The New World Order (Part III) | Christopher Preble | Cato Institute: Commentary

The New World Order (Part III) | Christopher Preble | Cato Institute: Commentary: "'The United States should conduct itself,' wrote diplomat and historian George F. Kennan, 'as befits a country of its size and importance.'

The qualities of U.S. foreign policy, Kennan wrote, should include 'patience, generosity and a uniformly accommodating spirit in dealing with small countries and small matters,' and 'reasonableness, consistency and steady adherence to principle in dealings with large countries and large matters.'

'The greatest service this country could render to the rest of the world,' Kennan concluded, 'would be to put its own house in order and to make of American civilization an example of decency, humanity and societal success.'"

"[Thomas Jefferson] predicted that one day, in the not-so-distant future, Americans 'may shake a rod over the heads of all, which may make the stoutest of them tremble. But I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power, the greater it will be.'"