Center for American Progress Center for American Progress
Issues National Security National Security Strategy

National Security Strategy

Top Features

A National Strategy for Global Development

A National Strategy for Global Development

Reuben Brigety and Sabina Dewan offer a strategy for protecting America and our world through sustainable security.
In Search of Sustainable Security

In Search of Sustainable Security

This report, the first in a series of six, provides analysis and recommendations for a new approach that combines national security, human security, and collective security.

Other National Security Strategy Features

July 2, 2009

Weekly Round Up: June 29 - July 2, 2009

This week CAP proposed a new U.S. Russia policy, offered ways to finance health care reform, and laid out the basics on the green bank.
June 24, 2009

Nuclear Security Cooperation Between the United States and Pakistan

A survey by Andrew J. Grotto and Michelle Hammer catalogues nuclear security cooperation between the United States and Pakistan from 2000 to 2009. By Andrew J. Grotto, Michelle Hammer
June 23, 2009

Establish "Rules of the Road" in the Gulf

In the past four months, two European submarines carrying nuclear weapons collided in the Atlantic Ocean, Chinese ships harassed a U.S. Navy vessel in the South China Sea, an American nuclear submarine ran into the USS New Orleans in the Strait of Hormuz, and a Chinese submarine collided with an underwater sonar array towed by the U.S. destroyer John S. McCain off the coast of the Philippines. By Lawrence J. Korb, Trita Parsi
June 19, 2009

Weekly Round Up: June 15 - 19, 2009

This week CAP argued for applying human rights standards to domestic policies, showed how sound environmental policy can be sound economic policy, and stressed the importance of getting financial regulation right.
June 19, 2009

Credible Missile Defenses Needed

North Korea’s latest saber-rattling shows we need reliable antimissile defenses for real threats, writes Andrew Grotto. By Andrew J. Grotto
June 9, 2009

An Important First Step in Actually Closing Guantánamo

The trial of a top Al Qaeda official in a U.S. court is a major step toward closing the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, writes Ken Gude. By Ken Gude
June 8, 2009

Una Decisión Histórica Sobre Cuba

La Organización de Estados Americanos aprobaron la reintegración de Cuba al sistema interamericano, pero las intenciones de la isla en unirse siguen en vilo, como lo explica Stephanie Miller. By Stephanie Miller
June 3, 2009

Cooperating with China in Latin America

The United States should find ways to turn China’s growing presence in Latin America and the Caribbean into an opportunity, writes Stephanie Miller. By Stephanie Miller
June 2, 2009

Out of the Torture Photo Box

Transparency can be achieved without a photo release, but only with full public account of torture investigations, writes Ken Gude. By Ken Gude
June 2, 2009

Ask the Expert: Why Do We Need a National Strategy for Global Development?

Sabina Dewan explains why the United States needs a national strategy for global development and what that would look like. By Sabina Dewan
May 29, 2009

Weekly Round Up: May 26 - 29, 2009

CAP offered recommendations for next steps in Pakistan, explained why we need health reform, and showed support building for immigration reform.
May 27, 2009

Meeting the Challenges in Pakistan

Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman report on the current situation in Pakistan and how to move U.S. strategy forward. By Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis, Colin Cookman
May 27, 2009

Video: Pakistan: Experts in the Field

Lawrence Korb, Brian Katulis, and Colin Cookman recently returned from a research trip to Pakistan, and this video chronicles what they found.
May 22, 2009

Back on Track to Close Guantánamo

President Barack Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney outlined two very different approaches to Guantánamo yesterday, writes Ken Gude. By Ken Gude
May 15, 2009

CAP Congratulates Rudy deLeon

CAP's SVP for National Security and International Policy tapped to chair Defense Department's National Security Personnel System review.
May 15, 2009

Weekly Round Up: May 11 - 15, 2009

This week CAP provided a new antitrust agenda for today's economy, evaluated several energy proposals before Congress, and released new reports on the progressive Millenial Generation.
April 29, 2009

Securing America’s Energy Independence Through Energy Diversification

Report by Shiyong Park, Winny Chen, and Rudy deLeon makes the case for America's diversification of energy. By Shiyong Park, Winny Chen, Rudy deLeon
April 24, 2009

Korb vs. vanden Heuvel

The Center for American Progress's Lawrence Korb debates Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher of The Nation, for the website Rethink Afghanistan. By Lawrence J. Korb
April 23, 2009

Bush's Willing Torturers

We now know that legal opinions were merely retroactive cover. The Bush administration's first instinct was toward abuse, writes Ken Gude in The Guardian online. By Ken Gude
April 17, 2009

Weekly Round Up: April 13 - 17, 2009

This week CAP developed new approaches to U.S. relations with Latin America, examined how the recession is affecting African-American men, and more.
April 15, 2009

Lessons from Iraq: Using Aid Effectively in Afghanistan and Pakistan

CAP explores the lessons from Iraq and the challenges in Afghanistan with the special inspector generals who are leading reconstruction efforts in both countries.
April 9, 2009

Pride and Providence

President Obama wants to restore American global leadership to its post-WWII bearings, write Spencer P. Boyer and Ken Gude. That’s exceptional. By Spencer P. Boyer, Ken Gude
April 8, 2009

Una Estrategia Regional Para la Lucha Contra las Drogas en las Americas

La administración de Barack Obama debe elaborar una estrategia regional e integral para impedir que la violencia relacionada con las drogas trascienda más allá de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, relata Stephanie Miller. By Stephanie Miller
April 2, 2009

Reassessing Foreign Assistance to Pakistan

Lawrence J. Korb offers recommendations for U.S. engagement in Pakistan and a bold new approach for the region. By Lawrence J. Korb
March 31, 2009

The Next Likely Step for Terror Networks Is More Attacks in the Heart of Pakistan

Terrorist attacks in Pakistan are likely to escalate, and stopping them will require intelligence, police work, and government's efforts, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul. By Brian Katulis, Peter Juul
March 30, 2009

Pakistan Requires a Sustainable Security Strategy

Brian Katulis discusses the current state of affairs in Pakistan and what the Obama administration can do to work politically, diplomatically, and economically in the country. By Brian Katulis
March 27, 2009

Weekly Round Up: March 23 -27, 2009

This week the Center continued its focus on Afghanistan, looked at ways to improve health care, and analyzed new unemployment numbers.
March 26, 2009

Obama's European Listening Tour

At the 45th Munich conference on security policy in February, vice-president Joe Biden reminded America's European allies that the United States is ready to listen again. Referring to President Barack Obama's strategic review of US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan in advance of Nato's 60th anniversary summit, Biden noted: "We seek ideas and input from you and all of our partners." By Rudy deLeon, Spencer P. Boyer
March 24, 2009

Sustainable Security in Afghanistan

Report from Lawrence Korb, Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Sean Duggan provides recommendations for a lasting security in Afghanistan. By Lawrence J. Korb, Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, Sean Duggan
March 20, 2009

Assessing the Debates: Development, Diplomacy, and Defense as a Policy Framework

Lawrence J. Korb speaks on development, diplomacy, and defense as a policy framework at the AFRICOM Conference at the University of Pittsburgh. By Lawrence J. Korb
March 20, 2009

Reforming Weapon Systems Acquisition

The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act could rein in Defense Department spending, writes Krisila Benson. By Krisila Benson
March 20, 2009

Using Foreign Assistance for Success

At a CAP event, Reuben Brigety, Director of the Sustainable Security Program, discussed his new report on why we need to overhaul U.S. policy in Afghanistan and other war-torn regions.
March 19, 2009

Swords and Ploughshares

A report by Reuben Brigety presents the results of a simulation exercise to assess the impact of U.S. foreign assistance in Afghanistan. By Reuben Brigety
March 18, 2009

Striking the Appropriate Balance

CAP Action's Reuben Brigety testifies before the U.S House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Department of Defense's expanding role in foreign assistance. By Reuben Brigety
March 12, 2009

Video: Sustainable Security in Action

Video documents a simulation where experts apply the sustainable security approach to foreign affairs to operations in Afghanistan.
February 27, 2009

A Reinvigoration of International Cooperation

MP Des Browne discusses the future of the United States and the international community at a CAP event.
February 6, 2009

World Publics Optimistic About Obama Presidency

Public opinion analysis from Ruy Teixeira shows that world publics believe Obama will improve relations and that he should start with the economy and Iraq. By Ruy Teixeira
January 22, 2009

Closing Guantanamo, Restoring American Values

President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo and the secret CIA prisons shows the world the the United States is back and ready to lead. By Ken Gude
January 6, 2009

Closing Guantánamo 101

Why we need to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay and six steps to get there.
January 5, 2009

The New New Deal Goes Global

What is missing so far from today's talk of a progressive-era-in-the-making is a unifying agenda for American foreign policy that will leave the world safer and more prosperous when President-elect Obama leaves office. By Nina Hachigian
December 12, 2008

Putting Aid and Trade to Work

Sabina Dewan and Reuben Brigety discuss how to foster sustainable security with international development. By Sabina Dewan, Reuben Brigety
December 8, 2008

Stop this Fiasco

Ken Gude on why the U.S. secretary of defesce must close down the Guantánamo military commissions before any more damage is done. By Ken Gude
December 1, 2008

The Case for Keeping Gates

Brian Katulis and Nancy Soderberg called for Obama to keep Gates months ago in this Washington Post op-ed. By Brian Katulis
December 1, 2008

Obama's National Security Challenges

Lawrence J. Korb talks about the national security issues that the Obama administration will have to address, and what it should prioritize. By Lawrence J. Korb
December 1, 2008

Scholars’ Statement of Principles for the New President on U.S. Detention Policy

A statement from several prominent scholars on principles for the new president and Congress on U.S. detention policies. By Catherine Powell
November 20, 2008

A Post-Cold War President

In Washington, cold war thinking dies hard, but President-elect Barack Obama knows we need to confront 21st century issues, writes Nina Hachigian. By Nina Hachigian
November 17, 2008

Orienting the 2009 Nuclear Posture Review

Andrew Grotto and Joseph Cirincione identify and provide recommendations for the key nuclear policy issues that demand senior-level attention. By Andrew J. Grotto, Joseph Cirincione
November 17, 2008

Partnership for Progress

Report from Caroline Wadhams, Brian Katulis, Lawrence J. Korb, and Colin Cookman offers a new strategy for prosperity and stability in Pakistan and the region. By Caroline Wadhams, Brian Katulis, Lawrence J. Korb, Colin Cookman
November 13, 2008

The Price of Prevention

The fourth report in the Sustainable Security series by Gayle Smith, David Sullivan, and Andrew Sweet looks at how to deal with global crises before they occur. By Gayle Smith, David Sullivan, Andrew Sweet
November 12, 2008

U.S. Must Suspend Deal If India Tests Another Nuke

On Oct. 1, while the attention of the Congress and the country was understandably focused on the presidential election and our economic crisis, Congress approved the controversial U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement. By Lawrence J. Korb, Winny Chen

» More

Where We Stand on National Security

CAP’s national security approach embodies progressive traditions that have protected our nation and nurtured our democratic ideals and freedom at home and abroad. Our policy priorities secure our country from attack and protect our national security interests abroad by ensuring our military forces are capable and ready, and our democratic alliances are strong and enduring. We understand that integrated military, diplomatic, and economic power guided by progressive ideals makes us safer and more prosperous.