Gibson didn't actually point it out, but he did analogize Bush's authorizing special forces entry into Pakistan.
So, there is a military procedure that incorporates pre-emption into the process. It is called the 7 step defense cycle against a terror attack, or in this case a conventional military attack.
The complete cycle is deterrence, prevention, pre-emption, crisis management, consequence management, attribution, and retaliation.
All steps need not be present, and particulars steps may serve two functions, like the shock and awe of a preemptive attack serves as a deterrent, or put another way, the invasion of Iraq convinced Khadafi/Libya to co-operate.
You can take Gibson's question in any direction you wish, but it is certainly a different from the direction I would take it.
BTW, would you happen to know if the McCain campaign has briefed Palin on nuclear bunker busters?
I also don't know if any Vice President in history who had to assume the Presidency was really prepared for it, but they all did have the Presidents' entire Cabinets in place as advisors when they did, and it would not be any different for Palin.
Cordially,