US National Security Strategy (US NSS) published in September 2002introduced key points of the security policy of President G.W.Bush. He hadto respond to major change in the US security paradigm brought by the9/11 terrorist attacks. Analysis of this policy framework document and itsapplication in practice on the background of its broader institutionalcontext exposes the main points of continuity and fundamental change inthe US security policy. The most important innovations concern the use offorce in pre-emptive military strikes, new conception of the dominantposition of USA in international system and the will to defend it at all costsagainst any future peer-competitor as well as changing perception of USallies and permanent politico-military alliances such as NATO. For betterunderstanding of Bush’s policy we have to go deeper and look into theroots of his security policy thinking and broader political context, includinghis new personal motivation and historical parallels. More frequent use ofpre-emptive strikes weakens also still dominant strategy of deterrence, stillpreferred by most US allies who are therefore critical towards some radicalsteps of Bush administration in this area. Last but not least, we should notforget that as important is also how the new US radical rhetoric andinnovative tools are turned into practice (especially during the US militarycampaign in Iraq). After re-election of President Bush in November 2004,the US NSS 2002 remains the principle foundation of future US securitypolicy for at least four more years.