4 Chi J Intl L 1
Thomas Graham, Jr.

In September 2002, the Bush Administration promulgated a new revision of the National Security Strategy of the United States, which includes the option of preemptive attack or preventive war. This Article discusses whether the implementation of this doctrine of preemptive attack or preventive war is consistent with international law. The Article sets out a methodology for examining military action asserted to be in self-defense under international law, and applies this methodology to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Article concludes that the United States’ action in Iraq is inconsistent with international law based on this methodology.