Realpolitik, Detente and Linkage, a guide to watch Trump, Putin and Xi by.

Vanity ^ | 2/14/25 | Vanity

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Realpolitik, politics based on practical objectives rather than on ideals. The word does not mean “real” in the English sense but rather connotes “things”—hence a politics of adaptation to things as they are. Realpolitik thus suggests a pragmatic, no-nonsense view and a disregard for ethical considerations. In diplomacy it is often associated with relentless, though realistic, pursuit of the national interest.

Détente, French for “relaxation,” is “a process of managing relations with a potentially hostile country in order to preserve peace while maintaining our vital interests,” Henry Kissinger, then U.S. secretary of state, told a Congressional committee in 1974. But with both countries facing large economic impacts related to the arms race and military spending, along with the Sino-Soviet split, there was a strong incentive by both parties to ease geopolitical relations and undergo arms control discussions.

Linkage was a foreign policy that was pursued by the United States and championed by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger in the 1970s détente, during the Cold War. The policy aimed to persuade the Soviet Union to co-operate in restraining revolutions in the Third World in return for concessions in nuclear and economic fields.

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For those who were surprised by the “bolt from the blue” peace process recognized yesterday, it’s called Realpolitik. My hero, Richard Nixon, using Realpolitik, split the monolithic red menace and secured our containment long enough to transition to Reagan’s successes.

Below are some of the reasons Trump and the world could come up Aces on these summits.

1) Kellogg was never anything more than a distraction to keep the talking heads occupied. The ridiculous remarks both he and Trump were making ensured riveted interest from the outrage machine. Meanwhile, the real negotiations were taking place on the QT. I had suggested a couple of weeks ago that Grenell was probably the guy to go to Moscow.

2) By hook or pager there is the most pro Western leader in Iran since the Shah. Regardless of what the USAID press has been telling you, Iran does NOT want a nuke! Iran wants to do business and come into the current century.

3) Putin is watching 1000 Russian boys die EVERY week.

4) What was it worth to Putin when Trump shut down the ongoing CIA engineered color revolutions in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Romania, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia and Slovakia?

5) China MUST have its Persian Gulf Oil.

6) Everyone agrees, tell the Euroweenies to STFU!

7) Putin, Trump and Xi are the elder statesmen of the world, have grandchildren and are legacy conscious.

8) The first summit will occur in Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian issue must be resolved. Israel will not accept a two state solution. Realpolitik tells me ethnic cleansing (until I’m given a more accurate term) is the only thing that will work. That is anathema to me but the Palestinians could have a secure, prosperous life in Jordan, Lebanon, Russia or Trump legal America.

[sauropod]

bkmk

[Mariner]

Please Lord, save us from the do-gooders.