Ethics and American Power: Speeches by Caspar W. Weinberger and George P. Shultz. Responses by Philip Geyelin, Smith Hempstone, Carl F. H. Henry, Thomas Molnar, Richard John Neuhaus, David D. Newsom, William V. O'Brien, Paul Seabury, Roger L. Shinn, Seymour Siegel, Edward Teller, Richard M. Nixon. Ethics and Public Policy Essay 59.
- Resource Type
- Speeches/Meeting Papers
Opinion Papers
- Authors
- Lefever, Ernest W.; Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC.
- Source
- Subject
- Armed Forces
Ethics
Foreign Policy
Government (Administrative Body)
International Relations
Moral Values
National Defense
National Security
Peace
Political Power
War
- Language
- English
Two cabinet secretaries address the problems of when and how the United States should use military power. Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger emphasizes the importance of prudence and restraint in the use of military force in chapter 1: "The Uses of Military Power." Secretary of State George P. Shultz stresses the vital importance of readiness to back up diplomacy with military power in chapter 2: "The Ethics of Power." Twelve well-known Americans respond variously to the positions of Weinberger and Shultz in Chapters 3-14. Chapter titles and authors are: "The Weinberger-Shultz Debate Is Dangerous" (Philip Geyelin); "The Weinberger-Shultz Debate Is Beneficial" (Smith Hempstone); "Christian Morality and U.S. Power" (Carl F.H. Henry); "Rules That Paralyze Action" (Thomas Molnar); "The Moral Purpose of Foreign Policy" (Richard John Neuhaus); "Diplomacy and the Limits of Force" (David D. Newsom); "A Just and Limited U.S. Defense Policy" (William V. O'Brien); "Taking Necessary Risks" (Roger L. Shinn); "Without Force, Life Would Be Impossible" (Seymour Siegel); "When Shall We Fight and How?" (Edward Teller); and "Afterword: Third World War" (Richard M. Nixon). (JP)