Emulating the French statesman Cardinal Richelieu, Kissinger helped the weaker power against the stronger one. No such overarching strategy underlies Obama’s policy, even if it may be justified on the more limited grounds of nuclear non-proliferation.
这样的说法精明、有诱惑力，但却很容易造成误解。尼克松的国务卿基辛格当时在寻找一种利用中苏分歧削弱共产主义的战略。借鉴法国政治家红衣主教黎塞留的经验，基辛格协助弱者对抗强者。奥巴马的政策不具备这样的战略基础，即使就核不扩散的有限理由而言确有其合理性。