General Strategy and U.S. Foreign Policy

In the 21st century, instead of devoting tremendous national resources—blood and treasure—to defending the entire world against all manner of threats, the United States should behave as a normal great power. Like any great power, the United States must vigorously protect its vital national security interests using many means, including force. Absent a hegemonic threat, such as the Soviet Union, however, the United States should be able to rise above most day-to-day turmoil around the globe.

More on General Strategy and U.S. Foreign Policy

Commentary

Erase the Red Line

By John Mueller. Foreign Affairs. April 30, 2013.

Syria: The Only Red Line Should be to Stay Out

By Doug Bandow. Forbes. April 29, 2013.

Dear Rand Paul: Keep Fighting the Fight on Drones

By Malou Innocent. US News and World Report Online. April 25, 2013.

More Commentary

Cato Studies

China, America, and the Pivot to Asia

By Justin Logan. Policy Analysis No. 717. January 8, 2013.

Congress Surrenders the War Powers: Libya, the United Nations, and the Constitution

By John Samples. Policy Analysis No. 687. October 27, 2011.

Beyond Symbolism? The U.S. Nuclear Disarmament Agenda and Its Implications for Chinese and Indian Nuclear Policy

By Lavina Lee. Foreign Policy Briefing No. 91. February 8, 2011.

More Cato Studies

Articles

Delusions of Indispensability

Ted Galen Carpenter. National Interest. No. 124. 2013.

The Balkan Wars of the 1990s

Ted Galen Carpenter. Oxford Encyclopedia of American Military and Diplomatic History. 2012.

Why the U.S. Military Budget Is Foolish and Sustainable

Benjamin H. Friedman and Justin Logan. Orbis. Spring 2012.

More Articles

Public Filings

Escaping the Trap: Why the United States Must Leave Iraq

By Ted Galen Carpenter. Testimony. January 11, 2007.

The Law of the Sea Treaty: Inconsistent With American Interests

By Doug Bandow. Testimony. April 8, 2004.

The U.S. Role in Kosovo

By Doug Bandow. Testimony. March 10, 1999.

More Public Filings

Reviews & Journals

How Will a Culture of Permanent War Impact America’s Future?

Policy Report. March/April 2013.

Neoconservatism Unmasked

C. Bradley Thompson. Cato's Letter. Summer 2011.

Showing Restraint Abroad

Joe Scarborough. Cato's Letter. Summer 2010.

Events

Drones and the New Way of War

Featuring Malou Innocent and Benjamin H. Friedman. April 22, 2013. Policy Forum.

The War in Afghanistan: What Went Wrong?

Featuring Malou Innocent. April 5, 2013. Policy Forum.

The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War

Featuring Christopher A. Preble. March 18, 2013. Book Forum.

More Events

Downsizing the Federal Government

Rightsizing U.S. Ground Forces

By Christopher A. Preble. November 2010.