A Winning Strategy
EDITORIAL A Winning Strategy What follows is excerpted from "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America," submitted by the president to Congress on Friday, September 20. (The...
...The inability to deter a potential attacker, the immediacy of today's threats, and the magnitude of potential harm that could be caused by our adversaries' choice of weapons, do not permit that option...
...When we disagree on particulars, we will explain forthrightly the grounds for our concerns and strive to forge viable alternatives...
...We will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent...
...Coalitions of the willing can augment these permanent institutions...
...Counterproliferation must also be integrated into the doctrine, training, and equipping of our forces and those of our allies to ensure that we can prevail in any conflict with WMD-armed adversaries...
...The greater the threat, the greater is the risk of inaction—and the more compelling the case for taking anticipatory action to defend ourselves, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack...
...and decisively defeat any adversary if deterrence fails...
...and it has been tested by widespread poverty and disease...
...History will judge harshly those who saw this coming danger but failed to act...
...We seek instead to create a balance of power that favors human freedom: conditions in which all nations and all societies can choose for themselves the rewards and challenges of political and economic liberty...
...So we must be prepared to defeat our enemies' plans, using the best intelligence and proceeding with deliberation...
...We cannot defend America and our friends by hoping for the best...
...Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United States...
...Yet in an age where the enemies of civilization openly and actively seek the world's most destructive technologies, the United States cannot remain idle while dangers gather...
...In the past decade North Korea has become the world's principal purveyor of ballistic missiles, and has tested increasingly capable missiles while developing its own WMD [weapons of mass destruction] arsenal...
...The overlap between states that sponsor terror and those that pursue WMD compels us to action...
...Our comprehensive strategy to combat WMD includes proactive counterproliferation efforts...
...We cannot let our enemies strike first...
...In exercising our leadership, we will respect the values, judgment, and interests of our friends and partners...
...dissuade future military competition...
...The gravest danger our nation faces lies at the crossroads of radicalism and technology...
...In all cases, international obligations are to be taken seriously...
...and we know from experience that some enemies cannot be deterred...
...However, the threats and enemies we must confront have changed, and so must our forces...
...We will build defenses against ballistic missiles and other means of delivery...
...DETERRENCE AND PREEMPTION In the Cold War, especially following the Cuban missile crisis, we faced a generally status quo, risk-averse adversary...
...WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION At the time of the Gulf War, we acquired irrefutable proof that Iraq's designs were not limited to the chemical weapons it had used against Iran and its own people, but also extended to the acquisition of nuclear weapons and biological agents...
...The war against terrorists of global reach is a global enterprise of uncertain duration...
...Such states also see these weapons as their best means of overcoming the conventional superiority of the United States...
...The unparalleled strength of the United States armed forces, and their forward presence, have maintained the peace in some of the world's most strategically vital regions...
...We know from history that deterrence can fail...
...Together, we will seek to deny them sanctuary at every turn...
...For rogue states these weapons are tools of intimidation and military aggression against their neighbors...
...it has been challenged by the clashing wills of powerful states and the evil designs of tyrants...
...But deterrence based only upon the threat of retaliation is far less likely to work against leaders of rogue states more willing to take risks, gambling with the lives of their people, and the wealth of their nations...
...Traditional concepts of deterrence will not work against a terrorist enemy whose avowed tactics are wanton destruction and the targeting of innocents...
...It has taken almost a decade for us to comprehend the true nature of this new threat...
...Deterrence was an effective defense...
...The United States welcomes our responsibility to lead in this great mission...
...Given the goals of rogue states and terrorists, the United States can no longer solely rely on a reactive posture as we have in the past...
...We will cooperate with other nations to deny, contain, and curtail our enemies' efforts to acquire dangerous technologies...
...We must deter and defend against the threat before it is unleashed...
...The United States must and will maintain the capability to defeat any attempt by an enemy—whether a state or non-state actor—to impose its will on the United States, our allies, or our friends...
...The United States and countries cooperating with us must not allow the terrorists to develop new home bases...
...These states' pursuit of, and global trade in, such weapons has become a looming threat to all nations...
...Still, we will be prepared to act apart when our interests and unique responsibilities require...
...Our enemies have openly declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, and evidence indicates that they are doing so with determination...
...The United States will not use force in all cases to preempt emerging threats, nor should nations use preemption as a pretext for aggression...
...They are not to be undertaken symbolically to rally support for an ideal without furthering its attainment...
...By making the world safer, we allow the people of the world to make their own lives better...
...The United States is committed to lasting institutions like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of American States, and NATO as well as other long-standing alliances...
...The United States has long maintained the option of preemptive actions to counter a sufficient threat to our national security...
...Other rogue regimes seek nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons as well...
...Alliances and multilateral institutions can multiply the strength of freedom-loving nations...
...Today, humanity holds in its hands the opportunity to further freedom's triumph over all these foes...
...In the Cold War, weapons of mass destruction were considered weapons of last resort whose use risked the destruction of those who used them...
...national security strategy will be based on a distinctly American internationalism that reflects the union of our values and our national interests...
...Today, our enemies see weapons of mass destruction as weapons of choice...
...Our response must take full advantage of strengthened alliances, the establishment of new partnerships with former adversaries, innovation in the use of military forces, modern technologies, including the development of an effective missile defense system, and increased emphasis on intelligence collection and analysis...
...We will defend this just peace against threats from terrorists and tyrants...
...We must be prepared to stop rogue states and their terrorist clients before they are able to threaten or use weapons of mass destruction against the United States and our allies and friends...
...In keeping with our heritage and principles, we do not use our strength to press for unilateral advantage...
...The U.S...
...To forestall or prevent such hostile acts by our adversaries, the United States will, if necessary, act preemptively...
...To do so effectively, our military must: assure our allies and friends...
...And America will hold to account nations that are compromised by terror— because the allies of terror are the enemies of civilization...
...Throughout history, freedom has been threatened by war and terror...
...Today, the United States enjoys a position of unparalleled military strength and great economic and political influence...
...the birthright of every person—in every civilization...
...We will maintain the forces sufficient to support our obligations, and to defend freedom...
...The United States will not allow these efforts to succeed...
...We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers...
...America will help nations that need our assistance in combating terror...
...We must build and maintain our defenses beyond challenge...
...Our military's highest priority is to defend the United States...
...MILITARY STRENGTH It is time to reaffirm the essential role of American military strength...
...The full text is available at www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.html.,) The document expresses so well so much of what The Weekly Standard has argued for over the last seven years that it seemed appropriate, this week, to let George W. Bush speak for the editors...
...interests, allies, and friends...
...And, as a matter of common sense and self-defense, America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed...
...deter threats against U.S...
...whose so-called soldiers seek martyrdom in death and whose most potent protection is statelessness...
...DEFEATING TERRORISM Terrorists are organized to penetrate open societies and to turn the power of modern technologies against us...
...These weapons may also allow these states to attempt to blackmail the United States and our allies to prevent us from deterring or repelling the aggressive behavior of rogue states...
...ALLIANCES We are also guided by the conviction that no nation can build a safer, better world alone...
...We will not allow such disagreements to obscure our determination to secure together, with our allies and our friends, our shared fundamental interests and values...
...We must ensure that key capabilities—detection, active and passive defenses, and counterforce capabilities—are integrated into our defense transformation and our homeland security systems...
...DEFENDING FREEDOM Freedom is the non-negotiable demand of human dignity...
Vol. 8 • September 2002 • No. 3
