Threats and Opportunities for Advancing the Major Global Interests of the United States
Abstract
Politicians within our government have often justified their actions in the international arena as taken in support of the national interest. During the Cold War, just about any reasonable action could have been defended in terms of supporting the national interest, which was to counter the spread of Soviet sponsored communism. But in the complex, ever-changing, increasingly globalized and interdependent world we live in today, the Red menace threat is no longer the primary unifying element of national security policy. Appropriate responses to threats such as regional conflicts, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and international crime are difficult to gauge, especially if they occur in unfamiliar regions of the globe (e.g., East Timor). In addition, the American public and Congress (with the help of the media), now demands more accountability and they repeatedly challenge the President to clearly outline exactly which of our important interests are to be served by taking the proactive or reactive steps in question. Challenges will be more intense when long and short term costs associated with taking those actions are not defined nor appropriately balanced against the risks. In order to develop an informed opinion on the justification for taking actions to counter threats or availing ourselves of opportunities for advancing our major global interests, an understanding of the term national interest is necessary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 24, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA433208
Entities
People
- Mark J. Kerski
Organizations
- National War College