Trump’s national security strategy is a welcome shift away from ‘war on terror’ policies
Michael Edesess says a recent speech by US Defence Secretary James Mattis focusing on China and Russia as adversaries is actually something to celebrate, because it shifts focus from the post-9/11 policies that damaged the US’ security and reputation
Mattis said: “We will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we’re engaged in today, but great power competition, not terrorism , is now the primary focus of US national security” (emphasis added).
When the future histories of the US are written, these words – uttered by Mattis in his uncharismatic fashion – will mark a memorable turning point in US policy.
For the past 16 years, the US has entrapped itself in vicious internal disputes, wrong-headed policies and actions that resulted directly from the 9/11 attacks.
Osama bin Laden must be chortling in his grave, as the US political disruptions that were the goal of the attacks have been as effective as they possibly could be.