel is Good.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:36 pmI commented about this on a previous thread earlier today.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:37 pmjust for the record- for the Japanese, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a preventative war too. Just thought you’d like to know.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:39 pmYeah, preventive war. Iran springs immediately to mind.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pmWW I was “the War to end all wars.” Bush’s wars on Afghanistan and Iraq are stupid wars, and since Bush, who started them is stupid, they will go as long as he remains in power. Stupid wars are forever with Republicans like Bush or McCain holed up in the White House.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pmMcCain said “there will be other wars” yes, because as president, he will start them.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pmpre-emptive war = terrorism
April 10th, 2008 at 12:46 pmAmericans, watch the demise of your Democracy in the hands of totalitarian warmongers.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:47 pmYou could, Johnny Boy, for the sake of humanity, PUT a blanket over your head for the next, say year or so.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI wonder if the Nez Perce might have a leftover smallpox infected one.
Can you imagine if this guy becomes president ahead of Obama? Anyone else fancy moving to Finland with me?
April 10th, 2008 at 12:49 pmLittle Johnny McNumbNuts . . . another Bob Dole in the making.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pmMcCain wont have to worry about invading another country if he’s President. The Middle East found their two pigeons years ago and have already cooked them. Yes pigeon one George W., pigeon two Dick Cheney. No invasion or attack is necessary. With the US in a recession and weak Military any country can walk in without firing a shot. The Middle East knew how each pigeon worked and saw their weakness. George W. is a coward, drunk, druggie and looking to prove himself a man to his Daddy. Dick wanted power and greed. Mission accomplished as the two idiots feel right in the trap. McCain can’t remember who he is half the time. He thinks this is the 1950’s. He will just hand over the keys if asked. Now the Chinese are smart to buy up shares of businesses and property in the US while it’s for sale. Osama Bin Laden was right when he said the US would never have to be attacked again as the US would destroy itself and we have.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pmEvil Spaniard; I think you’re right. I now know what the average German probably felt like living under the Hitler regime.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pmThrowing the first punch is chic.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pmJust ask Florida teens~
Man, that was brutal. Nothingtoxic.com has most of the video with sound….chicks are brutal. At least most guys will fight with some sort of dignity.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pmMcCain and other Republicans tend to use the word “pre-emptive” the way that Muslim extremists use the word “jihad” — that is, misusing it to suit their agenda.
The sad thing is that even if a threat is “obvious and immediate” (Ted Kennedy’s requirements to justify the term “pre-emptive”), many Americans won’t believe it when we’re told that by our leaders, since we have been lied to so often — unless they see for themselves troops and tanks lined up at our borders.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:01 pmWTH is he doing in that picture? His Mr. Roboto impression, or did someone leave a vibrator in his a$$ and it just turned itself on?
April 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pmMore than 1500 years ago St. Augustine enumerated the qualifications for just war as Cicero had done before him. Apparently, St. John da Bomb hasn’t had time to read this.
According to the Bush Doctrine, a nuclear strike by Pakistan against India is justified. Ain’t that peachy.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pmIf someone is about to launch a weapon that would devastate America, or have the capability to do so, obviously, you would have to act immediately in defense of this nation’s national security interests.
Based on the bolded part of the above statement, he feels the right to pre-emptively strike Israel, Pakistan, India, Russia…and any other country that has nuclear capacity.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:06 pmI support pre-emptive assassinations of repugs
April 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pmHe couldn’t say that without ruining his plans to declare war on Iran and kill a bunch of their civilian population with sloppy bombing campaigns.
What fun would that be, to have to own up to campign statements while in the middle of commander-in-chiefing another bloody atrocity??
April 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pm.
Preventive war = WAR of AGGRESSION
The ridiculousness of the thinking that goes into defining “preventive” war, it’s like defining “preventive” arson by torching your own home/business… It’s still war stupid, just because you started it does not justify the consequences.
.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Based on the bolded part of the above statement, he feels the right to pre-emptively strike Israel, Pakistan, India, Russia…and any other country that has nuclear capacity.
Thats only if they have resources that are exploitable by Corporate Interests. That has been the major factor in the majority of our military conflicts since the mid 1800s.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pmMcCain can and does make “blanket statements”. Of course, they may very well contradict an earlier or a later statement. In this case, his “blanket statement” is along the lines of “it’s my military and I’ll bomb whom I want to”.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pmunder the preventative war doctrine, Iran would be well within their rights to bomb McCain before he bombs them.
I don’t think I’ll be attending any McCain rallies anytime soon- I don’t want to be “collateral damage”.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pmMcCain already has five stars ready to pin on his shoulders, if (s)elected President.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
I see many people, when I walk down the street, that may attack me or have the capability to do so, obviously, you would have to act immediately in defense and so I should shoot them first… YES?
Then what the hell is murder?
.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pmHonestly, this man is in a cloud. He doesn’t have a clue what he would do because he hasn’t been informed yet by his handlers as to what he can get away with….just like bush.
This man would be a further disaster dropped on the US. His insights and visions are all choreographed by the same neo-cons that have done so much damage to our country.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pmTo quote the big red head ED SHULTZ John McCain is a “WARMONGER”, for anyone to vote for this guy means 4more years of BUSHCO and 4more years of tax cuts for the rich while we get dumped on by old man McLame.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:23 pmMe thinks what we are seeing is the result of Johnie Boy having racked up too many Frequent Stayer points in the Hanoi Hilton.
I respect his service but detest his BushCo politics!
April 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm“McCain Refuses To Reject Bush Doctrine Of Preventive War: I Can’t Make A ‘Blanket Statement’”
… but I can take ‘Blanket Funding’ from lobbyists *hint hint*
April 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pmNo one here supports killing or assasinations or torture, that has always been the pervue of the conservative extremists.
Ironic to hear you, a member of the party of hatred and death to say something like this.
flagged
April 10th, 2008 at 1:40 pmdanishpigkartoon Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I just might have to send that comment to the FBI! good move you peace loving pro’s!
_____
“Hello, is this the FBI? Yes, I’d like to file a report. I posted a death threat against American politicians on ThinkProgress under the name octamethyl, and they didn’t take it down. You need to arrest them!”
“What’s that? No, no - you need to arrest THEM! They’re the criminals who didn’t delete my death threats. Hello?”
April 10th, 2008 at 1:40 pmMcPander Bear leaves the “blanket statements” to the lobbyists he’s in bed with.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:43 pmhussein toasterhead
That is pretty slimy if that is what is going on…..
Only a winger would stoop that low….but they like it down there. Expectations are low.
Nice catch toaterhead.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:46 pmFred Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Only a winger would stoop that low….but they like it down there. Expectations are low.
Nice catch toaterhead.
_____
They do it all the time. Luckily, TP Watch Watch is on the case:
http://tpwatchwatch.wordpress.com/ 2008/ 04/ 09/ tp-watch-fakeposts-quotes-their-own-fakeposter/
April 10th, 2008 at 1:52 pmIf Jim went and shot, or beat the hell out of, Bob, on Bob’s property, then tried to defend himself by saying he thought Bob was going to do something to harm Jim’s family or property, Jim would still go straight to jail.
Righty policies never pass muster when subjected to the “real life” test.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:53 pmMaybe sometime next year Congress can introduce legislation that requires anyone registering as Republican be spayed or neutered. Kind of a pre-emptive solution to our nations biggest threat!
April 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pmAgain, we’re getting into Minority Report territory with the thought crimes. If they might possibly be thinking about having a potential capability? I’d like to know whatever happened to Mutally Assured Destruction? The Soviets had nuclear weapons, and they were restrained by the fact that if they sent a nuke our way, we’d have the ability to send a lot more back at them. This preventive bullshit is just another code word for saying ‘Let’s put MORE money in the hands of the military.’
April 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pmCaption contest,
“Damn George, your tongue is cold!”
April 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pm“We need to respond to dangerous regimes”. “Knowledge is dangerous”.
G.W. Bush
April 10th, 2008 at 2:04 pmYes, I knew that I always went to bed at night frightened of those little rubber rafts working their way across the Atlantic from Iraq to attack the United States with WMD. You know, France does not agree with all of our policies either. They have WMD - let’s attack. Hey, how about Germany, we went to war with them twice - nuke them. The British - they said they owned us at one time - more nukes. Russia - definitely need to nuke them.
Yes, really sounds like the McCain wants to retain the advantage of bullies - an excuse to attack those who oppose us but really do not have sufficient power or advantage to do anything militarily about it. This just gives us the excuse to beat them up. The earth would be a burnt out cinder had this philosophy been used with Russia or China during the Cold War which kept both sides in check because of the actual threat of MADD.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Man, that was brutal. Nothingtoxic.com has most of the video with sound….chicks are brutal. At least most guys will fight with some sort of dignity.
As you know, the video of that brutal attack never should have been posted anywhere on the web. It’s a further compounding of the victim’s suffering and an improper use of technology. But the video’s forwarding should have been limited to one party — the police department.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pmMcCain is a crusty, old shit-heap, who now represents the exact same, rotten, lie-riddled, greedy, power-hungry, American war-mongerer(s) that got his ass stuck in a P.O.W. camp in Vietnam! Personally, I’d like to hear MORE from ALL of the candidates. We can all agree that the U.S. needs better health-care, and we need to pull our military (that includes the mercenaries you and I are paying for) out of the countries we’ve invaded without warrant, but … how about a pre-emptive strike against stupidity/ignorance by better funding our schools? How about educating everybody, about everything, for that matter, instead of abusing, bankrupting, and locking them up? How about not using our food supply to make fuel, that still costs the same as f***ing oil, and increases the debilitating damage already being done to the environment? How about using diplomacy instead of making enemies? How about not crippling our economy (The Phantom) with greed, and war? McCain is just one more self-serving crony in a very long line, dating back a very long time. People in this country, WITH JOBS, can’t afford to f***ing eat because they have to spend all the money they make on gas to get back-and-forth to the f***ing job that can no longer afford them the “luxury” of food! Desperation is already affecting many areas of the world. When milk hits $7 a gallon, we’re going to start seeing it here, too. We, the people, need to take back our voice, and we need to take back our country. After all, it belongs to us, and we should be calling the shots.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pmThere you go… one more War Crminal with intentions for the WH… nothing changes in America!
April 10th, 2008 at 2:37 pmA pre-emptive war is a war of agression. An International crime!
April 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pmAleister Q. Nixon
That is precisely it! Speacially the US’s foringner policies. They are dated like MacCocaine’s and they are inperialistic. No one like to be exploited. No one likes to leave their land and their families to try life elsewhere… No one likes to have military generals, supported and promoted by the US as their presidents… no one like to be invaded and occupied by a foringner country who is killing their relatives and stealing their resources… and yes, I agree with you! More education and health care to all!
April 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pmCaption: “My blankie! You found it!”
April 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pmAdolf Hitler was a fan of preemption, as well, not to mention false flag events.
Bush and McCain serve the most extreme socialists on the planet today: Neo Cons.
-
http://www.light-to-dark.com/a_retrospective.html
April 10th, 2008 at 3:05 pmFor clarity, I do not condone assassinations, torture, or violence in any way. It was an attempt to be ironic, a jab at repug mentality. My apologies.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pmPre-emptive war is nothing more, and nothing less, than a tyrranical act of terrorism.
Bush doctrine of “preventive” war against nations with oil that can’t defend themselves very well.
Now with this sort of stupidity are they going to attack China because in the future they would be a threat or how about Russia, oh forgot, those countries have armies and missiles also.
How about India, they could be a threat of some sort to some one in the distant future, maybe South Africa, maybe the Aussies will turn into a bunch of crazies and be a threat. This sort of thinking is idiotic, it just justifies their bloodlust.
Repukian ChristoFascist Brownshirting Jackbooted Neanderthal Warmongers are the lowest form of subhuman scum on the face of the Earth.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pmHi. Are you aware a black man is the frontrunner for the Democrat nomination in the current presidential campaign ?
April 11th, 2008 at 6:10 amKilo says @ 6:10 am
Are you aware a black man is frontrunner for the Democratic nomination?
______________________________________________________________
So?
BLACK POWER!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:06 amSo I’m pretty sure whatever “black power” encompasses, resurrection isn’t covered.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pmHence is might be a good idea to advocate every other idea imaginable other than the assassination of politicians based on their party alignment.
In the US.
During a presidential election campaign.
When your guy is black.
When Ron Paul’s campaign has already shown how many cashed-up white supremacists are taking an interest.