Article 51 of the Charter of the UN
<<a href=http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/bt-un51.htm
>Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations authorizes self-defense for a country (the use of force).
But this means the country had to be attacked (otherwise no self defense).
(This article is being debated in universities, at law schools in the public international law lesson.
Pre-emptive war is not an act of self-defense.
In 1981, Israel pre-emptively attacked Iraq , and guess what...President Reagan along with the rest of the world condemmed the attack.
Raoul