http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/2073766/ShowForum.aspxFighting WordsenCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Build: 61120.2)http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2960600.aspxFri, 03 Jul 2009 22:32:30 GMT8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:2960600newshound980http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2960600.aspxhttp://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=2073766&PostID=2960600Chris, I generally agree with your points of view, especially as to conservatives in general and Nixon in particular, but you've got it wrong as to Kissinger. Your vitriol would be better directed at Robert McNamara, a crass, ignorant elitist of the first order. It is okay (even obligatory) to act in furtherance of one's national interests; it is quite another to perceive those interests correctly. "Kissingerism" was ultimately correct in China (right for the right reasons) but fell victim to improper analysis in Viet Nam (wrong, but for the right reasons). The principles of Realpolitik are a necessary requirement for success in dealing with foreign policy issues, and I believe that democracy (and thus its support and perpetuation) is a good thing - but only when circumstances allow (which they presently do in Honduras but do not in Iran, for example). Foreign policy decisions based on self-righteous ideology (a la Bush) and culturally relativistic ideology (a la Obama) are opposite sides of the same coin, are both dangerous in their implementation and can ultimately produce potentially disastrous long-term results (Bush previously in Iran, Obama potentially in Iran). Foreign policy should not be "policy by crapshoot," but neither should it be the product of simple-minded, ideology-based thinking (which forever engenders trying to bang that square peg into that round hole). Only a true reality-based (risk/reward) analysis of short-term problems as they arise provides a recipe for success in the long term. Read Leslie Gelb in the recent issue of "Foreign Affairs" and then ask yourself why he is not at least Undersecretary of State.