- "prosperity and security in America depend on prosperity and security around the globe....We must deploy America's financial, diplomatic, and military resources to stand up for peace and security, promote global prosperity, and advance democracy and human rights around the world." (Clinton);
- "we must make use of every tool in our arsenal --
military power, better homeland defenses, law enforcement,
intelligence, and vigorous efforts to cut off terrorist
financing" (Bush);
- "strengthening alliances with Europe and Asia...[and]
be mindful of threats to peace while maximizing chances
that both Russia and China move toward greater internal
openness, stability and prosperity...." (Clinton);
- "Russia is in the midst of a hopeful transition, reaching
for its democratic future and a partner in the war on
terror. Chinese leaders are discovering that economic
freedom is the only source of national wealth. In time
they will find that social and political freedom is (sic)
the only source of national greatness.....The United States
is committed to lasting institutions like the United Nations...and
NATO as well as other long-standing alliances" (Bush);
- work to "resolve conflicts before they escalate...[and]
ease humanitarian catastrophes while adding moral authority
to America's might" (Clinton);
- "In the new world we have entered, the only path to
peace and security is the path of action. As we defend
the peace, we will also...preserve the peace. Today, the
international community has the best chance since the
rise of the nation-state...to build a world in which great
powers compete in peace instead of continually prepare
for war. Today, the world's great powers find ourselves
on the same side -- united by common dangers [and] increasingly
by common values" (Bush);
- "a new security agenda that addresses contemporary
threats such as the proliferation of nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapons, terrorism, and international crime...[by]
extension of the Nonproliferation Treaty, the containment
of nations seeking to acquire and use weapons of mass
destruction, stepped up efforts to combat trafficking
in drugs, arms, and human beings...global warming...[and]
infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS" (Clinton);
- "The war against terrorists of global reach is a global
enterprise of uncertain duration....Our enemies have openly
declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction....The
United States will not allow these efforts to succeed....The
United States will deliver greater development assistance...to
nations that govern justly [and]...will also continue
to lead the world in efforts to reduce the terrible toll
of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases" (Bush).
The following is an overview of Clinton's NSS for comparison
with the Bush NSS as detailed above.
- Clinton's NSS begins by detailing strategic concepts
-- shaping, responding, preparing.
- Shaping is done by (in order of discussion) through
diplomacy, public diplomacy, international assistance,
arms control and nonproliferation, military activities,
international law enforcement cooperation, and environmental
and health initiatives. In terms of military activities,
Clinton's NSS speaks of forward deployment; antiterrorism,
counterterrorism, consequence management, and intelligence
support to deter terrorism; countering threats from WMD.
- Responding is accomplished through (in order) diplomacy,
public diplomacy, economic measures, law enforcement,
intelligence, military operations, and other tools. It
can be multilateral or unilateral, with military preparedness
serving to deter adversaries. Programs to protect the
homeland against missile attacks, foreign intelligence
agents, terrorists, WMD, cyber attacks, drug trafficking
and other international crime are detailed before the
NSS discusses military smaller-scale contingencies and
major theater wars -- and the parameters for deciding
to employ military forces.
- Preparing for the future involves transforming America's
security sector (the Pentagon), promoting domestic and
international prosperity (open markets, America's competitiveness,
energy security, sustainable development), and promoting
democracy and human rights (including freedom of thought,
conscience, and religion and engaging in humanitarian
activities).
- The Clinton NSS ends by detailing "integrated regional
approaches" to security, prosperity, and democracy and
human rights.
Of interest in light of the current national and international
debates, under the Middle East, North Africa, Southwest
and South Asia section, Iraq is discussed in four paragraphs
in the security sub-section -- with Iran receiving the
same attention. A key passage in the Iraq discussion,
alluded to by President Bush in his Oct. 8th address to
the nation, reads: "Saddam's actions over the past decade
lead us to conclude that his regime will never comply
with the obligations contained in the relevant UN Security
Council resolutions. For this reason, we actively support
those who seek to bring a new democratic government to
power in Baghdad. We...believe it is the only solution
to the problem of Saddam's regime."
This
analysis was prepared by Col. Dan Smith, U.S. Army (Ret.).
Dan, a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, is FCNL's
Senior Fellow on Military Affairs..
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