[kenavi]

Kissinger was America's Metternich: playing off aggressive nations against each other when the U.S. was disunited and disspirited. Unfortunately, he exemplified and continues to exemplify a politic devoid of morality, optimism, and spunk.

The Germans are sincere about their beliefs, not smug and conceited like the French. We can reach them with moral arguments. Maybe Kissinger can redeem himself and his Fatherland by carrying the torch for the new Republicans (GWB et al) in this effort.

[happyathome]

"...he exemplified and continues to exemplify a politic devoid of morality, optimism, and spunk."

Don't think I've heard it put that way before - well said.

I'm not sure any Western Europeans can be reached with any moral arguments. The World Wars mortally wounded the idea of Judeo-Christian morality in Europe, and I think the '68 generation has killed it off. Western Europe is where the American Left would like to be - an environment where there is no right or wrong, no social sanction for bad behavior, no God but themselves, and the government prevents social disintegration by handing out goodies. Sterile. Decadent.