National Security Strategy in Plaid: The NSS as a Political Document

摘要

The Clinton Administration's 'National Security Strategy for a New Century' of May 1997, hereafter referred to as the NSS, is an artful political document, sweeping in its objectives and attuned to the public sentiment of what constitutes the national interest. Whether it qualifies as a viable and rigorous national security strategy in the classic sense is another question. One could argue that it meets a number of the criteria for a successful strategy as defined by Professor Terry Diebel in his September 4 lecture to the War College: it is broad-gauged, long range, and most certainly purposeful. Indeed, in its breadth and its sense of purpose lies its political appeal. But ultimately this is a political document for public consumption, issued by an Administration that is, after all, elected. Its objectives are only slightly more controversial than love for mom and apple pie. By invoking the preamble of the Constitution in its opening lines, the Administration reassures the American people that we are setting out to do what our forefathers had in mind, much as good Muslims turn to the hadith, the stories and sayings associated with the Prophet Mohammed, to justify their current actions. At the same time, there are no tough choices for the American people, no fixed priorities against which limited resources must be weighed. But can or should we expect anything different, given our democratic system.