The Preemptive-Strike Debate

President Bush’s standoff with Iraq has prompted debate over whether preemptive strikes are a justifiable U.S. military option. What do you think?


“Those Iraqis have had it coming for a long time, suffering under the oppressive rule of a maniacal tyrant like that.”

Jon Gordimer • Delivery Driver

“Who’s going to stop us, I ask you? The rest of the world? Excuse me while I laugh.”

Eileen Stavros • Librarian

“If we don’t take decisive action now, we run the risk of countless Iraqis continuing to live.”

Rachel Eckert • English Teacher

“Preemptive strikes are a dicey proposition. How about a test strike on Spain, to see how that goes?”

Craig Utrecht • Cashier

“What other choice do we have? We’ve already exhausted every possible effort to find bin Laden.”

George Banks • Systems Analyst

“Hey, if you’ve got a fucking problem with it, you can talk to my fucking fist. I’ll be in the Senate chambers.”

Stephen Edwards • Legislator