Abstract
It has been suggested that an overly punitive form of self-defense is now operating in international law, most recently manifested by the muscular Israeli military response to Hezbollah in Lebanon, but begun by the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Those who suggest this fear that the U.N. Charter will be undermined and the right of self-defense under Article 51, traditionally regarded as limited, will be rendered meaningless. I fully share that fear.