U.S. forces are deployed to approximately three-quarters of all the countries in the world; reserves have been called up for extended service; and the Administration has announced a doctrine of the preemptive use of force. Meanwhile, the military has had battlefield successes unrivaled since the time of Agincourt, if not before. This course seeks to address underlying theoretical and practical aspects of contemporary national security concerns in the context of today’s rapidly changing world. A brief background is provided in International Relations theory, and insights from ethicists and the just war tradition. Differing concepts of strategy are introduced. Some capabilities of modern weapon systems and the “Revolution in Military Affairs” are discussed. Other sessions include recent military events and emerging issues such as asymmetric warfare, as well as the continuing challenge of defending democracy without destroying it.