Redefining the national interest

NATO'S Poorly planned adventure in Kosovo has brought a critical question t o the fore: just how should Americans define their national interest in the information age? The Soviet Union is gone, and an information revolution h as transformed the nature of power. Few "A list" threats to American securi ty loom large today. Global telecommunications have made humanitarian crise s in far-flung places impossible to ignore. But before the United States em barks on another costly human rights crusade, Americans should recognize th at moral values are only part of a foreign policy. Other essential prioriti es remain. If Washington neglects to handle the "A list," the consequences for global peace and prosperity will be dire.