United States Reaffirms Preventive War Policy
GSN: WASHINGTON — In a national security document released yesterday, the Bush administration reasserted its right to use military force against any country believed to threaten the United States, even if no attack is imminent (see GSN, Sept. 20, 2002).
The policy, first outlined in the 2002 National Security Strategy released during the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, allows for preventive military action to stop countries from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
“To forestall or prevent such hostile acts by our adversaries, the United States will, if necessary, act pre-emptively in exercising our inherent right of self-defense. The United States will not resort to force in all cases to pre-empt emerging threats. Our preference is that nonmilitary actions succeed. And no country should ever use pre-emption as a pretext for aggression,” the 2006 National Security Strategy says.
According to the document, the policy used to justify the invasion of Iraq remains in place, despite no unconventional weapons being found in the country.
“If necessary … under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack,” the document states. “When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize. This is the principle and logic of pre-emption. The place of pre-emption in our national security strategy remains the same.”
National security adviser Stephen Hadley is expected to speak in more detail about the new strategy document here this afternoon at a United States Institute for Peace event.
Iran, North Korea Named as Primary Threats
The strategy names Iran and North Korea as the two greatest security challenges facing the United States.
“For almost 20 years, the Iranian regime hid many of its key nuclear efforts from the international community,” the document says. “Yet the regime continues to claim that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.”
The strategy says the United States plans to continue to work with its European Union partners and Russia on a diplomatic solution and to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
North Korea “presents a long and bleak record of duplicity and bad-faith negotiations. In the past, the regime has attempted to split the United States from its allies,” the strategy says. However, the United States and its allies in the region have joined in calling for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programs.
Until the nuclear issue is resolved, the United States “will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our national and economic security against the adverse effects of their bad conduct.”
The United States also vowed to continue working to keep fissile materials out of the hands of terrorists, touting its Global Threat Reduction Initiative as a way to secure loose nuclear materials. The program attempts to locate missing weapons as well as track and reduce known nuclear material stockpiles.
New Approach to Deterrence
The White House said that changes to world security, such as increased threats of terrorism and the atomic programs of Iran and North Korea, require a new approach to nuclear deterrence.
“Our deterrence strategy no longer rests primarily on the grim premise of inflicting devastating consequences on potential foes. Both offenses and defenses are necessary to deter state and nonstate actors, through denial of the objectives of their attacks and, if necessary, responding with overwhelming force,” the strategy says.
To meet the challenges presented by changing global security conditions, the White House is developing: a New Triad defense strategy with nuclear and conventional offensive strike systems, active and passive defenses, including improvements to missile defense; and a military infrastructure capable of responding to nuclear attacks.
“These capabilities will better deter some of the new threats we face, while also bolstering our security commitments to allies. Such security commitments have played a crucial role in convincing some countries to forgo their own nuclear weapons programs, thereby aiding our nonproliferation objectives,” according to the strategy.
Chemical, Biological Weapons
The document says the United States is seeking improved capacity to detect and respond to biological attacks, secure such weapons located in vulnerable areas and limit the spread of materials that could be used to make weapons.
“The United States is working with partner nations and institutions to strengthen global biosurveillance capabilities for early detection of suspicious outbreaks of disease. We have launched new initiatives at home to modernize our public health infrastructure and to encourage industry to speed the development of new classes of vaccines and medical countermeasures,” the strategy says.
The Bush administration also vowed to continue to work to prevent terrorists from obtaining chemical weapons and to improve domestic and international surveillance and defense capabilities.
The policy, first outlined in the 2002 National Security Strategy released during the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, allows for preventive military action to stop countries from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
“To forestall or prevent such hostile acts by our adversaries, the United States will, if necessary, act pre-emptively in exercising our inherent right of self-defense. The United States will not resort to force in all cases to pre-empt emerging threats. Our preference is that nonmilitary actions succeed. And no country should ever use pre-emption as a pretext for aggression,” the 2006 National Security Strategy says.
According to the document, the policy used to justify the invasion of Iraq remains in place, despite no unconventional weapons being found in the country.
“If necessary … under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack,” the document states. “When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize. This is the principle and logic of pre-emption. The place of pre-emption in our national security strategy remains the same.”
National security adviser Stephen Hadley is expected to speak in more detail about the new strategy document here this afternoon at a United States Institute for Peace event.
Iran, North Korea Named as Primary Threats
The strategy names Iran and North Korea as the two greatest security challenges facing the United States.
“For almost 20 years, the Iranian regime hid many of its key nuclear efforts from the international community,” the document says. “Yet the regime continues to claim that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.”
The strategy says the United States plans to continue to work with its European Union partners and Russia on a diplomatic solution and to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
North Korea “presents a long and bleak record of duplicity and bad-faith negotiations. In the past, the regime has attempted to split the United States from its allies,” the strategy says. However, the United States and its allies in the region have joined in calling for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programs.
Until the nuclear issue is resolved, the United States “will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our national and economic security against the adverse effects of their bad conduct.”
The United States also vowed to continue working to keep fissile materials out of the hands of terrorists, touting its Global Threat Reduction Initiative as a way to secure loose nuclear materials. The program attempts to locate missing weapons as well as track and reduce known nuclear material stockpiles.
New Approach to Deterrence
The White House said that changes to world security, such as increased threats of terrorism and the atomic programs of Iran and North Korea, require a new approach to nuclear deterrence.
“Our deterrence strategy no longer rests primarily on the grim premise of inflicting devastating consequences on potential foes. Both offenses and defenses are necessary to deter state and nonstate actors, through denial of the objectives of their attacks and, if necessary, responding with overwhelming force,” the strategy says.
To meet the challenges presented by changing global security conditions, the White House is developing: a New Triad defense strategy with nuclear and conventional offensive strike systems, active and passive defenses, including improvements to missile defense; and a military infrastructure capable of responding to nuclear attacks.
“These capabilities will better deter some of the new threats we face, while also bolstering our security commitments to allies. Such security commitments have played a crucial role in convincing some countries to forgo their own nuclear weapons programs, thereby aiding our nonproliferation objectives,” according to the strategy.
Chemical, Biological Weapons
The document says the United States is seeking improved capacity to detect and respond to biological attacks, secure such weapons located in vulnerable areas and limit the spread of materials that could be used to make weapons.
“The United States is working with partner nations and institutions to strengthen global biosurveillance capabilities for early detection of suspicious outbreaks of disease. We have launched new initiatives at home to modernize our public health infrastructure and to encourage industry to speed the development of new classes of vaccines and medical countermeasures,” the strategy says.
The Bush administration also vowed to continue to work to prevent terrorists from obtaining chemical weapons and to improve domestic and international surveillance and defense capabilities.
posted by Marko at 3/16/2006 01:28:00 PM
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