Assignment task:
The first step in creating any type of strategy Is to identify what the problem or threat is. Varying threats require different types of polices and approaches, it almost makes no sense to create policy for an unidentified threat. However, this often occurs and as an infantryman there was a saying that we train to fight the next war with tactics from the previous war. After identifying a what the threats are a plan can be put into place based on what could mitigate or end the threat entirely. After the planning funding is allocated and policy is created to put the plan into action.
Sometimes the policy works and other times it needs to be adapted after seeing it in action, this is also known as a feedback mechanism. A feedback mechanism such as status reports will tell policy makers if the strategy is working and if it needs to be changed. A good strategy is predictive and creates an environment which prevents threats not reacts to them. An example of this would be the administration of 2001 seeing that the intelligence agencies would need to work in conjunction to counter the threat of terrorism. Policy would have been created to put this cooperation into action and the attacks of September 11th would be avoided.
The current National security strategy focuses on what it refers to as 3 lines of effort; investing in American power and influence, modernizing the military, and it puts a lot of emphasis on creating a strong coalition of nations to forward democratic ideals.