The Bush National Security Strategy

President George W. Bush’s The National Security Strategy of the United States of America (NSS) received more criticism after its release than the strategy statements of any previous president. The primary complaints were that the strategy attempted to impose American values on the rest of the world, sought to gain and maintain American strategic dominance, and was too aggressive. However, the Bush NSS is an assertive strategy that confronts the post-9/11 world head-on. It presents an integrated approach to dealing with those threats that relies on all elements of national power. A careful reading reveals that much of the strategy is not new policy. Promoting American values abroad is as old as the nation itself. Maintaining a preeminent place in the world has been a goal since the US inherited its position at the end of the Cold War. What is new in the document, and the main source of criticism, is the discussion of US intent to use preemptive action if required. Even preemption, although not as written policy, is nothing new to the US.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.