The 2010 national security strategy report is the first report prepared by

Obama administration. Such reports are sparingly produced despite a 1986

law requiring an annual strategic report from the President to the Congress.
In this report, the Obama administration intends to depend on a strong
domestic economy as a crucial part of national security, in addition of
commitment to education, clean energy, science and technology, and a
reduced federal deficit. This report has vastly broadened the definition of
what constitutes national security, and represents a clear divergence from
the Bush strategy of unilateral military action against terrorism.
This report clearly suggest that the Obama administration does not view
absolute military superiority is enough to maintain and grow US influence in
the world. The report refers to overall competitiveness, with military strength
being only a part of the equation. In accordance of this new assessment, the
report prioritized economic growth throughout. The report also contained
statements about fiscal responsibility, with sections specifically allocated to
how to spend taxpayers dollars wisely. Bush administration, in contrast, was
much less concerned about the economic implications of maintaining military
superiority. It is undisputed that events in 2008 significantly affected the
outlook of global economy, and is now impacting military budget and
consequentially national security strategy.
Another significant change from the Bush administration found in this report
is the comprehensive engagement with other countries. Engagement is
not explicitly defined in the report, but methods of engagement include:
diplomacy, military cooperation, financial transaction and civil relationship.
The report emphasized a close relation with US allies such as United
Kingdom, France and Germany. According to the report further US influence
is to be attained with diplomatic engagement with non-allies of US to
facilitate[e] global cooperation on issues ranging from violent extremism
and nuclear proliferation, to climate change, and global economic instability.
Engagement is also to be extended to adversarial governments, and if the
said governments do not comply, international isolation would be used
against them.
This strategy report, in sum, is a strong contrast with Bushs 2002 and 2006
Security Strategies, with main emphasis on economic development and
engagement with international community with a multilateral approach. The
section regarding use of force should be interpreted as a last resort, rather
than an impending threat to adversarial governments. The report does
leave certain issues open, such as a lack of rejection on pre-emptive self-

defense. Obama administration also continues to state the US is at war with

a far-reaching network of violence and terror, a minor adjustment from
Bushs global war on terror.