Tough Love

“Our national security begins at home.” That’s the essence of the Obama Doctrine.

The public release of the new U.S. security strategy came nearly simultaneously with the announcement that the 1,000th soldier had been killed in Afghanistan. That was certainly just a coincidence, but it served also to emphasize the breadth of Obama’s new doctrine: on the one hand, U.S. casualties continue to mount with the troop surge in Afghanistan, suspected terrorists are liquidated remotely via drones, and a de facto execution order without benefit of a jury trial has been issued for the Yemeni firebrand Anwar al-Awlaki. Yet, on the other hand, Washington is putting more emphasis on international cooperation, partnerships, and even goes so far as to propose diplomatic contact with “hostile powers.”

While the arrogant George W. Bush was so fixated on demonstrating America’s military superiority and prosecuting his war on terror, Obama’s administration operates in many dimensions. The G-20 has a big role to play, as do the U.N., and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In addition, the focus is on relations with emerging powers like China and India. Obama’s tone may be more authoritative but U.S. interests —see Afghanistan— will not be represented any less compellingly.

The real innovation is Obama’s attention to the economy. Where Bush allowed too much slack in the budgetary reins because of his war, Obama above all grasps the real threat of the deficit. “Our national security begins at home” is the key phrase in the Obama Doctrine.