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Disputed Questions
Are Pre-Emptive Strikes Morally Permissible?

Are Pre-Emptive Strikes Morally Permissible?

Some claim not, but both the law and ethics of self-defense say they can be.

Robert J. Hutchinson's avatar
Robert J. Hutchinson
Jun 18, 2025
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Disputed Questions
Disputed Questions
Are Pre-Emptive Strikes Morally Permissible?
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The tweet bugged me. A prominent Catholic magazine editor claimed that, “If you are Catholic, you can’t morally justify ‘preemptive’ strikes,” presumably due to current international law.

He was referring, of course, to Israel’s then-recent attack on Iranian nuclear research facilities and researchers.

It stopped me.

My first reaction was, Huh? So I …

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