Intention
The intention with a preemptive strike is to gain the advantage of initiative and to harm the enemy at a moment of minimal protection, for instance while vulnerable during transport or mobilization; however the concept of preemptive war can be used to start a war by claiming that the nation would soon be under attack and therefore had to defend itself. The concept is controversial because it can be abused and used as a justification to start a war on questionable grounds.
While the labeling of an attack (on strategic and tactical levels) seldom is controversial, it is much more so in regard to the initiation of a war.
Read more about this topic: Preemptive War
Famous quotes containing the word intention:
“Parenthood is not an object of appetite or even desire. It is an object of will. There is no appetite for parenthood; there is only a purpose or intention of parenthood.”
—R.G. (Robin George)
“My intention is not to provoke but to appease; not to assail but to defend; not to conquer but to protect my loyal subjects and hereditary properties.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)
“A good intention clothes itself with sudden power. When a god wishes to ride, any chip or pebble will bud and shoot out winged feet and serve him for a horse.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)