Epstein Secrets

1. Yet doing nothing comes at a cost. Administrations that neglected, underestimated, or sidelined religion found themselves blindsided. President John F. Kennedy's foreign policy, for example, never recovered from his ignorance of the Buddhist monks who upset the equilibrium of South Vietnam's politics. The Bu

the U.S.-backed regime of Ngo Dinh Diem. "How could this have happened? Who are these people? Why didn't we know about them before?" an exasperated Kennedy asked about the Buddhists -- who merely represented 90 percent of South Vietnam's population -- after the outbreak of their revolt. Diem, of course

d forces have had no real combat experience for more than 30 years, whereas America's have been fighting, and learning, constantly. The capacity of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for complex joint operations in a hostile environment is untested. China's formidable missile and submarine forces would pose a threat to Ame

revived by Kissinger after more than 20 years in the deep freeze, and Kissinger himself, consulted formally or informally by every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. On China, Kissinger's new book, is a reminder of why our leaders still want to pick his brains. Eighty-eight years old this month,

ly or informally by every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. On China, Kissinger's new book,

eady underway between Soviet and Chinese forces on the Ussuri River. In October 1970 Mao ordered China's top leadership to evacuate Beijing and put the People's Liberation Army on "first- degree combat readiness." The stakes for China were high indeed— higher than for the United States. As Kissinger shows, it was far from u

na, revived by Kissinger after more than 20 years in the deep freeze, and Kissinger himself, consulted formally or informally by every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. On China, Kissinger's new book, is a reminder of why our leaders still want to pick his brains. Eighty-eight years old this month, h

lly or informally by every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. On China, Kissinger's new book,

lready underway between Soviet and Chinese forces on the Ussuri River. In October 1970 Mao ordered China's top leadership to evacuate Beijing and put the People's Liberation Army on "first- degree combat readiness." The stakes for China were high indeed- higher than for the United States. As Kissinger shows, it was far from un