"Do we achieve a world order through chaos or through insight?" Kissinger

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In his Der Spiegel interview, Kissinger gives the neoconservatives a strong rebuttal. The phrase which says it all is the one the German magazine used as its title: "Do we achieve a world order through chaos or through insight." (1) Put it another way: do we behave rationally or irrationally? Here are some excerpts:

"No state is strong or wise enough to create a world order alone." "[T]he United States cannot dictate, and" should not try to dictate."

"One has to ask one's self this question: Putin spent tens of billions of dollars on the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The theme of the Olympics was that Russia is a progressive state tied to the West through its culture and, therefore, it presumably wants to be part of it. So it doesn't make any sense that a week after the close of the Olympics, Putin would take Crimea and start a war over Ukraine. So one has to ask one's self, why did it happen?" "Ukraine has always had a special significance for Russia. It was a mistake not to realize that."

"I do have a number of problems with the sanctions."

"We have to remember that Russia is an important part of the international system, and therefore useful in solving all sorts of other crises, for example in the agreement on nuclear proliferation with Iran or over Syria."

"I don't agree that the Syrian crisis can be interpreted as a ruthless dictator against a helpless population""

"It was wrong to say from the beginning that Assad must go -- although it is a desirable ultimate goal. Now that we are locked into that conflict with Russia, a deal regarding the Iranian nuclear program becomes more difficult."

Excerpts never give a full account of a person's vision, nevertheless in this case they give a pretty good idea of where Kissinger stands. The United States must act rationally in accordance with its interests in the spirit of the Westphalia Treaty of 1648, as stated in his last book: "World order", and ignore any thought of exceptionalism and world hegemony.

Let's now look at the neoconservatives' agenda following the Republican mid-term victory. "The war party won". (2) John McCain, the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is working closely with Bob Corker and Richard Burr, the likely incoming chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to define what the American foreign policy should be in the coming months. (3) Excerpts (4):

"Save the defense budget."

"Impose tougher sanctions on Russia."

"Send arms and trainers to Kiev.'

"Increase the tempo of airstrikes against ISIS and send a lot more troops to Iraq and Syria.'

"End the rapprochement with Iran."

John McCain, the fellow who once famously shouted: "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran", has "lost his marbles". (5) Yet, he will play a powerful role in the definition of the United States' policy abroad. His credo is exceptionalism and world hegemony.

We are faced with two opposite visions. Which one will prevail? Kissinger's or the neoconservatives? "Insight" means peace, "chaos" means war. Peace is preferable to war but the American foreign policy establishment is in the hand of the warmongers. This is the message behind Kissinger's message.

(1) "Do we achieve world order through chaos or insight?" Der Spiegel, November 13, 2014.

(2) "The war party won", David Stockman, November 12, 2014.

(3) "Republican hawks already have a war plan for ISIS, Ukraine, and Obama." Eli Lake, November 5, 2014

(4) "Obama's foreign policy after the midterms", Max Boot, Commentary, November 11, 2014.

(5) "The war party won", David Stockman, November 12, 2014.

Authors Bio:

Former Vice President Citigroup New York (retired)
Columbia University -- Business School
Princeton University -- Woodrow Wilson School