An email: Alliance-building is the first task of statesmanship, but consider

Krauthammer’s recognition of the inevitability of unilateral action and

contrast it with John Kerry, who wants the UN to have veto power over US

deployments. Krauthammer’s position is changeable; there are times when we

will have allies, and times when we won’t, so play it by ear. Kerry’s

stance, once adopted, is the end of the game for America.

My response: If the question is whether Kerry’s view of alliances if preferable to Krauthammer’s, I’m certainly with my correspondent.