1997 Annual Defense Report Table of Contents - Air Force Magazine

CONCLUSION
America's defense strategy aims first and foremost to protect the life, property, and way of life of its
citizens. Its success ultimately relies on a combination of the nation's superior military capabilities, its
unique position as the preferred security partner of important regional states, and its determination to
influence events beyond its borders. By providing leadership and shaping the international security arena,
the United States, along with its allies and friends, can promote the continued spread of peace and
prosperity. Only by maintaining its military wherewithal to defend and advance its interests and
underwrite its commitments can the United States retain its preeminent position in the world.
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