The US government's recent National Security Strategy (NSS) Report has aroused strong dissatisfaction from many countries including China who has lodged a strong representation to the US. The report has again stressed 'preemptive' military attack to some countries and irresponsibly comment other countries' domestic policies. But compared with the report in 2002, there are some noteworthy changes.

First of all, the report didn't mention to 'change government with military force', indicating a weaker bellicose strategy. Obviously, the huge military expenditure and moral dilemma brought about by the Iraq war and the reconstruction in Iraq have taught the US a serious lesson. It has to face the fact that it is not conducive to solving the US security problem only to rely on military force.

The report says that 'anti-terrorism is not only a military war but also a war of thought.' 'The most effective long-term measure for conflict prevention and resolution is the promotion of democracy'. However, because the election results in Palestine and Latin America didn't satisfy America, the report gave a special adjective to democracy, that is effective democracy, meaning elections through ballot votes in those countries are not effective ones.

Secondly, the new report prioritizes diplomatic solution to international disputes. Analysts hold that although the words 'preemptive attack' are still there, they are only for putting pressures to countries like Iran.

It says 'to avoid confrontation, diplomatic efforts must be successful.' The report on the one hand admits that as long as Iran fulfills its relevant obligations, it will have the right to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, on the other hand, distinguishes the Iranian government from its people. The purpose of attempting to realize domestic evolution through subversive diplomatic means is quite obvious.

On the Korean nuclear issue, the report expresses the same mindset, holding 'regional cooperation has provided the best hope to solve the problem through diplomatic and peaceful solution.'

A political science professor in Chicago calls it 'Wilsonism with teeth' and points out that 'here there is a subtle but very important shift, that is to go away from resort to arms.'

Some commentators point out that the report also shows the weakening of unilateralism. The report has such titles like 'Strengthen Alliances to Defeat Global Terrorism and Work to Prevent Attacks Against Us and Our Friends'; 'Work with Others to Defuse Regional Conflicts'; 'Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power'.

Obviously, the US government has realized that the global challenge has surpassed the military and security issue of any single country and effective multinational efforts are essential to solve these problems. People still remember the US politicians' despising words to the United Nations and the European Union, but now they have to use the UN and EU to help solve the Iranian nuclear issue.

The preface of the report says the US power should also be strengthened by the strong allies, friendship and international organizations.

The development of the international situation, especially the three year Iraq war has finally made the US draw such a conclusion, an ambitious national strategy is required, but it has to admit that even as strong as the US, there is limitation to rely on its own strength to achieve any achievements.

Thus an analyst says the current US administration is not that neo-conservative government four years ago, it tends to be more pragmatic.

(People's Daily March 28, 2006)