United States national security strategy and the world [Archives:2006/932/Opinion]

Muhammad Imran Khan
[email protected]
After a long wait bush administration finally issued the new National Security Strategy (NSS) for United Stats. The last NSS was published in 2002. The new version of policy is mainly based on previous NSS offering some new changes. And any thing which comes out from United States always have a global prospective which is the same with NSS also, covering many aspects of the world like working for global economic growth, promoting human rights, defusing regional conflicts. previous

The main focus remained on the theme 'Attack the enemy before it attacks you'. USA used these tactics against Iraq in 2003, fearing that Iraq is trying to develop Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and can harm USA. Though they never found any kind of WMD and Iraq has become a big mess. American government is still wants to use the same strategy. Perhaps they think that Preemptive strike will destroy the enemy and it would be an end. But Preemptive attack on Iraq has shown that it was not an end but start of many problems. Even after 3 years there is nothing in control. Preemptive attacks though look like an advance act but still infect it should be used as last a resort.

Learning from a bad experience as USA was almost standing alone on the decision of Invading Iraq in 2003. USA also wants to emphasis a bigger role in working with other nations through diplomacy. Iran has been described as a greatest single threat but this time USA is not going all alone to solve this problem, pushing for hard measures against Iran through the United Nations while working closely with European countries, Russia and China. European countries have been described as the “oldest and closest friends and allies”. United States also appreciated the expending role of NATO in different parts of the world. While working closely with other nations still USA wants to lead the world ” America must lead by deed as well as by example. This is how we plan to lead, and this is the legacy we will leave to those who follow”.

Promoting democracy and ending tyranny around the world is an essential part of this strategy. No one will argue that promoting democratic values in the world is a very good thing but United States must have equal values for the entire world. People in philistine elected Hamas in a free and fair election. Clearly acknowledging that fact in NSS “The Palestinian people voted in a process that was free, fair, and inclusive. The Palestinian people having made their choice at the polls, the burden now shifts to those whom they have elected to take the steps necessary to advance peace, prosperity, and statehood for the Palestinian people.” Hamas may be considered as a terrorist group by USA but during election Hamas slogan was not to destroy Israel but to provide justice and corruption free government to the Palestinians. They still not formed any government but why USA needs to put hard actions against hamas before they do anything. First let them to work and if they fail to deliver what they are promising than many will support tough actions. Is it also a Preemptive type of strategy against an elected government? On other hand for few reasons USA has closed its eyes for many countries where there is no democracy, no free and fair elections or partial democracy.

Policies / strategies are made as guidelines for future actions and change few things but this strategy will not bring any big changes in United States on going actions as almost all the measures revealed in National Security Strategy are under practice for long time. So it seems that this time US government had decided to work first and than make it into a strategy. Does it mean that there are no new thoughts for changes or on otherwise United States is quite confident of its actions and don't think that they need any changes.

Muhammad Imran Khan is assistant director of Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). He is an economic and commerce specialist and a freelance writer for several international newspapers.
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