Forty years ago, Henry Kissinger went to China to visit with Chou En Lai to pave the way for President Nixon to meet with Mao Tse Tung.
Love him, like him, hate him, or have ambivalent feelings, Kissinger had a very distinct, long-lasting, and significant impact on US foreign policy. During his tenure as National Security Advisor and later as Secretary of State, there was little doubt of our position on foreign policy topics.
Kissinger is a strong proponent of realpolitik, the view that relations should be driven from a purely practical perspective, rather from an ideological or moral one. In this view, one does not have allies, per se, but simply shares interests and goals with others.
Ultimately, this view is what allowed the US to meet with China, along with our alignments with some pretty unsavory regimes in order to counter the Soviets in the Cold War. As with most things, realpolitik has some tradeoffs, but foreign relations are a fairly good area for it to work, since many of our adversaries practice similar strategies. It is actually unusual to find others who are anywhere near bound by a moral code. It is purely survival by whatever means you can stomach.
This firm negotiating position and philosophy became the basis for the ancient Vulcan proverb “Only Nixon could go to China”. It contrasts well with President Passion Fingers, who sees foreign relations as some sort of Junior High-like popularity contest, with the goal of being liked, rather than actually advancing our national interests.
President Passion Fingers is no President Nixon.
Weekend Realpolitik Open Comments
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Here’s from Vondervoegh’s first link in my #156 link from Vondervoegh’s Gunrunner post. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says he does not believe Attorney General Eric Holder gave accurate testimony under oath to Congress during the House Judiciary Committee on May 3. Asked in May when he learned of Operation “Fast and Furious”… Read more »
And, to Farah’s credit:
http://superstore.wnd.com/specialty-items/T-shirts/Guns-from-the-ATF-T-Shirt#
I followed sorrentino’s links and found a shirt Super Dave may want to purchase.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vVZZ3jzwiE/ThXYt8KqY8I/AAAAAAAAG74/mHO8PG62vgk/s1600/ScreenHunter_04%2BJul.%2B06%2B23.37.jpg
Mike Vanderboegh, as featured n te FOXNews video in my #156 link keeps a running tab on Project Gunrunner. Here it is: http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/ The latest Gunrunner post I saw was this: http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2011/07/gunwalker-miscellany-calls-for-special.html . That post lists five other news stories regarding Project Gunrunner. Also, many here will enjoy this post at Vandervoegh’s blog: Sean D. Sorrentino’s idea for The Official… Read more »
Just saw this via Human Events. Leaders of the transnational organized criminal gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) even ordered a hit on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in New York. There are now reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tampa Field Division, ran a gun-running investigation that was walking guns to Honduras using the… Read more »
I wouldn’t be surprised at all of Bachman takes Iowa n the primaries.
http://theiowarepublican.com/2011/tir-poll-bachmann-overtakes-romney-in-iowa/
‘That’s racist.” It’s a comedic catchphrase these days, popularized by an online clip from a 2005 TV show Wonder Showzen on MTV2. It’s not as iconic as Gary Coleman’s “What ’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” or Fonzie’s “Ayyyyyy” or even Bart Simpson’s “Don’t have a cow, man.” But what it lacks in pedigree, it makes up for in ubiquity and social… Read more »
I know one of the gay cowboys/ (MMA fighter?) was on Ocyober Sky and Jake Gyllenhaal is the first actor listed in that movie. So I do believe you know your gay movies. Congrats! 😉
#150 Darren They can also take out the cast of “The Unit’ in a heartbeat second Hey, don’t disparage actors. I once saw Superman actor Dean Cain, of “Lois & Clark”, contend on American Gladiators and he did extremely well. (That was back when I could stay awake until midnight.) (Also back when that show was actually on. 🙂 )… Read more »
A pair of young robins joined at the wing have been separated after they were found flapping on the ground in a family’s backyard, seemingly fused together. Priscilla Todd took the birds in, hoping a veterinarian would separate them and give them a chance at survival, Salt Lake City’s Deseret News reported. Couldn’t they have just fried up the birds?… Read more »
They can also take out the cast of “The Unit’ in a heartbeat second. 🙂
I watched a story about Seal Team Six that aired on the Discovery Channel tonight. A lot of it was interviews and comments from former Seal Teams men. Even decades after their service, these are still a manly looking bunch of guys! Some even better looking than “The Unit” cast.
El gordo #145; Did the Reps fold yet? Here: Amid disturbing signs that the US recovery has stalled, President Barack Obama took a huge gamble in his approach to the debt-ceiling talks last week. Believing he had an understanding with John Boehner, leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, he declared he wanted a $4,000bn “grand bargain” on… Read more »
Bonecrusher; Here’s my answers. 1) How many times has this store been robbed? According to the report, this was the second time in two weeks and the fourth in 17 months. 2) How many times has angel robbed a store? Don’t know. That doesn’t matter to me in this case. But good question none-the-less. 3) How many times has angel… Read more »
#142 Darren: So this guy “angel” tried to rob the store and the store owner chased him down and shot him. I don’t really see a problem but I do have a few questions: 1) How many times has this store been robbed? 2) How many times has angel robbed a store? 3) How many times has angel robbed this… Read more »
Been out of touch for a couple of days. Did the Reps fold yet? sounds like they are getting ready to give it all up for nothing instead of the magic beans they got before.
Two reporters now claim there is a second version of “Fast and Furious” – only the new one is called “Operation Castaway”. Just like the first one, it’s also being run by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) – but instead of being located inPhoenix,Arizona, it’s now headquartered inTampa,Florida. And instead of walking guns intoMexico, this new… Read more »
Is wasn’t no ordinary “watermelon” so a cesarian was scheduled. Just how big the watermelon would be was not entirely known.
16-Pound JaMichael Brown Could Be the Biggest Baby Ever Born in Texas
Congrats for baby Jamichael’s birth!
#140; While I do not want to reengage in another Ramos and Compean debate, here’s what I find very similar in the Ibrahimi case wit hthat of the two ex-border patrol officers. A moment later, Angel, 29, of Laurel, was on the ground, bleeding from a single shot to his buttocks in a nearby parking lot. The man with an… Read more »
#70 – BC……………
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/l/lifeisbeautfiul.htm
Maryland owner of a Stop-n-Rob thinks he’s in Texas.
This issue, the Leviathan gas field, is going to be the source for much bloodshed in the near future.
Hooray for anyone who’s getting even the 10-drop rain. That’s more than we get, which is nada except a cloud or two floating through that do not share a drop. 🙁 Regarding loud music played even louder: Those who do pay dearly for it in hearing loss. So do folks who work or play in noisy environments without ear protection.… Read more »
I’m watching Star Trek: The Movie again. Man, those opening scenes make me cry almost every time.
Would you believe I’m STILL getting phone calls for our job openeing? They started slowing down two days ago. I have received six so far today.
It’s Sunday. The ad came out almost a week ago.
Re: Farts
Just don’t be a stinky fart.
Please.
Since I have been outed as an old f@rt, I’m going to toddle off and grab a nap. Later, ya young scalliwags. And keep outa my yard while I’m nappin’.
#131 But wet farts are the worst of all.
I had one of those 10-fat-drops-of-rain-on-the-windshield events on my way back from a quick run to the store for milk and bread. Just heard some thunder so maybe there is still a bit of watery weather in the area. The air temp has dropped almost 10 degrees in the last hour from the cloud cover.
New farts are worse than old farts.
Just sayin.
#127 Pyro
Well, maybe I am NOW.
Drudge photo of Pelousi, Boehner, Obammy looks like an ad for a TV show, “The Grousingtons” maybe. Nanzi is peeved and Weepy is checking out ‘Bammy’s reaction.
Stand firm, Weepy.
M42: But at no point in my life did I think it was wise to destroy one’s hearing. My sentiments exactly. Even when I was in high school, I was the one telling people to turn the damn thing down. When I was in college, the idiots I hung out with could not have the stereo under shouting volume. I… Read more »
mh42’s an old f@rt
Eh?
Hey Ricky! I wasn’t too old back then, that was the early 80’s. But at no point in my life did I think it was wise to destroy one’s hearing.
I doubt that Joe “the d1psh1t” Biden has the mental capacity to have any involvement in this. Oh, he has the mental capacity to be involved in it. He just doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand it. Kinda like a dog. He has the mental capacity to get the newspaper from the driveway and bring it to ya, but… Read more »
#119 Darren: This is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook: Goal: Increased gun control problem: public does not want gun control laws solution: put more guns into the hands of known criminals and when violence necessarily goes up, public will demand more gun control laws goal: satisfy public with more gun control laws They tried the same BS during… Read more »
Thanks for the splaining, Sarge. But what kind of work are you doing that watching music videos doesn’t interfere with? Well; I don’t actually watch the videos. I just listen to them. Well, I once knew a software developer who worked with hard rock blasting in his headphones at such a volume that you could hear it to some extent… Read more »
#112 Sarge Lemme splain Lucy: Thanks for the splaining, Sarge. But what kind of work are you doing that watching music videos doesn’t interfere with? Distraction-wise, or otherwise. Well, I once knew a software developer who worked with hard rock blasting in his headphones at such a volume that you could hear it to some extent walking past his office… Read more »
If all else fails, there’s one option left for John Boehner.
In the Spring of 2009, the Obama administration called for the banning of “assault rifles” and .50 BMG “sniper rifles” due to their use in crimes by Mexican drug cartels. Obama dubiously alleged that 90% of these weapons were tracked back to the United States, implying that Americans have an obligation to surrender some of our freedoms to keep these… Read more »
Bonecrusher #114;
That was cool.
Nor was there any feline barf on them.
Until we can get this bunch, and I am speaking primarily of the whitehouse and the Ds, to understand that the govt is too wissin big and the size of govt needs to be dramatically cut (by at least 30%) then we will never get anywhere. Get them used to the idea that tax hikes are out of the question,… Read more »
Until we can get this bunch, and I am speaking primarily of the whitehouse and the Ds, to understand that the govt is too wissin big and the size of govt needs to be dramatically cut (by at least 30%) then we will never get anywhere. The number of govt employees, including contractors needs to go down by at least… Read more »
The magic stethoscope.
The budget talks in search of a “grand deal” that are apparently under way this weekend look like the fiscal equivalent of Reykjavik: Obama may well offer substantial reform of entitlements a decade down the road, in return for a GOP concession on taxes today. Well; If Boehner is saying “Abso-freakin-lutely no” to any tax hikes, then I’d say he’s… Read more »
Are you evicting Sarge’s music videos from the Weekend Thread? When he says he is working on the weekend, he always posts a bunch of videos. I haven’t quite figured out the connection between work and videos. Lemme splain Lucy: Its because I’m a cheap bastidge. I wear headphones at work. On weekday mornings I listen to Dennis Miller on… Read more »
Ron Paul roolz!!!!!