Dealing with Fear: Implementing the Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Attack

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dealing with Fear: Implementing the Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Attack

AU - Dockrill, Saki

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Bush Administration enunciated the doctrine of preemption, and implemented it by attacking Saddam Hussein's Iraq. This article examines the dilemmas posed by the strategy of preemption and discusses how the Iraq war has so far failed to meet the test of legitimacy. It argues that the Iraq experience has weakened U.S. power, set back liberal internationalism, and placed the United States and its allies on the defensive in dealing with terrorists who espouse radical Islam, and with the volatile politics of the Middle East.

AB - In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Bush Administration enunciated the doctrine of preemption, and implemented it by attacking Saddam Hussein's Iraq. This article examines the dilemmas posed by the strategy of preemption and discusses how the Iraq war has so far failed to meet the test of legitimacy. It argues that the Iraq experience has weakened U.S. power, set back liberal internationalism, and placed the United States and its allies on the defensive in dealing with terrorists who espouse radical Islam, and with the volatile politics of the Middle East.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.2006.00017.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.2006.00017.x

M3 - Article

VL - 34

SP - 344

EP - 373

JO - Journal of Politics and Policy

JF - Journal of Politics and Policy

IS - 2

ER -