Force Down Rogue State Jets, say US, Australia

At an upcoming of 11 nations officials in Brisbane will consider practical ways of intercepting weapons of mass destruction before they change hands. The US and Australian will specifically discuss a proposal to track and force down aircrafts believed to be carrying prohibited weapons from North Korea, Iran, Syria and Libya. The operation is designed to disrupt the international flow of weapons between countries, and countries and terrorist organizations. The proposal, part of President Bush’s Proliferation Security Initiative, is inline with the American foreign policy focus on curbing terrorism and eliminating potential threats to American national security. Yet, the proposal raises questions regarding national sovereignty. By what right can the US or for that matter, any other country, force down aircrafts outside of its national borders? What is the role of or individual countries and international organizations like the United Nations in ensuring peace and security? North Korea has already stated that it will perceive such moves as acts of war. Convincing key players like China to go along with the US proposal will also pose a challenge. –YaleGlobal