Reply #51: Bush Says it Himself...right here

[rucky]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/print/nssall.html

George W. Bush
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 17, 2002

(snip)

For centuries, international law recognized that nations need not suffer an attack before they can lawfully take action to defend themselves against forces that present an imminent danger of attack. Legal scholars and international jurists often conditioned the legitimacy of preemption on the existence of an imminent threat—most often a visible mobilization of armies, navies, and air forces preparing to attack.

We must adapt the concept of imminent threat to the capabilities and objectives of today’s adversaries. Rogue states and terrorists do not seek to attack us using conventional means. They know such attacks would fail. Instead, they rely on acts of terror and, potentially, the use of weapons of mass destruction—weapons that can be easily concealed, delivered covertly, and used without warning.

(end snip)

You can find good legal analysis about his endrun around int'l law in favor of preemption here:

http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/