threat to the United States and our interests posed by individuals radicalized at home , '' the NSS states . `` Our best defenses against this threat are well informed and equipped families , local communities and institutions . '' Federal , state and local governments will use intelligence , expanded community engagement and development programs to help local communities address the radicalization of Americans before they join al Qaeda , Rhodes said . There already is an interagency process , he said , devoted to countering radicalization . This is a `` new point of emphasis , '' he said , because it is a new point of emphasis for America 's enemies . Laying out its strategy for more traditional areas of national security , the National Security Strategy stresses the importance of working with other nations to deal with challenges to `` renew American leadership . '' `` It 's a broader view of national security than before , '' Rhodes said . Echoing themes going back to the days of Obama 's campaign for president , it says the U.S. must use `` engagement '' with friends and foes . The United States must engage also
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Vowing to continue to `` underwrite global security '' -- but not alone -- the Obama administration Thursday released its first National Security Strategy , a 52-page outline of the president 's strategic approach and priorities . The NSS , required by Congress of every administration to be prepared every four years , for the first time combines homeland security and national security , focusing not only on threats internationally but on the threat of home-grown radicals inspired and recruited by al Qaeda . `` We view this as an important and emerging challenge , '' Ben Rhodes , deputy national security adviser for strategic communication , told reporters . Al Qaeda , he said , is less capable of using safe havens for training abroad and is now `` trying to inspire Americans to carry out attacks on the U.S. '' Those Americans , he said , may have less direct contact with the terrorist organization but they carry American passports and know the strengths and weaknesses of the United States . `` Several recent incidents of violent extremists in the United States who are committed to fighting here and abroad have underscored the