U.S. Retools Its Security Strategy

The White House today will back away from the use of preemptive military strikes against perceived terrorist threats in its new National Security Strategy.

However, it will harden its rhetoric against Russia, China and notably Iran, in the first formal review of foreign policy since the invasion of Iraq.

The strategic report, to be published today, presents the first significant revision of the landmark 2002 document.

“We may face no greater challenge from a single country than Iran,” the new strategy says, citing its nuclear ambitions. “The Iranian regime sponsors terrorism; threatens Israel; seeks to thwart Middle East peace; disrupts democracy in Iraq.”

The document says “transformational democracy” remains the overriding aim.

But the concept of “coalitions of the willing,” the philosophy that administration critics say fractured the transatlantic alliance and undermined the United Nations, is notably absent.

“We must be prepared to act alone if necessary, while recognizing that there is little of lasting consequence that we can accomplish without the sustained cooperation of our allies and partners,” the document says.

America’s mission is still one of “ending tyranny in our world,” but “our national security strategy is idealistic about its goals and realistic about means,” the document says. By contrast, the 2002 document projected a willingness to engage wars of choice without allies’ overwhelming support.

The new document steps back from its generally optimistic view of Russia. In 2002, Russia was said to be “in the midst of a hopeful transition, reaching for its democratic future and a partner in the war on terror.”

Now the U.S. report calls on Russia not to impede the cause of freedom on its borders. “Recent trends regrettably point toward a diminishing commitment to democratic freedoms and institutions,” it says.