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285792255
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Security Council [1992]
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285792255
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Security Council [1992]
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Records pertain to the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
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62071-001
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Records of the White House Office of Science and Technology (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Allan D. Bromley Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
2005-0336-F
2005-0336-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Science and Technology Policy, Office of (OSTP)
Series:
Bromley, D. Allan, Files
Subseries:
National Security Files
OA/ID Number:
62071
Folder ID Number:
62071-001
Folder Title:
Security Council [1992]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
0
0
0
O
FILE
2 COPIES
MY BB TAB G
FILE 20
Subject
Date Sent to file
Post-it™ file request pad 7667
BRAND
I, January 27, 1992
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
19
GUY STUART STAFF
What 'Security'
Means Now
Outmoded concepts hamstring policymaking
some new "national security" tent,
however configured.
By Peter Tarnoff
Instead of these semantic con-
and Gregory F. Treverton
tortions, it would be better to
honorably retire the term "na-
tional security," which has come
O
LD phrases, like old poli-
to mean defense against external
cies, die hard after the
threats framed primarily in strate-
end of the cold war. Take
gic terms and freighted with mili-
"national security," an expression
tary baggage. Today this is an un-
that hardly existed before 1945,
necessarily restrictive, and po-
but, once canonized in the Na-
tentially damaging, way for the
tional Security Act of 1947 that
United States to think about its
created the National Security
new international responsibilities.
Council, was everywhere.
If, for example, America's drug
Virtually every American ini-
problem is brought under the "na-
tiative in foreign affairs for more
tional security" tent, it is tempting
than 40 years was taken in the
to view the problem as a threat
tional security agenda. Any na-
fense policies. This rigid separa-
missed an opportunity to inte-
name of "national security." The
from abroad against which the US
tional strategy for rebuilding eco-
tion has contributed in part to the
grate his "national security" and
presidential assistant for national
military can be of major help -
nomic competitiveness must inte-
surge of unhappiness with the
"domestic" staffs under a single
security affairs (or national secu-
impulses that mispose the threat
grate domestic and foreign
president for spending too much
assistant for national policy, sep-
rity adviser) came to rival the sec-
and deform the response.
components - a task for which
time on America's place in the
arate from his chief of staff. The
retary of state for influence with
Economic and environmental
the traditional national security
world and not enough on the con-
mission for this assistant and the
successive presidents.
threats - part international, part
perspective is too confining.
dition of Americans at home.
combined staff would be to de-
Today there is a frenzy of ac-
internal but both high on the list
Moreover, "national security"
Bridging this gap between the
sign national policies. They
tivity aimed at trying to redefine
of public worries - can be simi-
as an operational credo encour-
country's foreign and domestic
should have free rein to range all
"national security" - including at
larly distorted if they are viewed
ages administrations and Con-
needs is a matter both of percep-
across the expanse of issues -
the Council on Foreign Relations.
through the lens of "national se-
gress to keep separate the domes-
tions and policies. The adminis-
public and private, domestic and
The Soviet menace has all but dis-
curity." Because more Americans
tic and foreign strands of national
tration and Congress could begin
foreign - that must be weighed in
appeared. What, we all ask, are
now feel threatened by the Japa-
policy. For decades, segmented
by modifying the governmental
the making of national policies.
the new threats to national secu-
nese economy than by the Krem-
bureaucracies have addressed dif-
structures that perpetuate the
It is not that all the old "na-
rity? Politicians courting voters
lin's nuclear arsenal should not
ferent pieces of policy, with pride
tendency to deal piecemeal with
tional security" issues have disap-
and institutes courting funders
imply simply that the former has
of place given to "national secu-
national issues. When John Su-
peared Arms control, the prolif-
search frantically for places under
replaced the latter atop the na-
rity" defined as foreign and de-
nunu resigned, the president
eration of weapons of mass
destruction, and regional conflict
- to name just a few - will con-
Bush Library Photocopy
tinue to require attention. But
Preservation
even these can no longer be re-
garded in splendid "national secu-
rity" isolation, for thev now figure
impulses that mispose the threat
grate
domesuc
components - a task for which
time on America's place in the
arate from his chief of stan. the
security affairs (or national secu-
rity adviser) came to rival the sec-
and deform the response.
world and not enough on the con-
mission for this assistant and the
retary of state for influence with
Economic and environmental
the traditional national security
threats - part international, part
perspective is too confining.
dition of Americans at home.
combined staff would be to de-
successive presidents.
Moreover, "national security"
Bridging this gap between the
sign national policies. They
Today there is a frenzy of ac-
internal but both high on the list
country's foreign and domestic
should have free rein to range all
of public worries - can be simi-
as an operational credo encour-
needs is a matter both of percep-
across the expanse of issues -
tivity aimed at trying to redefine
"national security" - including at
larly distorted if they are viewed
ages administrations and Con-
through the lens of "national se-
gress to keep separate the domes-
tions and policies. The adminis-
public and private, domestic and
the Council on Foreign Relations.
tic and foreign strands of national
tration and Congress could begin
foreign - that must be weighed in
The Soviet menace has all but dis-
curity." Because more Americans
policy. For decades, segmented
by modifying the governmental
the making of national policies.
appeared. What, we all ask, are
now feel threatened by the Japa-
structures that perpetuate the
It is not that all the old "na-
nese economy than by the Krem-
bureaucracies have addressed dif-
tendency to deal piecemeal with
tional security" issues have disap-
the new threats to national secu-
lin's nuclear arsenal should not
ferent pieces of policy, with pride
rity? Politicians courting voters
national issues. When John Su-
peared. Arms control, the prolif-
imply simply that the former has
of place given to "national secu-
and institutes courting funders
rity" defined as foreign and de-
nunu resigned, the president
eration of weapons of mass
replaced the latter atop the na-
destruction, and regional conflict
search frantically for places under
-- to name just a few - will con-
tinue to require attention. But
even these can no longer be re-
garded in splendid "national secu-
rity" isolation, for they now figure
in the stormy public debate over
budgetary priorities, industrial
policies, education, and federal
funding for research. During the
Gulf war, Mr. Bush did not make
the case for an American military
commitment solely on "national
security" grounds; public support
for the war stayed high in part be-
cause oil was at stake and foreign
governments paid the bill. At one
point, the administration ad-
vanced "jobs" as the reason for
US troops in the Gulf.
We will have a better chance of
coping with old and new chal-
lenges if "national security" is re-
tired from our lexicon. Americans
will work harder for a national
purpose if the White House and
Congress offer a national strategy
and a national agenda reflecting
the nation's interests - setting
aside the old "national security"
trumpet used to summon the
spirit to action and sacrifice as in
the past.
Peter Tarnoff is president of
the Council on Foreign Rela-
tions. Gregory F. Treverton is
senior fellow at the council,
Bush Library Photocopy
where he directs the Pew
Preservation
Project on America's Task in a
Changed World.
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
01. Paper
Environment and National Security (11 pp.)
2/7/92
(b)(1)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Science and Technology Policy, Office of (OSTP)
Series:
Bromley, D. Allan, Files
Subseries:
National Security Files
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
Security Council [1992]
Date Closed:
5/12/2010
OA/ID Number:
62071-001
FOIA/SYS Case #:
2005-0336-F
Appeal Case #:
Re-review Case #:
Appeal Disposition:
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
Disposition Date:
AR Case #:
MR Case #:
AR Disposition:
MR Disposition:
AR Disposition Date:
MR Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
PRM. Removed as a personal record misfile.