At the dawn of the 21st century, the United States of America faces
a broad and complex array of chal-lenges to our national security.
Just as America helped to determine the course of the 20th century,
we must now build the sources of American strength and influence,
and shape an international order capable of overcoming the
challenges of the 21st century. To succeed, we must face the world
as it is. The two decades since the end of the Cold War have been
marked by both the promise and perils of change. The circle of
peaceful democracies has expanded; the specter of nuclear war has
lifted; major powers are at peace; the global economy has grown;
commerce has stitched the fate of nations together; and more
individuals can determine their own destiny. Yet these advances
have been accompanied by persistent problems. Wars over ideology
have given way to wars over religious, ethnic, and tribal identity;
nuclear dangers have proliferated; inequality and economic
instability have intensified; damage to our environment, food
insecurity, and dangers to public health are increasingly shared;
and the same tools that empower individuals to build enable them to
destroy. The dark side of this globalized world came to the
forefront for the American people on September 11, 2001. The
immediate threat demonstrated by the deadliest attacks ever
launched upon American soil demanded strong and durable approaches
to defend our homeland. In the years since, we have launched a war
against al-Qa'ida and its affiliates, decided to fight a war in
Iraq, and confronted a sweep-ing economic crisis. More broadly,
though, we have wrestled with how to advance American interests in
a world that has changed-a world in which the international
architecture of the 20th century is buckling under the weight of
new threats, the global economy has accelerated the competition
facing our people and businesses, and the universal aspiration for
freedom and dignity contends with new obstacles. Our country
possesses the attributes that have supported our leadership for
decades-sturdy alliances, an unmatched military, the world's
largest economy, a strong and evolving democracy, and a dynamic
citizenry. Going forward, there should be no doubt: the United
States of America will continue to underwrite global
security-through our commitments to allies, partners, and
institutions; our focus on defeating al-Qa'ida and its affiliates
in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and around the globe; and our
determina-tion to deter aggression and prevent the proliferation of
the world's most dangerous weapons. As we do, we must recognize
that no one nation-no matter how powerful-can meet global
challenges alone. As we did after World War II, America must
prepare for the future, while forging cooperative approaches among
nations that can yield results. Our national security strategy is,
therefore, focused on renewing American leadership so that we can
more effectively advance our interests in the 21st century. We will
do so by building upon the sources of our strength at home, while
shaping an international order that can meet the challenges of our
time. This strategy recognizes the fundamental connection between
our national security, our national competitiveness, resilience,
and moral example. And it reaffirms America's commitment to pursue
our interests through an international system in which all nations
have certain rights and responsibilities. This will allow America
to leverage our engagement abroad on behalf of a world in which
individuals enjoy more freedom and opportunity, and nations have
incentives to act responsibly, while facing consequences when they
do not.
General
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