"The missiles come first, and the justifications come second"

This quote by E. P. Thompson is a commentary on the tendency of federal governments to act very first and validate their actions later on. It recommends that governments typically make decisions without considering the repercussions or the morality of their actions. Rather, they act initially and after that effort to justify their decisions after the reality. This quote implies that federal governments are more worried about their own interests than with the interests of their residents. It also indicates that governments are willing to take drastic steps without thinking about the prospective effects. This quote acts as a cautioning to people to be knowledgeable about their federal government's actions and to hold them accountable for their decisions. It is a pointer that federal governments need to be held to a higher requirement and should be held accountable for their actions.