Where it originated...

http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm



Project for the New American Century



Statement of Principles

-----------------------

Jeb Bush    Dick Cheney    Donald Kagan    Donald Rumsfeld     Paul 
Wolfowitz



Elliott Abrams    Gary Bauer    William J. Bennett    

Eliot A. Cohen    Midge Decter    Paula Dobriansky    Steve Forbes

Aaron Friedberg    Francis Fukuyama    Frank Gaffney    Fred C. Ikle

Zalmay Khalilzad    I. Lewis Libby    Norman Podhoretz

Dan Quayle    Peter W. Rodman    Stephen P. Rosen    Henry S. Rowen

Vin Weber    George Weigel


-----------------------




June 3, 1997

American foreign and defense policy is adrift. Conservatives have 
criticized the incoherent policies of the Clinton Administration. They 
have also resisted isolationist impulses from within their own ranks. 
But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of 
America's role in the world. They have not set forth guiding principles 
for American foreign policy. They have allowed differences over tactics 
to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives. And they have 
not fought for a defense budget that would maintain American security 
and advance American interests in the new century. 

We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for 
American global leadership.


As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the 
world's preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold 
War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United 
States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades? 
Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable 
to American principles and interests?


We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the 
challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military 
investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past 
administrations. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending, 
inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are 
making it increasingly difficult to sustain American influence around 
the world. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens 
to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are 
jeopardizing the nation's ability to meet present threats and to deal 
with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.

We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan 
Administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet 
both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and 
purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national 
leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibilities.


Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its 
power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global 
leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America 
has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and 
the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges 
to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should 
have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises 
emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of this 
century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American 
leadership.

Our aim is to remind Americans of these lessons and to draw their 
consequences for today. Here are four consequences:


€ we need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to carry 
out our global 
responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future;


€ we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge 
regimes hostile to our interests and values;


€ we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad;


€ we need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in 
preserving and extending an international order friendly to our 
security, our prosperity, and our principles. 


Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not 
be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the United States is to 
build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security 
and our greatness in the next.