After Two Months, He Used My Quote

Andrew Sullivan will frequently post a 'quote of the day' (or two). On Oct 22, 2006 I sent him this email:

Dear Andrew,

Naturally, as a classically trained, ivy educated, doctoral level pseudo academic, I frequently read quote books as a substitute for real books. I recently acquired "The New Penguin Dictionary of Modern Quotations" ed. Robert Andrews (London, 2001) [ISBN 0-14-051443-0] at a used book store. On page 240, there is this gem:

"Vietnam presumably taught us that the United States could not serve as the world's policeman; it should also have taught us the dangers of trying to be the world's midwife to democracy when the birth is scheduled to take place under conditions of guerrilla war."

By? Jeane Kirkpatrick, in "Dictatorship and Double Standards" (Commentary magazine, November 1979).

And if that's not enough, later on the same page, from a fellow K quotable:

"The American foreign policy trauma of the sixties and seventies was caused by applying valid principles to unsuitable conditions." - Henry Kissinger, from the "Guardian" 16 December 1992. According to the editors, the context was "Arguing against a role for the USA as 'world policeman.'"

Thought you would like such grist for your mill.

All the best,
[The Styx]

So today, I see this post: Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish: Quote for the Day II:

'Vietnam presumably taught us that the United States could not serve as the world's policeman; it should also have taught us the dangers of trying to be the world's midwife to democracy when the birth is scheduled to take place under conditions of guerrilla war,' - Jeane Kirkpatrick. Commentary, 1979."

It's nice to be able to make some contribution.