Question at position 1 “It is clear that the main element of any United States policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. . . . It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the Socialist and capitalist worlds, but rather a cautious, persistent pressure towards the disruption and weakening of all rival influence and rival power.” Mr. X (George F. Kennan), State Department professional,“The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs, July 1947 Which of the following actions would best implement the goals andstrategy of George Kennan?“It is clear that the main element of any United States policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. . . . It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the Socialist and capitalist worlds, but rather a cautious, persistent pressure towards the disruption and weakening of all rival influence and rival power.” Mr. X (George F. Kennan), State Department professional,“The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs, July 1947 Which of the following actions would best implement the goals andstrategy of George Kennan?Offering economic aid to Eastern Europe and the Soviet UnionReorganizing all military services under the Department of DefenseUsing economic aid to block the appeal of communism in Western EuropeUsing the U.S. Army to invade East Germany and liberate West Berlin

Question

Question at position 1 “It is clear that the main element of any United States policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. . . . It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the Socialist and capitalist worlds, but rather a cautious, persistent pressure towards the disruption and weakening of all rival influence and rival power.” Mr. X (George F. Kennan), State Department professional,“The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs, July 1947 Which of the following actions would best implement the goals andstrategy of George Kennan?“It is clear that the main element of any United States policy towards the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. . . . It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the Socialist and capitalist worlds, but rather a cautious, persistent pressure towards the disruption and weakening of all rival influence and rival power.” Mr. X (George F. Kennan), State Department professional,“The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” Foreign Affairs, July 1947 Which of the following actions would best implement the goals andstrategy of George Kennan?Offering economic aid to Eastern Europe and the Soviet UnionReorganizing all military services under the Department of DefenseUsing economic aid to block the appeal of communism in Western EuropeUsing the U.S. Army to invade East Germany and liberate West Berlin

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: The passage by George Kennan advocates a long-term, patient but firm containment of Soviet expansion, viewing the USSR as a rival and suggesting a strategy aimed at limiting Soviet influence. The task is to identify which action would best implement Kennan’s containment strategy.
Option 1: 'Offering economic aid to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.' While economic aid can influence alignment, Kennan emphasized containment and pressure to limit Soviet influence rather than broadly boosting economic welfare in the region. Merely providing aid could reduce incentives for resistance or may be perceived as generosity rather than a strategic restraint, making this option less aligned with the specific aim of containment through counterpressure.
Option 2: 'Reorganizing all military services under the Department of Defense.' This is an organizational and bureaucratic reform, not a direct policy action tied to Kennan’s containment doctrine. While a unified military command can enhance coordination, containment as described by Kennan relies on political and economic measures to constrain Soviet influence, not simply internal reorganization.
Option 3: 'Using economic aid to block the appeal of communism in Western Europe.' This choice aligns with the core idea of containment by reducing the attractiveness of communism and the Soviet sphere through economic stability and prosperity, thereby undermining Soviet influence without escalating military confrontation. It reflects the policy of providing economic tools to shore up non-communist regimes and resist Soviet expansion through soft power and economic resilience.
Option 4: 'Using the U.S. Army to invade East Germany and liberate West Berlin.' This is a direct military intervention that would amount to a high-risk, overt confrontation with the Soviet bloc. Kennan advocated cautious, long-term containment rather than aggressive warlike moves that could provoke broader conflict, making this option incompatible with his strategy.
Considerations about potential misconceptions:
- Some might think economic aid to the Soviet Union is plausible, but Kennan’s focus was on preventing Soviet expansion by supporting allied economies and flagging nonmilitary pressure; aid to the USSR itself would risk strengthening the adversary, not containment.
- Reorganizing military services could be part of overall defense readiness, but on its own it does not implement the containment strategy as described, which centers on shaping political and economic conditions in Western Europe to resist Soviet influence.
- Invading East Germany and West Berlin would be a drastic military action with high risk of broader conflict; Kennan warned against assuming that confrontation would instantly secure favorable outcomes, favoring measured containment instead.
- The correct interpretation hinges on applying containment through instruments that reduce Soviet appeal and influence rather than through direct military offense or purely internal reforms.
In summary, the substantive link between Kennan’s containment philosophy and a concrete policy action is the use of economic means to curb the appeal and spread of communism in Western Europe, thereby supporting resistive coalitions without provoking oversized military commitments.

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