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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

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US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis speaks following a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu (right) in Jakarta on January 23. Mattis, a former US Marine Corps general, has declared the new Trump administration’s national security strategy a turn towards a focus on “great power competition”. Photo: AP
Last week, reports of a massive increase in US defence spending confirmed the momentous shift in America’s national security policy that defence secretary James Mattis announced on January 19 in Washington.
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His announcement, though highly noteworthy, was only lightly reported in the United States

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.

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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.

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