2006 National Security Strategy of the United States

National security refers to the public policy of maintaining the integrity and survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy, in times of peace and war.

Following the terrorist September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, and subsequent terrorist incidents around the world, national security has become a paramount concern for many governments and societies. The measures adopted to maintain national security in the face of threats to society has in turn led to ongoing dialectic, particularly in liberal democracies, on the appropriate scale and role of authority in matters of civil and human rights.

Public discourse on these issues has highlighted the tension that exists between the preservation of the state (by maintaining self-determination and sovereignty) and the rights and freedoms of individuals.

On March 16, 2006, the White House released President Bush’s second term National Security Strategy (NSS), which reflects the President’s most solemn obligation: to protect the security of the American people. The NSS explains how the United States governemnt is working to protect the American people, advance American interests, enhance global security, and expand global liberty and prosperity.

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