Dateline: 09/21/02

Noting that modern-day enemies no longer require great industrial capabilities to present great potential threats to America, President Bush presented a National Security Strategy for the United States of America calling for increased emphasis on proactive rather than reactive prevention of terrorism.

"Now, shadowy networks of individuals can bring great chaos and suffering to our shores for less than it costs to purchase a single tank," wrote President Bush. "The United States can no longer solely rely on a reactive posture as we have in the past. We cannot let our enemies strike first."

Strategy of preemption over prevention
Already seeking approval from Congress to a resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq, Bush emphasizes the importance of taking preemptive military action against threatening terrorist states, even when such action is opposed by the United Nations. "As a matter of common sense and self-defense, America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed," he writes.

Advising that the U.S. can no longer assume the reactive defensive posture employed throughout the Cold War, President Bush wrote, "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. We cannot let our enemies strike first." 

To better undertake preemptive prevention of terrorist attacks, Bush proposes the United States:

• "build better, more integrated intelligence capabilities to provide timely, accurate information on threats, wherever they may emerge;"
  
  
• "coordinate closely with allies to form a common assessment of the most dangerous threats; and"
  
  
• "continue to transform our military forces to ensure our ability to conduct rapid and precise operations to achieve decisive results."

"The purpose of our actions will always be to eliminate a specific threat to the United States or our allies and friends," wrote Bush. "The reasons for our actions will be clear, the force measured, and the cause just."

Speaking to critics who have called his plans for a preemptive military strike against Iraq an overt act of aggression, President Bush writes, "We do not use our strength to press for unilateral advantage. We seek instead to create a balance of power that favors human freedom."

"Our enemies have openly declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, and evidence indicates that they are doing so with determination," wrote Bush.

A "war of ideas"
Along with the military response policies outlined in the new security strategy, President Bush proposed the U.S. must also "wage a war of ideas" against international terrorism, including:

• "supporting moderate and modern government, especially in the Muslim world, to ensure that the conditions and ideologies that promote terrorism do not find fertile ground in any nation;"
  
  
• "diminishing the underlying conditions that spawn terrorism by enlisting the international community to focus its efforts and resources on areas most at risk;"
  
  
• "using effective public diplomacy to promote the free flow of information and ideas to kindle the hopes and aspirations of freedom of those in societies ruled by the sponsors of global terrorism."

The new U.S. Military
President Bush also outlined new priorities for the U.S. military in proactively responding to terrorist threats, including:

• "assure our allies and friends;"
• "dissuade future military competition;"
• "decisively defeat any adversary if deterrence fails."

"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," wrote President Bush.

On the Middle East
Addressing terrorism in the Middle East, President Bush indicated continued support for an independent Palestinian state, provided it is based on democracy. "If Palestinians embrace democracy, and the rule of law, confront corruption, and firmly reject terror, they can count on American support for the creation of a Palestinian state," he wrote. 

Bush then challenged Israel to contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region by withdrawing its troops currently occupying Palestinian territory to positions held prior to Sept. 28, 2000 and warned that "Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop." 

"... and at an hour of our choosing."
On Sept. 14, 2001, just three days after the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President Bush, speaking from Washington's National Cathedral stated, "This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. The conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing."