PETER HENRY GOLDSMITH
(Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith)
English law and United States law are different. The George W, Bush administration has argued that regime change—removing Sadaam Hussein from power and control of Iraq—would be legal under U. S. law. This belief was never tested in the American Courts during the Iraq War.
Although he could not find justification in International law, many others recognize preemption as part of the right of self-defense.
Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith PC QC is a British barrister and a former Attorney General for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland. On 22 June 2007, Goldsmith announced his resignation which took effect on 27 June 2007, the same day that prime minister, Tony Blair, stepped down. Goldsmith was the longest serving Labour Attorney General. He is currently head of European litigation practice at US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.