Military

DATE=10/15/02

TYPE=ON THE LINE

NUMBER=1-01207b SHORT #2

TITLE=NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

INTERNET=Yes

EDITOR=OFFICE OF POLICY 619-0037

CONTENT=INSERTS IN DALET AND AUDIO SERVICES

THEME: UP, HOLD UNDER AND FADE

Host: This is On the Line, and I'm --------. The United States has a new official statement of its goals in international affairs. The unifying principle of the National Security Strategy issued by the White House is the defense and promotion of liberty. In the words of President George W. Bush, "Freedom is the non-negotiable demand of human dignity; the birthright of every person -- in every civilization." United States policy is to work with other nations in building "a balance of power that favors freedom" and rejects terrorism and tyranny.

Marcus Corbin is a senior analyst at the Center for Defense Information in Washington.

Corbin: I think there's been a lot of debate about whether the administration is really serious about how much it wants to work with allies and how much it is just going through the motions. Even though there are many good words in the strategy about alliances and working with others, I think it's fairly clear from the administration's actions that it is ready, whenever it feels necessary, to move away from the need to work with allies and take immediate action itself.

Host: Frank Gaffney is president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington. He thinks the administration is sincere about building alliances.

Gaffney: I think it's taking a different approach to the building of coalitions than we've seen in the past. I would suggest that this document is an expression of American sovereignty -- that we have a vision of the world that we would like to see because it benefits us, but also because we think it will benefit others. And we will, by our leadership, bring others with us. This is the idea of these [in President Bush's words] "coalitions of the willing."

Host: Tom Donnelly is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. He says the United States is in a unique position in the world.

Donnelly: Our very power makes us responsible for international order in some sense. And we would be shirking our duty and would be the worst sort of ally if we were not the ones to stand up to lead the coalition and other coalitions against those things that threaten our way of life.

Host: The new U.S. security strategy views freedom as a national and a universal value. For On the Line, I'm--------.