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About this quote

What does it mean?
Preemptive strikes against enemies are justified to prevent attacks.
In plain terms
Strike first if you think an enemy is about to attack you.
What can you take from it?
Preemption can prevent larger conflicts.

Where it applies

  • international conflict
  • intelligence reports
  • national security planning

Putting it to work

  • policy decision
  • strategic planning
  • risk assessment

Questions to consider

  • When is preemption justified?
  • What are the risks of striking first?

Another view

It risks escalation and misinterpretation of enemy intent.

More from Curtis LeMay

  1. Killing Japanese didn't bother me very much at that time... I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal.... Every soldier thinks…

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  2. We're at war with Japan. We were attacked by Japan. Do you want to kill Japanese, or would you rather have Americans killed?

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  3. My solution to the problem would be to tell [the North Vietnamese Communists] frankly that they've got to draw in their horns and stop their aggression or we'r…

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