Dark Horses

As Theodore Draper comments in the opening chapter of Defending America (Basic Books, $13.95), we have yet to hear a proper definition of detente. After reading his essay and the other excellent contributions to this volume, I propose the following: In periods of cold war, the Communists seek to conquer the world, and we resist. In periods of detente, the Communists seek to conquer the world, and we do not resist.

Harshly stated, perhaps, but a reasonable paraphrase of what this study has to tell us. Though most of the authors (Draper, Walter Laqueur, Charles Burton Marshall, Edward Luttwak, Eugene V. Rostow, Paul Sea- bury) are distinguished liberals, they have put together an indictment of detente that a synod of conservative hard-liners could not surpass.

MS

About the Author

M. Stanton Evans

As Theodore Draper comments in the opening chapter of Defending America (Basic Books, $13.95), we have yet to hear a proper definition of detente. After reading his essay and the other excellent contributions to this volume, I propose the following: In periods of cold war, the Communists seek to conquer the world, and we resist. In periods of detente, the Communists seek to conquer the world, and we do not resist.

Harshly stated, perhaps, but a reasonable paraphrase of what this study has to tell us. Though most of the authors (Draper, Walter Laqueur, Charles Burton Marshall, Edward Luttwak, Eugene V. Rostow, Paul Sea- bury) are distinguished liberals, they have put together an indictment of detente that a synod of conservative hard-liners could not surpass.