europe's greatest 19th century statesman was otto von bismarck whose strategy was always to have better relations with each of his adversaries than they had among one another. ever since richard nixon and henry kissinger drew china away from the soviet union in 1972 for decades the u.s. was closer to russia and china than they were to each other, but not anymore. there was talk in washington about attempting a reverse kissinger, an effort to win moscow away from beijing and the biden administration moved in that direction last year, but that was a naive misunderstanding of vladimir putin whose response has been to initiate the current crisis. perhaps what was needed was not a reverse kissinger, but simply kissinger. in other words, an effort to have a better working relationship with china. that in any event is what henry