Kennan’s Containment Strategy: A Consensus
on What Not to Do
Posted By: CarpenterJS, 4/26/2021 12:46:02 AM
The most famous modern instance of the United States consciously adopting a grand strategy was the concept of “containment” against the Soviet Union, devised by the diplomat and Russian area specialist George Kennan in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Yet a look at how Kennan’s idea evolved, how it was adopted, and how it played out over time, indicates that it was no cut-and-dry affair; that it was adopted mainly in a negative sense; that it provided relatively little guidance during the long Cold War decades; and that it appeared prescient—romantic even—particularly in retrospect once the Cold War had ended. CORRECTION*
*Wide headline split. Failure to do so may cause post to be deleted.
person likes this.
people like this.
person likes this.
person likes this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "CarpenterJS"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Most Recent Articles posted by
CarpenterJS"
The Vanishing Anglo-Saxon
9 replies
Recently, two Republican members of Congress, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona, floated a plan to launch the “America First Caucus.” A memo about the caucus’ goals cited the importance of America’s “Anglo-Saxon political traditions,” and warned that mass immigration threatens the “unique identity” of the United States.
Liberals and conservatives denounced in unison the supposed bigotry of Green and Gosar’s plans.
The most famous modern instance of the United States consciously adopting a grand strategy was the concept of “containment” against the Soviet Union, devised by the diplomat and Russian area specialist George Kennan in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Yet a look at how Kennan’s idea evolved, how it was adopted, and how it played out over time, indicates that it was no cut-and-dry affair; that it was adopted mainly in a negative sense; that it provided relatively little guidance during the long Cold War decades; and that it appeared prescient—romantic even—particularly in retrospect once the Cold War had ended. CORRECTION*
The Swiss weekly Weltwoche offered an immediate response to the judgment of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, examining the political circumstances surrounding the verdict, and the subsequent remarks by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris about the low moral state of white Americans.
The article in this habitually centrist Swiss German paper was titled (in translation) “No reconciliation after judgment in the George Floyd case—Joe Biden pours gas into the fire and characterizes the U.S. as ‘systemically racist.’”
Defund the Managerial Regime
5 replies
Objects thrown by a mob smashed into Jonathan Pentland’s home last Wednesday, shattering a window and breaking a light fixture. As things turned violent, Pentland’s family evacuated to a secure location, but nowhere is truly safe in the age of high-tech lynching.
Jonathan Pentland is a U.S. Army sergeant first class stationed at Fort Jackson near Columbia, South Carolina. His military resume includes time with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson in Colorado, and the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in New York.
A recurrent theme in Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States (1980) is how the prospect of a coalition between poor blacks and poor whites has often struck fear in the hearts of the wealthy classes in American history. Not surprisingly, Zinn longed for the emergence of an interracial coalition that, in his view, would bring about a more humane and just America for all. As a traditional Marxist, he equated injustice with class oppression and justice with socialism.
With the untimely death of Christopher Lasch in 1994 at the age of 61, America was deprived of one of her most articulate and earnestly plangent social critics. By training, Lasch was an historian of 19th- and 20th-century American culture. For some 30- years, he specialized in anatomizing—exaggerating, some would say—certain “odious facts” about American culture.
Already in 1965, in his widely admired book The New Radicalism in America, 1889-1963, Lasch deplored the “decline of the sense of community” in American society.
While touring a Michigan assembly plant and meeting with members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers last March, then-candidate Joe Biden did not react kindly when pressed on whether he would take guns away from Americans.
“You’re full of s***,” he snapped at a construction worker who accused Biden of “actively trying to end our Second Amendment right.” Biden threatened to bash his questioner for insisting that, as a public servant, he ought to be transparent and answerable to the people. “I’m not working for you,” he said angrily. “Don’t be such a horse’s ass.”
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Orlando - House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney is not ruling out a potential presidential bid, The Post has learned.
“I’m not ruling anything in or out — I’ve been here a long time,” she told The Post when asked if she would ever consider running in the future.
The Wyoming Republican — who has been a frequent target of former President Donald Trump — said there are a number of contenders she sees as having potential for the 2024 nomination, adding that she believes the lawmakers who led the efforts on challenging the election on Jan. 6 should be out of the running.
The Biden administration is refusing to weigh in on the Iranian foreign minister claiming in a leaked recording that former Secretary of State and current Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry told him about secret Israeli operations being carried out in In response, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) called on Kerry to resign during a speech on the Senate floor. It's become clear...that our adversaries, whether Beijing or Iran, like it when John Kerry is in charge of foreign policy and national security. Why? Because they know how to use him to their advantage," Sullivan said.
Black Caucus chair Rep. Joyce
Beatty: Police could ‘shoot in
the air’ to stop would-be killers 50 replies
Beatty: Police could ‘shoot in
the air’ to stop would-be killers 50 replies
COLUMBUS, OH – The Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus has joined hordes of untrained armchair quarterbacks, in order to render her opinion on police procedure after the officer-involved shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant.
In Columbus, Ohio on April 20, 2021, Officer Nicholas Reardon had to make a split second decision to intervene as Ma’Khia Bryant rushed toward her potential victim with a knife, after ignoring lawful orders to “get down.” Reardon fired his pistol, striking Bryant and ending the attack.
Aid was rendered at the scene, but Bryant was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Neighbors reported that Bryant “was in full attack mode” and also said:
Iran's foreign minister says John Kerry
told him about Israeli covert operations
in Syria 41 replies
told him about Israeli covert operations
in Syria 41 replies
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed in recently leaked audio that John Kerry, when he was serving as Secretary of State during the Obama administration, informed him of more than 200 Israeli operations in Syria. Kerry has previously been accused of colluding with Iranian leaders to undermine the Trump administration. Kerry is now a part of the Biden administration and has a seat on the National Security Council as the special presidential envoy for climate. Kerry shocked Zarif by revealing that Israel had attacked Iranian targets in Syria more than 200 times, according to leaked audio obtained by The New York Times and other outlets.
Twenty retired French generals have called for military rule if Emmanuel Macron fails to halt the 'disintegration' of the country 'at the hands of Islamists', in an open letter published ahead of next year's presidential election. The open letter, published in Valeurs Actuelles, a right-wing news magazine, claims a military coup might be necessary to stop a 'civil war' in France. The letter has been condemned by Macron's government, who compared it to the failed coup by generals against President de Gaulle 60 years ago. However, far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen hailed the letter, which was signed by 80 other retired officers,
Incredible City Meeting Video Shows Woman
Demanding She Be Called 'Doctor,'
Expulsion Ensues 36 replies
Demanding She Be Called 'Doctor,'
Expulsion Ensues 36 replies
Here’s something you don’t hear every day.
In North Carolina Tuesday, an official was relieved of his position.
As relayed by the Greensboro News and Record, construction contractor Tony Collins was unanimously kicked off the Greensboro City Council’s Zoning Commission. The reason: The day before, he’d addressed Carrie Rosario — who has her doctorate degree — as “Carrie” and “Mrs. Rosario.” She’d repeatedly requested to be called “Dr. Rosario.”
The howl was loud, prolonged, anguished and animated.Actress Frances McDormand's bizarre imitation of a wolf was comfortably the most surprising and interesting part of this year's Oscars.And although there was a heartfelt story behind it – she was paying tribute to a sound engineer on her movie Nomadland named Michael Wolf Snyder who took his life earlier this year – the howl perfectly encapsulated my own feelings watching the most unwatchable Academy Awards in history.Honestly, if there was an Oscar for Worst Horror Story, it would go to whoever decided it would be a good idea to hold this year's event in a train station.
A teen in Western Australia’s capital has been given two funerals.The 15-year-old female — who identified as a boy — died tragically by suicide.The child’s mother and father are estranged.Given the terrible situation, they had to decide: Would she be interred as female? Or would the identity of a boy be reflected by the burial?Mom and dad couldn’t come to a consensus.The mother insisted her child — born a girl — find a final resting place as a guy. In fact, as reported by 7News, she vowed to employ the full power of the court system if necessary:
The number of people who tuned in to watch the three-hour long 'wokefest' that was the Oscars has hit an all time low with just 9.85 million viewers. The television ratings for the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night is a 58 percent drop compared to last year's already record-low 23.64 million viewers, according to early Nielsen numbers. The huge drop in ratings for Hollywood's biggest night continues an overall multi-year downward trend for the Academy Awards, which were above 43 million as recently as 2014. It comes after the Grammys, Golden Globes and SAG Awards all experienced more than 50 percent declines
The Condé Nast cooking brand “Epicurious” announced that it will no longer publish recipes that include beef on its website.“In an effort to encourage more sustainable cooking, we won’t be publishing new beef recipes on Epicurious,” the company confirmed in a piece published on its website. “We’ve cut out beef,” it continued. “Beef won’t appear in new Epicurious recipes, articles, or newsletters. It will not show up on our homepage. It will be absent from our Instagram feed.”The publication wrote, “Almost 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally come from livestock
A few videos are making the rounds showing a wild brawl taking place at one of the gates in Miami International Airport. We don’t know what started the brawl, although the media are reporting that the police did eventually arrest one person for disorderly conduct. The primary victim, however, does not want to press charges, so the matter will almost certainly disappear.
What makes one of the videos so compelling is the fact that it seemly represents the breakdown of law and order across American cities.
Fox News Poll: Biden approaches 100-day milestone As Joe Biden closes in on the 100-day mark of his presidency, a Fox News poll finds a 54 percent majority of voters approves of his job performance. That's lower than Barack Obama's 62 percent and George W. Bush's 63 percent approval at their respective 100-day points, but higher than the 45 percent Donald Trump received four years ago. CORRECTION*
Comments:
American foreign policy elites have adopted a partial myth about containment in order to worship at the altar of grand strategy before declaring that such a sweeping approach is no longer possible. Both propositions are false and are driven partially by nostalgia.