S/he is usually close to the president
S/he is not subject to Congressional confirmation
S/he is formally the boss of the Secretary of State
S/he has responsibility for coordinating the foreign policy process and ensuring the President's wishes are carried out
S/he oversees the NSS which has been getting more powerful over time
Depends on the policy issue being discussed
Is fixed
Is determined by law
Is determined by the DoD and CIA since they have become so powerful over time
Coordination of the interagency policy process and policy implementation follow-up.
Playing a central diplomatic role in important negotiations
Articulation of the President’s policies to other departments and, at times, to the U.S. public (through the National Security Advisor).
Foreign policy advice to the president
Direct support to the President in crisis management.
Bush's weekly videoconferences with PM Maliki of Iraq
Obama's decision to pull US troops out of Iraq
Bush's "Surge" strategy
Obama's delegating of responsibility over Iraq policy to Biden
PC
NSS=DC+PC
IPC>DC
PC=NSC-POTUS
POTUS is well briefed on the fine points of clan dynamics in Kurdistan
Larger, global dynamics and US strategies are overlooked
Iraq's internal sectarian divisions are misunderstood and underestimated
There is not enough focus on counter-terrorism
Vietnam War
9/11
End of Cold War consensus
More assertive Congress
POTUS as head of government and head of state
POTUS as chief legislator
POTUS' power of persuasion
POTUS as commander in chief
By personal background, Obama was more connected to the world
Bush came from more privileged background
Obama has a more cautious lawyerly style
Much more than Obama, Bush came into office in January 2011 determined to pursue nation-building and democracy-promotion around the world
After WWII
After the Vietnam War
After 9/11
In the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Wait!
Here's an interesting quiz for you.