[BlessingsofLiberty]

Interesting comparison of the Reagan policy verses Bush Policy. Both very similar in design.

Perhaps a comparative study of bombing Libya (Terrorism) verses Aghanistan (harboring/promoting terrorism) vs Clinton’s straying from a first strike capability to being attacked first and then responding.

Iraq and Iran, for better or worse, will be classified under the same framework. A terrorist state possessing WMDs or nuclear capabilities.

[thefrankbaum]

I wouldn't consider Iraq under the same framework as Iran, unless you mean Baathist Iraq. I would also argue that Bush 41's position began to move towards what became the Clinton Doctrine, where we began by taking immediate action against Panama and Grenada, and later obviously waited for Saddam to invade Kuwait before beginning to marshal forces (even letting the ambassador comment "we don't care about Arab disputes," in so many words). Now, certainly there are differences (availabilities of bases, etc.) but I believe that was the start of leaning back on our heels.

However, whereas Reagan's policies were primarily focused on meeting the Soviets where they went (via direct action and support of democratic governments/guerrillas), the Bush Doctrine focuses on eliminating threats before they mature. IMHO, that is a departure from previous doctrines.