Preemption vs. Prevention

In foreign policy and international law, there is a difference. The American people were not told th difference before the invasion of Iraq. In fact, the invasion was called a war of preemption. However, a war of preemption is "an attempt to repel or defeat a perceived inevitable offensive or invasion, or to gain a strategic advantage in an impending (allegedly unavoidable) war before that threat materializes." This is allowed under international law. However, a war of prevention is defined as "initiated under the belief that future conflict is inevitable, though not imminent." In other words, a country is not currently a threat but someday, it could become a threat, and so, war must be waged to prevent this possibility. This is not allowed under international law. It is also known as a war of aggression.

The Bush Administration, of course, changed the meaning of "preemptive war" to "preventative war" to invade Iraq. This is the Bush Doctrine, and as long as it is in effect, America will be looked at as an aggressor nation.