In contrast to the original military intervention in Iraq – which touched none of these bases – the current US action, though lacking Security Council authorization, is being taken at the request of the Iraqi government, so there is no question of a breach of international law. And it would clearly seem to satisfy the moral or prudential criteria for the use of military force, which, though not yet formally adopted by the United Nations or anyone else, have been the subject of much international debate and acceptance over the last decade.
与原有的伊拉克军事干预行动不同——该行动根本不符合任何一项条件——目前的美国军事行动虽然没有得到安理会授权，但是应伊拉克政府要求，因此从这个角度讲与国际法没有冲突。而且此次行动显然满足使用武力的道德或审慎准则，虽然上述准则尚未被联合国或其他组织所正式采纳，但过去10年来一直受到国际舆论的争议及认可。