The State of the National Security State

The 1947 National Security Act established the basis for the American national security state in the Cold War. The fundamental framework of that state still exists over a decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Should it continue, particularly in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks? If not, why not, and how should it be altered? The purpose of this article is to set the stage for answering these questions. Two themes dominate. The first involves the proper mix of change and continuity, a key concern in a transitional period. This theme is examined against the backdrop of three interconnected aspects of American history since 1945: core US national interests; the concept of US national security and its foreign and domestic components envisioned as serving those interests; and the US grand strategy designed to support the concept of national security. The second theme is on the form and function of government: How well since the onset of the Cold War has the form of US government functioned in order to meet the requirements of US grand strategy designed to further America's core interests?