America's National Security a Global Concern

When President Barack Obama spoke at the US Military Academy last week and provided a preview of his administration’s first national security strategy, he stressed several themes that should be welcomed by the rest of the world. The new strategy emphasizes international diplomacy and alliance-building over the George W. Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war and unilateral action. The big test will come as the world watches to see if the US actually practices what it preaches, and implements policies that reflect its rhetoric. The first 16 months of the Obama era provide mixed results in this respect.

If the US pursues its national security interests by doing what the strategy document says it will do – strengthen old alliances and build new partnerships, shape stronger international standards and institutions, invigorate diplomatic engagement, strengthen international development, and promote democracy and human rights – it will find itself embraced around the world. If it speaks nicely but behaves roughly, it will only generate more criticism and, as we have seen in recent years, active resistance against it and its allies.