Preemptive Execution

Recently, I used the term 'preemptive execution' in a posting on this blog (during an expression of rage at Muslim extremists...and Christian extremists, and religious extremists of all stripes). I've been thinking more and more about it. I think there are some interesting parallels between that term and the term 'preemptive attack.'

George Bush justified his invasion of Iraq with his doctrine of 'preemptive attack.' His argument was this:

• We know with certainty Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (Cheney claimed to know exactly where they were).
• We know Iraq wants to use them against us (because they told us, I guess).
• We have tried peaceful means to convince Iraq to give up their weapons, but they claim they do not have them (Saddam was acting the way one expects a self-important dictator to act...trying to exert his control).
• Other countries should join us in taking military action against Iraq, but they are allowing Iraq to deceive them, so we have to look only to ourselves to make the decision (if the U.S. says jump, it expects the frogs to ask how high).
• The only way we can prevent ourselves from being attacked in by attacking Iraq first (naturally).

Forget, for now, that his arguments were laced with lies and logical leaps that only a meglamaniacal nutcase could make. Let's use his same arguments, but on a more personal level.

We should be able to justify preemptive executions in the same way:

• We believe we have evidence that a specific person has weapons that can be used to murder someone.
• We believe with every fiber of our being that this person wants to use those weapons to kill us.
• We have tried to reason with this person to change his mind and give us his weapons, but he claims he does not own any weapons.
• We have asked others to join us in eliminating the danger this person poses, but they refuse (saying we are crazy), so it is up to us to act alone.
• The only way we can keep this person from killing us is to execute him first.

The "we" in the second scenario could be anyone...a police officer, a judge, a mayor, an ordinary citizen. Our own president has given us the leadership we needed to be able to argue the case for preemptive execution, using his own inassailable reasoning. Thanks, George!

Using this new, Presidentially-Approved logic, we should be able to clean up our streets in no time! All the law-abiding citizens will welcome us into their homes and their lives with welcome arms! I can just imagine the parades, the flowers being tossed our way, the singing, the wine...

You know, actually, I've always felt that George has planned to take me out...he has the means, he has the motive...he won't respond to my calls for his resignation...Republicans won't join my call for his impeachment...and so...