[mburbank]

I believe India is indeed 'onto something', which is precisely the problem. Their claim to 'pre-emption' is far more valid then ours, the attack on their parliament being the case in point since establishing a link between that act of terrorism and at very least genial tolerance by the government of Pakistan is far more likely than establishing ties between say Al-quaeda and Iraq.

The right to pre-emption we hve now established can in now way be morally reserved for us, and to insist it is our right alone (which surely for reasons of national security we can't) undermines what little credability we have. This is the crux of why I believe pre-emption is a pandora's box 5that nver should have been opened.