Straws in the crosswinds: the essay on the Vietnam conferences in
Paris probably has greater interest than the ones on problems of
domestic and international "structures" in general. Kissinger is
said to be Nixon's brainiest military adviser. Here he employs
discredited platitudes like Hanoi's conviction that American
dissent will bring victory. Not surprisingly, he also bypasses the
issues of past U.S. sabotage of negotiation offers and current U.S.
offensives, simply mentioning "a substantial improvement in the
American military position" since the bombing halts. What is
notable is the opinion that "negotiating a ceasefire may well be
tantamount to establishing the preconditions of a political
settlement," and that U.S. imposition of a coalition government
would be disastrous. Instead, a withdrawal of "external forces"
should push Saigon to settle, formally or tacitly, with the NLF -
and/or face collapse. The other two essays are abstract in the most
unsatisfactory sense, conservative in the literal sense. Kissinger
calls for an international "agreed concept of order." The U.S.
dilemma: "there can be no stability without equilibrium," but
"equilibrium is not a purpose with which we can respond to the
travail of our world." (Watch those imperial pronouns!) The reader
who can get through the turgor of "modern states," "thoughtful
Europeans," "charismatic leadership" will find criticisms of
bureaucratic decision-making; strategic recommendations (NATO must
avoid "false inconsistencies between allied unity and detente");
and such amazing dicta as "until the emergence of the race problem
[when, one wonders?] we were blessed by the absence of conflicts
between classes and over ultimate ends." Doubtless a great many
readers will make the effort. (Kirkus Reviews)
The initial two essays, “Domestic Structure and Foreign Policy”
and “Central Issues of American Foreign Policy,” appeared in
the original edition of this volume and have been retained as
backdrops for fifteen major addresses delivered by Mr. Kissinger
over the past four years. The new selections include a statement to
Congress that traces the main lines of détente policy; a review of
the step-by-step process of negotiations in the Middle East; an
analysis of efforts to achieve accords, with the Soviet Union on
strategic arms limitation without imperiling American national
security; a speech to the United Nations on the imperative of
establishing a balanced global approach to economic development and
resource conservation; several papers that candidly appraise
prospects for new ties between the United States and the nations of
Asia, Africa, and Latin America; and one that sets forth measures
to strengthen the bonds among the industrial democracies. In their
scope and detail, these documents constitute a remarkable set of
designs, blueprints, and working drawings by a master architect of
foreign policy.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
