"We must define our effort not as a boundless 'Global War on Terror,' but rather as a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America... Beyond the use of force, we must also recognize that security is not a matter of military action alone. Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue. But this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands."
— President Barack Obama, Address at the National Defense University, May 23, 2013
The perspective expressed in the excerpt most directly reflects which of the following developments in United States foreign policy during the early twenty-first century?
- Growing political debates over the scope and duration of military interventions against non-state actors.Answer
- BA return to containment strategies focused primarily on deterring traditional nation-state adversaries.
- CThe consolidation of bipartisan support for expanding unilateral executive authority in conducting foreign campaigns.
- DA shift toward isolationism to completely withdraw from international security alliances.
Answer
Growing political debates over the scope and duration of military interventions against non-state actors.
The correct answer is correct because President Obama's speech directly addresses the domestic and international debate regarding the limits and duration of the military campaigns initiated after the September 11 attacks, expressing a desire to move away from a perpetual state of global war toward more focused counterterrorism actions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The War on Terror and Post-9/11 Security
Estimated Time:1m 30s