Obama security doctrine stresses diplomacy, economy

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Obama administration yesterday unveiled a new national security doctrine that would  join diplomatic engagement and economic discipline with  military power to bolster America’s standing in the world.

In a formal break with the go-it-alone Bush era, President  Barack Obama’s strategy called for expanding partnerships  beyond traditional U.S. allies to encompass rising powers like  China and India in order to share the international burden.

Faced with a struggling economy and record deficits, the  administration also acknowledged that boosting economic growth  and getting the U.S. fiscal house in order must be core  national security priorities. “At the center of our efforts is a commitment to renew our  economy, which serves as the wellspring of American power,” the  wide-ranging policy statement said.

Obama’s first official declaration of national security  goals, due to be released in full later on Thursday, pointedly  omitted predecessor George W. Bush’s policy of pre-emptive war  that alienated some U.S. allies.

Laying out a vision for keeping America safe as it fights  wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the document formalized Obama’s  intent to emphasize multilateral diplomacy over military might  as he tries to reshape the world order.

The administration even reiterated Obama’s determination to  try to engage with “hostile nations,” but warned  nuclear-defiant Iran and North Korea it possessed “multiple  means” to isolate them if they ignored international norms.

The National Security Strategy, required by law of every  president, is often a dry reaffirmation of existing positions  but is considered important because it can influence budgets  and legislation and is closely watched internationally.

Obama, who took office faced with the worst financial  crisis since the 1930s, took a clearer stand than any of his  predecessors in drawing the link between America’s economic  health at home and its stature overseas.

“We must renew the foundation of America’s strength,” the  document said, asserting that the sustained economic growth  hinges on putting the country on a “fiscally sustainable path”  and also urging reduced dependence on foreign oil sources.

There was no discussion of what has become an emerging  consensus in foreign policy circles — that heavy U.S.  indebtedness to countries like China poses a national security  problem.

But the report did reflect Washington’s enigmatic  relationship with Beijing, praising it for taking a more active  role in world affairs while insisting it must do so  responsibly. It reiterated unease over China’s military  buildup, saying the United States would “prepare accordingly”  to ensure its interests and allies are protected.

Bush used his first policy statement in 2002 to stake out  the right to unilateral and pre-emptive military action against  countries and terrorist groups deemed threats to the United  States in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Obama’s plan implicitly distanced his administration from  what became known as the Bush Doctrine and underpinned the 2003  U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

While renewing previous presidents’ commitment to preserve  U.S. conventional military superiority, the doctrine laid out  on Thursday put an official stamp on Obama’s departure from  what Bush’s critics called “cowboy diplomacy.”

“We need to be clear-eyed about the strengths and  shortcomings of international institutions,” the document said.  But it insisted the United States did not have the option to  “walk away.”

“Instead, we must focus American engagement on  strengthening international institutions and galvanizing the  collective action that can serve common interests such as  combating violent extremism, stopping the spread of nuclear  weapons and securing nuclear materials, achieving balanced and  sustainable economic growth, and forging cooperative solutions  to the threat of climate change,” it said.

Obama’s insistence the United States cannot act alone in  the world was also a message to current and emerging powers  that they must shoulder their share of the burden.