A dialectical and symbiotic connection, perhaps an escalating and vicious cycle, exists between the [growth of the American Empire and the growth of Islamic terrorism], and the world is about to witness a titanic and explosive struggle between them.

The administration's National Security Strategy forthrightly commits to ‘fighting terrorists and tyrants’ and ‘encouraging free and open societies on every continent.’ What it ignores is that these two goals often conflict. … Which should take priority: America's commitment to its ideals, or a concern for its safety? … The strategy offers no advice on how to answer these questions.

The Bush administration's national security policies, if fully and unilaterally implemented, will severely stress United States relations with Russia and China. … These policies would also deal a serious blow to the international treaty regimes developed over the past 30 years to control the spread of weapons of mass destruction and that continue to enjoy universal support and approval.