The document published last week by the White House outlining American security concerns, and the policy imperatives that flow from them, bears close reading.
It is no hastily put together expression of how the Bush Administration views the global landscape. It is, rather, a thoughtful and clear, but also cogent and determined, declaration of how the US will conduct itself when it concludes that it is under threat and, most importantly, when it feels that it has no option but to act alone.
In a brief introduction, President Bush extols the victory of freedom over tyranny that was the conclusion of the Cold War. And he champions the values of democrats everywhere: the freedom all men and women should have to express themselves without fear, choose their government without coercion, and the right to better themselves and their families through education and material acquisition. Some might quibble but few would dissent from the fundamentals of what the President says.
There is much in the substantive document that is also non-contentious. However, there will be grave concern - tinged, nonetheless, with a degree of understanding - at the emerging military strategy. Describing the world as seen from Washington, President Bush and his advisors identify the global threat from weapons of mass destruction as coming primarily from terrorist groups and dysfunctional rogue states.
The Cold War threat came from states that pursued a strategy of deterrence. Now, however, the enemy is one who wishes to resort to weapons of mass destruction as a primary tool of attack. Should any such enemy ever succeed, the appalling carnage of September 11th last year could pale into insignificance.
It is this perspective which is underpinning President Bush's policy of pre-emptive action. He refers to the "unique responsibilities" of the United States. They are unique indeed: at the start of the 21st century, the US is the only global superpower, a position that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. And that responsibility includes acting in concert with the rest of the civilised world.
The US says the case against Iraq is clear. The Americans, however, have yet to provide the evidence. There is near universal agreement that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and evil ruler. Let the President state his case, with evidence, to the United Nations.