President Bush's National Security Strategy Unveiled
Preemption remains an integral part of the strategy, says the National Security Advisor
April/May 2006
National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley outlined the administration’s 2006 National Security Strategy.
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A large contingent from the diplomatic community assembled at the Mayflower Hotel in mid-March to hear National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley outline President Bush’s 2006 National Security
Strategy at an Institute-sponsored talk. Hadley said the president is focused on integrating all the tools of statecraft—diplomatic, economic, and military—to meet today’s global challenges and opportunities.
"The president’s strategy," Hadley said, "is to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."
This goal, said Hadley, is based on five important themes. The first is to keep America strong and secure. "We are at war, and defeating the terrorists is America’s most immediate challenge," he said. To do that, he said, we must stay on the offense: "We must defeat the terrorists abroad so that we do not need to face them here at home."
"We are at
war, and
defeating the
terrorists is
America's
most
immediate
challenge."
Central to this goal is the doctrine of preemption, which, Hadley emphasized, remains an integral part of U.S. strategy. "Under longstanding principles of self-defense, we do not rule out the use of
force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack."
The second theme is the defeat of the ideology that underlies terrorism. "We do this," said Hadley, "by promoting a positive vision—the promise of freedom and democracy." But freedom and democracy are not just means to an end, said Hadley; they are "the birthright of every human being."
The president’s second inaugural address proclaimed this unity of vision most clearly, Hadley explained. In his address Bush stated, "America’s vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the day of our founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this Earth has rights and dignity and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and Earth."
Thus, said Hadley, "we champion effective democracy as the best way for nations to secure the freedom of citizens, as well as their prosperity and security."
But if human freedom is released by the defeat of terrorism, it is only secured by the creation, of effective, sustainable democracies. Such democracies uphold human rights, submit to the will of the people, exercise sovereignty, maintain order, and fight corruption. "The administration recognizes that the journey to effective democracy is long, and supports countries as they make the journey," said Hadley.
A fourth element of the president’s national security strategy is the creation of opportunities for people to prosper and build better lives. "Economic freedom and political freedom cannot be long
separated," said Hadley. "As people experience the freedom to buy, to sell, and to produce, it is only a matter of time until they demand the freedom to assemble, to speak, and to worship."
Hadley spoke briefly about the president’s development strategy, focusing on the Millennium Challenge Account, which delivers substantial aid to countries that govern properly, fight corruption, and
invest in the health and education of their people. Also critical to the president’s development agenda are his support of debt reduction and efforts to address such deadly diseases as malaria and AIDS.
The final element of the president’s strategy, said Hadley, is to build a community of effective democracies to address the regional and global challenges of our time. "The challenges we face are enormous," said Hadley. These "transnational threats" include public health, environmental, and energy challenges, in addition to the global drug trade, organized crime, and the trade of human beings for sex and slavery.
Hadley concluded by situating today’s challenges within the sweep of history. "The president’s foreign policy initiatives are united by his conviction that we are living at a moment of choosing, for
our nation and for the world. America can choose a path of fear, leading to isolationism and protectionism, or a path of confidence, leading to international engagement and the expansion of freedom and democracy."
A spirited question and answer session followed Hadley’s prepared remarks.
