War Crimes: When great power invade small countries
In collaboration with the School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, the Foley Institute welcomed Professor Emeritus of International Relations at Duke University Dr. Ole R. Holsti April 13th to discuss War Crimes: When Great Powers Invade Small Countries. Focusing on the invasion of Iraq by the United States, Dr. Holsti asked whether or not such an event would be considered a war crime in the same way the Nazi invasion of Poland was deemed as such.
Explaining the historical relationship, the U.S. had with the Iraqi government, Dr. Holsti cited George H.W. Bush and National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft’s determination that “Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guidelines about not changing objectives midstream… and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs.” Just four years later, George W. Bush would argue for military action, stating, “We can’t wait until a threat materializes.” Holsti added that such a statement “essentially argued the Cold War defense policy was no longer sufficient” and that action was justified “using the words ‘preemptive action’ instead of ‘preventative action.’”
With such militarized preemptive measures, Dr. Holsti insisted two questions must be asked of these actions: “How good is the information on the threat?” and “Is this ability [of preemptive action] limited to the United States?” In regards to the first question posed, Holsti cited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating that the “tool of preemptive war must be used carefully” but that former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was one advisor in particular who had asserted the existence of weapons of mass destruction. For the latter question, Holsti quoted Henry Kissinger’s assertion that “It cannot be either in American interst or the world’s interest to develop principles that grant every nation an unfettered right of preemption against its own definition of threats to its security.” The riveting points made by Dr. Holsti opened to floor for reflection on past American foreign policy and the route it has taken today.
Cosponsored with the WSU School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Contributor: Shantara Pintak