Excerpt:
The United States must and will maintain the capability to defeat any attempt by an enemy—whether a state or non-state actor—to impose its will on the United States, our allies, or our friends.We will maintain the forces sufficient to support our obligations, and to defend freedom. Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equaling, the power of the United States.
One can take two approaches to the significance of this element of Bush's national security strategy. One can take the limited view that this applies only to those international actors who directly and overtly threaten or impede American interests. One can take the expansive view that this applies to any state actor with the potential to rival America's global position, at any future point in time, even if currently in alliance. My interpretation of this policy directive is that the latter description is most accurate and would apply, by example, to both the China in its present incarnation as well as to a federalized European Union.