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Bush: I don't think I understand that.
Kissinger: The Ambassador is a left-wing Republican. No, he is here because he has our total confidence.
But it is important in the U.S. to isolate and paralyze those who would undermine our defense program and who generally conduct what I consider a stupid policy. And we can do this by pursuing policies which adopt their rhetoric.
And to answer your question, I do not believe that this guarantees ten years of detente -- not for one minute. But I do believe that if detente breaks down, or when it does, we will be better able to mobilize our public opinion having made every effort to preserve peace rather than being accused of having provoked them.
Teng: On our side we don't believe it is possible to reach detente -- still less maintain ten years of detente. And we don't think there is any agreement that can bind the hands of Russia.
Kissinger: No, but there is no way they can violate this agreement without our knowing it. I don't think it was a very intelligent agreement for them. They have two choices: they can either respect the agreement, in which case we preserve a certain strategic advantage, or they can violate the agreement, in which case we have the psychological and political possibility of massive breakout ourselves, which we would not have otherwise for domestic reasons.
Teng: As we see it, it is still necessary to have vigilance.
Kissinger: There is no doubt about that for us.
Teng: That would be good.
Kissinger: I once studied the foreign policy of Metternich, and he said the trick to dealing with Napoleon was to seem to be a fool without being one. There is no question -- in terms of our domestic situation, it is, strangely enough easier to get Congress to give funds for limits in agreements than to get funds for the same amounts without an agreement. [To Bush:] Do you think so, George?
Bush: Yes, I do.
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