Strengthening National Capacity — A Whole of Government Approach National Security Strategy May 2010
To succeed , we must update , balance , and integrate all of the tools of American power and work with our allies and partners to do the same . Our military must maintain its conventional superiority and , as long as nuclear weapons exist , our nuclear deterrent capability , while continuing to enhance its capacity to defeat asymmetric threats , preserve access to the global commons , and strengthen partners . We must invest in diplomacy and development capabilities and institutions in a way that complements and reinforces our global partners . Our intelligence capabilities must continuously evolve to identify and characterize conventional and asymmetric threats and provide timely insight . And we must integrate our approach to homeland security with our broader national security approach .
We are improving the integration of skills and capabilities within our military and civilian institutions , so they complement each other and operate seamlessly . We are also improving coordinated planning and policymaking and must build our capacity in key areas where we fall short . This requires close coopera-tion with Congress and a deliberate and inclusive interagency process , so that we achieve integration of our efforts to implement and monitor operations , policies , and strategies . To initiate this effort , the White House merged the staffs of the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council .
However , work remains to foster coordination across departments and agencies . Key steps include more effectively ensuring alignment of resources with our national security strategy , adapting the education and training of national security professionals to equip them to meet modern challenges , reviewing authorities and mechanisms to implement and coordinate assistance programs , and other policies and programs that ...
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