Obsession for National Security - Essay Example

Obsession with national security makes it hard to differentiate genuine need for security and unnecessary mistrust and suspicion among the countries of the world. Also, by overemphasizing national security, the government undermines other sectors that require funding.

Additionally, it leads to wars and portrays America’s expansionist tendencies. In Obsession for National Security, LaMothe offers a Pastoral-psychological perspective on America’s hunger for security. He portrays America as mistrustful and insecure, which makes her overly suspicious of other states, especially those which do not support her ideologies. He points out how America has disregarded God in her pursuit of security. According to LaMothe, America idolizes national security, an act that promotes bad faith.

He recognizes the need for America to use other means to protect her security, and the need to be tactical about her national security. America needs to intensify its security. America should do whatever it takes to ensure maximum security. The events of 9/11 triggered the need for America to beef up her security. (Thomas, 392) analyses the effects of 9/11 and notes that America, being the power of powers, must provide security. As the sole superpower, America has the mandate of providing security.

(Cordesman, 208) provides a risk assessment of global terrorism and highlights the great responsibility America has towards achieving the same. (Thomas, 440) supports this argument and commends America’s role in weakening Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. He points out that America needed to achieve total success in the mission because partial success would only come back to haunt her. The pursuit of security requires great compromise. America’s obsession with national security has made her compromise her citizen’s privacy.

(Baker and Kavanagh, 208; and Howard, 265) highlight the thin line between liberty and security. (Harris, 1-100) describes the government’s surveillance powers following 9/11. The government has updated spying technology that advances its security but infringes on people’s rights. It has come up with a high-tech spy-craft that includes extensive surveillance on citizens’ phone calls and e-mails. In conclusion, the threats America faces have made security its top priority (Cothran, 208).

However, defense spending must be justified. Appropriating huge chunks of money in defense is not enough to ensure national and international security. (Gardner, 203) notes that America should shift gears and use other strategies such as diplomacy and strengthening the United Nations to achieve national security. The war on terrorism should not only be based on the obvious methods of eliminating terrorists. (Clark and Graeme, 303) identify terrorists as political criminals who can be prevented from committing crimes by denying them opportunities that enhance their activities.

National security should not be an obsession to the extent that it makes America compromise by giving financial aid to her enemies (Gertz, 208). In addition, the desire for national security should not portray her goals as expansionist.