During the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush had repeatedly promised that if he was elected, his administration would promote a “humble” foreign policy. “I’m going to be judicious as to how to use the military,” he pledged during his second debate with Al Gore. “It needs to be in our vital interest, the mission needs to be clear, and the exit strategy obvious…. I think the United States must be … humble in how we treat nations that are figuring out how to chart their own course.”
