The Limits of Power

The War We Are In: The Last Decade and the Next, by James Burnham. Arlington House, $6.00

Questions put to me recently from an audience of articulate, educated, and manifestly intelligent young persons were based on assumptions of perfect foresight and omnicompetence for the United States in a wholly predictable and plastic world. Why did the President permit the Greek military coup? Why did we tolerate dictatorships in Latin America? Why didn’t the United States stop U Thant from withdrawing UNEF? Why not concoct a Middle Eastern solution and make Israel and the Arabs abide by it? Why not establish normal diplomatic relations with Peking? They envisioned for a policy a course of endless initiative—“let’s act instead of reacting”—to end all troubles and to achieve complete mastery over environment.

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Charles Burton Marshall

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The War We Are In: The Last Decade and the Next, by James Burnham. Arlington House, $6.00

Questions put to me recently from an audience of articulate, educated, and manifestly intelligent young persons were based on assumptions of perfect foresight and omnicompetence for the United States in a wholly predictable and plastic world. Why did the President permit the Greek military coup? Why did we tolerate dictatorships in Latin America? Why didn’t the United States stop U Thant from withdrawing UNEF? Why not concoct a Middle Eastern solution and make Israel and the Arabs abide by it? Why not establish normal diplomatic relations with Peking? They envisioned for a policy a course of endless initiative—“let’s act instead of reacting”—to end all troubles and to achieve complete mastery over environment.