Research & Debate—Still Worth Dying For: National Interests and the Nature of Strategy

At their most abstract, U.S. national interests are simple: to ensure the security and prosperity of the American people in the global environment. But distinguishing core strategic interests—those for which Americans would be willing to die—from significant interests that might require commitment of treasure, blood, time, and energy is almost never easy

Still Worth Fighting Over? A Joint Response

Readers may recall that in the Autumn 2002 issue of the Naval War College Review, Professor James F. Miskel, of the National Security Decision Making Department, argued that the U.S. government often defines national interests in such general terms that its specific goals are not clearly communicated to the American public and to other governments.1 In the Spring 2003 issue, Professor P. H. Liotta, also of the National Security Decision Making Department, responded with a counter- essay arguing that while distinguishing core strategic interests—those for which Americans would be willing to die—from significant interests is almost never easy, it is also essential