I am right now reading Niall Ferguson’s excellent biography on Henry Kissinger. I am only come recently to the portions wherein Kissinger has begun writing public essays in Foreign Affairs – articles written for the purpose of influencing American nuclear weapons policy. Two articles in particular are referenced in response to John Foster Dulles’ insistence that the way to preserve peace was to declare that any Soviet aggression would be met with massive retaliation. Kissinger realized at once that this was simply unrealistic and invited Soviet abuse.

These are the articles, which I intend to read at a more convenient moment. If you do not have an active subscription to Foreign Affairs, may I advise the following corrective action: get one.

Force and Diplomacy in the Nuclear Age – Foreign Affairs: April 1956

Reflections on American Diplomacy – Foreign Affairs: October 1956