Reasoning apart Librcuy committed. But it is here that a
second myth intrudes, just as powerful and misleading as the myth about negotiations. In fact, almost by definition superpowers do not have to care about face. If the basis of their power is genuine, as in the case of America and Russia undoubtedly it is, face at most should be a marginal consideration. America will continue to be a superpower whatever it does about Vietnam; Russia clearly remains a superpower in spite of the Middle East. Besides, it is fully arguable that a clear Ameri- can decision that the importance of Vietnam has been grossly overestimated is a far greater demonstration of strength than a capacity to go on fighting a war which few people believe to be winnable, and which the United States got into only through a series of unfortunate mistakes.
If the Glassboro summit was useful at all, it was useful in this: that it gave the two leaders a chance to understand a little bit more the problems of the other. Were Mr Johnson to begin the process of looking for a compromise settlement in Vietnam now, the Russians would almost certainly under- stand. No more negotiations are needed, for Mr Johnson would not be ,acting to please the Russians, but on the basis of a reassess- ment of America's best interests. The war is certainly not going to be won by this adminis- tration, which has scarcely more than a year to run. But any genuine American move to end it may well lead to an improved situation elsewhere. In Europe, for instance, the time to negotiate a settlement is now.
