President Bush has released a national security strategy, directing America's military toward pre-emptive strikes against terrorism. The plan Mr. Bush sent to Congress says Washington will never allow any foreign power to rival the U.S. military.
The president's National Security Strategy says U.S. forces may take unilateral action against terrorists, or those developing weapons of mass destruction.
While the Bush Administration says it will continue to seek allies in the fight against terrorism, the security plan says it "will not hesitate to act alone" to defend the country, by acting pre-emptively against terrorist threats.
The plan says that includes convincing or "compelling" other governments not to support terrorists.
The strategy paper, which all presidents must present to Congress, describes an "American internationalism," in which U.S. military and economic power is used to encourage what it calls "free and open societies."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says "benevolent" American force made the world a better place in the 20th century, and will continue to do so in the 21st century. "Democracy is on the march around the world, thanks in good part to the United States' efforts," said Ari Fleischer. "And, so, the United States' role as a military power has been, we are a nation that is very reluctant, extremely reluctant to use that power, but we do use our influence that can be backed-up by power for a way that, I think, has led to a better world."
Concluding that America is now threatened more by failing states than Cold War rivals, the security plan discounts most non-proliferation treaties, in favor of what it calls "counter-proliferation." For example, President Bush, this year, withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, so the United States can build new missile defenses in Alaska.
The 33-page report says public diplomacy, foreign aid, and international donors can win what it calls "a battle of competing values and ideas" for the future of the Muslim world.
The National Security Strategy says American military force will remain strong enough to dissuade any potential adversary from trying to challenge U.S. power.