Strategic Objectives

In at least one previous post I’ve noted the futility of discussing strategy in Iraq absent any clearly-stated strategic objective. If we don’t know where we want to end up, it’s pretty pointless discussing how we’re going to get there!

I’d like now to extend this notion beyond the Iraq quandary, and to suggest that most current political dialog centers on discussions of strategy with a glaring absence of any clearly articulated strategic objectives. Immigration, anti-terrorism, taxation, even the role of religion in politics – all are discussions of ‘how’, without context – “What do we want to achieve?”

“We need to limit Iran’s influence in the Persian Gulf.” Why? Because Iran is “bad”? What do we want to achieve in the Persian Gulf region? - what is our strategic objective?

“We need to restrict illegal immigration.” Why? Because it’s “illegal”? – this could be changed by legislative fiat immediately! What do we want an immigration policy to achieve?

Furthermore, I’ll assert again that discussions of strategy in the absence of well-articulated strategic objectives are fruitless: If we don’t know where we want to end up, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there!

So, what are the nation’s strategic objectives? I do not need polling or focus-groups or think-tanks to answer this question. The answer was provided 220 years ago, by the Framers:

United States Constitution
Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Here are our strategic objectives:
1) to form a more perfect union
2) to establish justice
3) to insure domestic tranquility
4) to provide for the common defense
5) to promote the general welfare
6) to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Let’s start here and see where it goes!