Deterrence as a Means of Maintaining American Pre-Eminence

摘要

If America is to maintain a role as the pre-eminent power in the world it must be prepared to exercise deterrence. While there are other courses of action available none adequately addresses the issues of declining economic, informational and military control in an increasingly complex and ambiguous environment occupied by rogue states and non-state actors. Many of the voices in the debate on how best to secure American economic and political interests have given up on deterrence as a viable means of maintaining order in the emerging balance of power. Deterrence is founded on an unabashed willingness to severely punish those who would threaten to cross established norms of conduct that violate international law and rule. In order for deterrence to be effective those who are to be deterred must know, without a doubt, that actions that upset the status quo will be swiftly and severely punished. A nation who is unwilling, either morally, ethically or culturally, to exercise power is doomed to eventual decline in absolute power. America must recognize the challenge and be ready, willing and able to respond to threats or resign itself to assuming a subordinate role to an emerging power.