Ralph Wilde, PhD - US - Iraq War - ProCon.org

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US - IRAQ WAR

Ralph Wilde, PhD Biography
Title:	Reader in Law at the University College London, University of London
Position:	Con to the question "Should the US Have Attacked Iraq?"
Reasoning:	"There is no justification under international law for the use of military force against Iraq. The UN charter outlaws the use of force with only two exceptions: individual or collective self-defence in response to an armed attack and action authorised by the security council as a collective response to a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression. There are currently no grounds for a claim to use such force in self-defence. The doctrine of pre-emptive self-defence against an attack that might arise at some hypothetical future time has no basis in international law. Neither security council resolution 1441 nor any prior resolution authorises the proposed use of force in the present circumstances... A decision to undertake military action in Iraq without proper security council authorisation will seriously undermine the international rule of law. Of course, even with that authorisation, serious questions would remain. A lawful war is not necessarily a just, prudent or humanitarian war." "War Would Be Illegal," Signed by 16 European Law Professors, The Guardian, Mar. 7, 2003
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:	Experts Individuals with PhD's, JD's, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to the US - Iraq conflict. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to the US - Iraq conflict.
Involvement and Affiliations:	Reader, Law Faculty at University College London, University of London, 2002-present Rormer Supervisor, International Law, Trinity, Corpus Christi, and St. Edmund’s Colleges, Cambridge Guest Lecturer, Cambridge University Law Faculty Henry Fellow and Visiting Scholar, Yale Law School Visiting Professor, University of Texas Law School Co-Chair of the International Organizations Interest Group, American Society of International Law Joint Honorary Secretary of the British Branch of the International Law Association (ILA) Member, ILA Executive Council Trustee and member, Management Committee and Board of Directors of the AIRE (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) Centre in London Member of the Executive Committee, UK Human Rights Lawyers’ Association
Education:	PhD, Cambridge University, 2003 LLM, Cambridge University, 1999 Diploma in European Human Rights Law, European University Institute, Florence, 1998 MA, Law, City University, London, 2004 CPE, City University, London, 1996 BS, International Relations, London School of Economics, 1995
Other:	None found
Quoted in:	1. Was the preemptive invasion of Iraq a violation of international law?

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