National security, in theory and practice, is about governing a nation for the well-being of the people. It is a group subject and is not the domain of a single expert of a kind. It is teamwork under leadership of excellence. What is important is the consistency of purpose providing comfort to the people of a national and thereby the people of the world in their physical, mental and emotional domains as an ongoing process throughout their lives.

"After our examination of the new strategic environment of the next quarter century (Phase I) and of a strategy to address it (Phase II), this Commission concludes that significant changes must be made in the structures and processes of the U.S. national security apparatus. Our institutional base is in decline and must be rebuilt. Otherwise, the United States risks losing its global influence and critical leadership role. We offer recommendations for organizational change in five key areas: ensuring the security of the American homeland; recapitalizing America's strengths in science and education; redesigning key institutions of the Executive Branch; overhauling the U.S. government's military and civilian personnel systems; and reorganizing Congress's role in national security affairs"--P. xiii.