The Obama administration Thursday unveiled its new national security strategy, recognizing the need for military force but as a last resort and stressing the need to increase international diplomatic cooperation.
President Barack Obama said in the 52-page document the military should be used but not overextended. And taking a wider view of national security, Mr. Obama highlighted the need for economic recovery, saying it is crucial to sustaining U.S. power.
This the first national security strategy of the Obama administration. The document is required by Congress of each president. President George W. Bush last issued one in 2006.
In a speech Wednesday, top counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan previewed the new strategy, saying it makes the problem of home-grown terrorists a top priority because an increasing number of individuals in the U.S. have become 'captivated by extremist ideology or causes.'
Earlier this month, a U.S. citizen was charged with trying to detonate a bomb in New York's Times Square.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Mr. Obama's national security advisor James Jones will each give separate speeches Thursday outlining aspects of the doctrine.
Brennan also said the new doctrine will make a major break with former President George W. Bush, by clearly stating that the conflict is with al-Qaida, and not a war on terror or on Islam.
Brennan also said the pressure on al-Qaida from anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq is forcing the organization to change its tactics and recruit "foot soldiers" who can slip through the U.S. security net.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
