Introduction -- Power and legitimacy -- The media and the perception of legitimacy -- United Nations legitimacy -- 1: The foundation -- San Francisco -- 2: The Security Council -- The Security Council veto -- "Uniting for peace" -- 3: Alternative norm Justifications -- Self defense -- Cuba and the logic of pre-emptive attack -- Russia and legitimate self-defense 2008 -- 4: U.S. peacekeeping from Somalia to Haiti -- Haiti -- 5: Iraq -- No fly zones in Iraq -- Sanctions and the reverse veto -- 2003 invasion -- 6: Destroying Yugoslavia -- Germany's role -- Oil on fire -- 7: Kosovo -- Humanitarian rhetoric and hypocrisy -- 8: A path toward peace and security -- Eliminating Weber's definition of legitimacy -- Media reform -- Education -- The United Nations and retaining control -- Long-term Western interests
Summary
When is it legitimate for nations to use force? The United States and NATO, intent on military intervention but unable to secure UN Security Council authorization, regularly use false arguments and a haze of purported altruistic justifications to justify their actions. "Smokescreen" emphasizes the need to base our definition of legitimacy in the rule of law and offers a path forward toward international peace and security, in the interests of Western countries and humanity as a whole
