The Memo You Didn't Get - George Kennan On The Nature Of American Power

hatrack

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:13 AM
Original message

The Memo You Didn't Get - George Kennan On The Nature Of American Power

"We have 50 percent of the world's wealth, but only 6.3% of its population. In this situation, our real job in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which permit us to maintain this position of disparity. To do so, we have to dispense with all sentimentality . . . we should cease thinking about human rights, the raising of living standards and democratization."

George Kennan, US State Department Policy Planning Study #23, 1948.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

mandyky

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:16 AM
Response to Original message

1. Was he a member of the GOP?

Is this the plan we are following?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:19 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Kennan was a Democrat. n/t

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

hatrack

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:21 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. I don't know his political ties- most important work done under Truman

Edited on Thu Mar-23-06 09:22 AM by hatrack

He was the guy (and you probably already know this) who came up with the policy of containment as the Cold War got under way. He also wrote "The Sources Of Soviet Conduct" as "X", which is probably the most influential paper by any diplomat since Talleyrand.

Sorry if I'm sounding pedantic - once a teacher, always a teacher. :toast:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

mandyky

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:44 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. No problem about teaching

I like learning new things! :)

I had never heard of the guy, so I'll have to read up on him. Feel free to share more about him and any resources about him. :)

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

reprehensor

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Mar-23-06 09:40 AM
Response to Original message

4. Empire is a bi-partisan problem. n/t

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Tue Apr 30th 2024, 12:06 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.