Dear Friend:

Many thanks for visiting our home on the World Wide Web. The American Security Council and the ASC Foundation have both had a profound impact on the history of the United States and its global leadership role. In fact, it is difficult to think of an important foreign policy or national security program since World War II where the Council did not have a prominent role.

For five decades these organizations addressed the causes and concerns most people wanted to ignore. The ASC/ASCF strategists were Republicans and Democrats, but they were always able to work together when America faced a foreign policy challenge.

What united them was a vehement opposition to Nazism, Fascism, Communism and any other form of totalitarianism. They were committed to “peace through strength” which meant a strong national defense and a free market economy, as well as diplomatic and moral strength (promoting America’s universal values). They also believed in a global leadership role for the United States and “mobilizing for peace” which meant staying engaged after a conflict was over.

There are many outstanding think tanks and public policy organizations, but ASC and ASCF are unique because they concentrate on the development, adoption and implementation of strategy studies on foreign policy, national security and international trade, and a forward strategy for freedom which includes the promotion of democracy, human rights, and free and fair trade.

Our definition of national security has always been broad. It goes well beyond weapons programs to include the the war on terrorism, homeland security, the instability in Latin American, and the growing threat, both economically and militarily from China. We have always stressed the importance of military, economic and diplomatic security through our motto of Peach Through Strength.

In 1999, the Gallup Poll listed foreign policy and national security as ranking 23rd among the areas of concern. But today, national security is the number one issue on the minds of the American people and will continue to be for many years to come.

There is a significant debate about the appropriate future role of the United States. Our hope is that all Americans will recognize the benefits our nation has received under the peace through strength strategy of the past, and will accept a global leadership role in the future as part of the new Forward Strategy for Freedom.

The United States is not the world policeman and this strategy emphasizes that America can not do everything. We realize democracy, human rights and free market economics will not solve all of mankind’s problems. Nevertheless, they are a major step forward, and there will be times in the future when American leadership will once again be necessary.

I am very pleased you have decided to visit us, and I hope you will join our effort to maintain and promote Peace Through Strength.

Cordially,

Dr. Henry A. Fischer
President