If we learned anything from 9/11 it’s that doing nothing while tyrants and terrorists plot to kill Americans is not a viable policy.
But that was U.S. policy for more than 25 years. So before we decide that pre-emption has been a failure, let’s acknowledge this: It is because the alternative failed that President Bush came to the conclusion that sometimes it is necessary to use force before attacks occur. It is not enough to attempt to punish our enemies after the blood and rubble has been cleaned from our streets.
I have an op-ed in USA Today this morning.