led
by the sponsors of global terrorism.

+_Goal_: Defend U.S. Citizens and Interests at Home and Abroad+

The final tenet of the 4D strategy encompasses our nation's collective
efforts to defend the United States' sovereignty, territory, and its
national interests, at home and abroad. This tenet includes the
physical and cyber protection of the United States, its populace,
property, and interests, as well as the protection of its democratic
principles.

We face an adaptive enemy. Empowered by modern technology and
emboldened by success, terrorists seek to dictate the timing of their
actions while avoiding our strengths and exploiting our
vulnerabilities. In an increasingly interconnected and technologically
sophisticated world, where time and distance provide less and less
protection, we must be prepared to defend our interests, as a nation
and as citizens.

Embodied in this strategy is the old adage that the best defense is a
good offense. By improving and coordinating our indications and threat
warnings, we will be able to detect terrorist plans before they mature.
Through continuous law enforcement, Intelligence Community, and
military pursuit of terrorist organizations, we will disrupt their
ability to execute attacks both at home and abroad, and by expanding
our physical and cyber protection and awareness, we will reduce the
vulnerability of U.S. personnel, critical infrastructure, and other
U.S. interests.

Our response to this complex mission requires a coordinated and focused
effort from our entire society--the federal, state and local
governments, the private sector, and the American people. This plan, in
concert with the National Strategy for Homeland Security, the National
Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, and the National Strategy for the
Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets will
help to prepare our Nation for the work ahead.

The attacks of September 11 demonstrate that our adversaries will
engage asymmetrically, within and across our borders. They will exploit
global systems of commerce, transportation, communications, and other
sectors to inflict fear, destruction, and death, to compromise our
national security, and to diminish public confidence and weaken our
will to fight. Their attacks may be coordinated to counter our
offensive activities abroad. Because we are a free, open, and
democratic society, we are, and will remain, vulnerable to these
dangers. Therefore, as w