§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their view of the United States doctrine against potential aggressors as set out in The National Security Strategy of the United States of America document, published in September 2002; and whether they support it. [HL6038]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:The Government support the right to take necessary and proportionate military action in self-defence, not only where an attack has occurred but also pre-emptively where an attack is imminent. Her Majesty's Government support the view that this right under international law applies as much to imminent threats from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction as to the more conventional threats of the past.
53WAPre-emptive action is not just a matter of use of force. It is already at the heart of international strategy against terrorism, including police/intelligence work, cutting of financial flows, diplomatic action to address potential conflict situations, and a range of other tools. Military action is a last resort.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with Dr Henry Kissinger's view that "It cannot be in the American national interest or the world's interest to develop principles that grant every nation an unfettered right of pre-emption against its own definition of threats to its security" (The Spectator, 28 September). [HL6039]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:United States security policy is a matter for the United States Government.
The British Government support the right to take necessary and proportionate military action in self-defence, not only where an attack has occurred but also pre-emptively where an attack is imminent.
Pre-emptive action is not just a matter of use of force. It is already at the heart of international strategy against terrorism, including police/intelligence work, cutting of financial flows, diplomatic action to address potential conflict situations, and a range of other tools. Military act ion is a last resort.