National Security Strategy

Mr. Hadley talked about the Bush administration’s continued commitment to a preemptive defense strategy outlined in a National Security Strategy document, required by law, and released the same day. He said that the doctrine of preemptive war against terrorists and hostile states with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons had grown out of a robust view of America’s power and an assertive view of its responsibility to bring change around the world in areas including genocide, human trafficking and AIDS. Following his remarks he answered questions from the audience.

The doctrine committed the administration to speaking out against human rights abuses, holding high-level meetings at the White House with reformers from repressive nations, using foreign aid to support elections and civil society, and applying sanctions against oppressive governments. It also singled out seven nations as prime examples of “despotic systems” -- North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Belarus, Burma and Zimbabw close