A new national security strategy in an age of terrorists, tyrants, and weapons of mass destruction : three options presented as presidential speeches / Lawrence J. Korb, project director ; sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Korb, Lawrence J., 1939-

Council on Foreign Relations.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National security--United States.

National security.

United States.

United States--Military policy.

Military policy.

United States--Armed Forces.

Armed Forces.

United States--Foreign relations--2001-2009.

International relations.

Physical Description:

viii, 150 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Council on Foreign Relations Press, [2003]

Summary:

Almost exactly a year after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush released his National Security Strategy to Congress and the American public. This strategy document, which was based upon classified studies by the National Security Council, is the most detailed and comprehensive statement of how the Bush administration intends to protect the security of the United States in the post-September 11 world. While few have disagreed with the goals of the strategy, there has been a great deal of controversy about how these goals should be applied in practice. This book lays out the best case for three different options, each of which could serve as a guide in implementing the National Security Strategy.

The first option recognizes that traditional strategies of deterrence and containment will not work against tyrants and terrorists. Hence, it proposes that the United States adopt a bold new strategy of dominance and preventive action that elevates preemption to a cardinal norm, maintains military dominance, and actively seeks to extend free-market democracy throughout the globe. The second option asserts that active deterrence and containment will continue to work against even the most ruthless tyrants, that preemption should be reserved for exceptional circumstances, and that the United States needs only sufficient military power to protect its vital interests and should not overextend itself by trying to remake the world in its own image. The final option emphasizes that even with its great power, the United States cannot win the war against terrorists and tyrants unilaterally. Therefore, the best way for the United States to protect its interests is to work multilaterally with its allies and partners to create a more cooperative rule-based international system backed by American power.

With the aim of generating thought and debate about national security, this Council Policy Initiative presents each of these three alternatives as presidential speeches, along with a memo that explains the strengths, weaknesses, and politics of each option. The Bush administration's original National Security Strategy is included in an appendix to complement the three foreign policy directions it inspired.

Contents:

Memorandum to the President

Speech one : U.S. dominance and preventive action

Speech two : a more stable world with U.S. power for deterrence and containment

Speech three: an cooperative world order.

Notes:

"A Council Policy Initiative."

ISBN:

0876093292

OCLC:

52726036