Editing Preventive war (section)

{{Short description|Military action to prevent an enemy from acquiring attack capabilities in the medium term}}
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{{original research|date=January 2011}}
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{{War}}
A '''preventive war''' is an armed conflict "initiated in the belief that military conflict, while not imminent, is inevitable, and that to delay would involve greater risk."<ref>''Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms'' p.413 (2001, as amended 2002).</ref> The party which is being attacked has a latent threat capability or it has shown that it intends to attack in the future, based on its past actions and posturing. A preventive war aims to forestall a shift in the balance of power<ref name="S.M._Walt">Taming American Power, Stephen M. Walt, pp 224</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Levy |first=Jack S. |date=2011 |title=Preventive War: Concept and Propositions |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03050629.2011.546716 |journal=International Interactions |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=87–96 |doi=10.1080/03050629.2011.546716 |s2cid=154345645 |issn=0305-0629|url-access=subscription }}</ref> by strategically attacking before the balance of power has had a chance to shift in the favor of the targeted party. Preventive war is distinct from [[preemptive strike]], which is the first strike when an attack is imminent.<ref name=" S.M._Walt" /> Preventive uses of force "seek to stop another state . . . from developing a military capability before it becomes threatening or to hobble or destroy it thereafter, whereas [p]reemptive uses of force come against a backdrop of tactical intelligence or warning indicating imminent military action by an adversary."<ref>William Safire, "Rope-a-Dope: A Lexicon of Intervention," ''N.Y. Times,'' Oct. 13, 2002, p.30, 31.</ref>