"I do think the point has to be made, if rockets are being shot at Israel, that Israel does have a right to defend itself. But , the bottom line is the question of proportionality. Madeleine Albright in a recent CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer.

Question: in what conflict was the concept of proportionality followed?

I dont recall it being a major factor in the long history of conflict. It did not seem a big factor in either WW1 or WW2. The allies, NATO nor the USA has not seem to consider it as a big factor. The USA surely didinot follow it in Japan (surely not with the A bombs), in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afganistan, Croatia, or even in Lybia. Russia has not seemed to care much for it in its conflicts. It does not even seem to have a significant meaning in the history of conflict in Europe, nor even in the Middle East.

Is it something to be considered for some conflicts, but not in others? If so- why so and where so?