Lexington: Reporting for one last duty

摘要

Barack obama's new secretary of state, began his political career with a call for America to end a foreign entanglement. "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" naval Lieutenant John Kerry asked a 1971 Senate hearing on the war in Vietnam. His question-given weight by his medal ribbons, officer's fatigues and fellow-veterans massed outside-captured divisions tormenting his country, and brought instant fame. Two generations on and after 28 years as a member of that same Senate, Mr Kerry has landed the job of America's chief diplomat; he was confirmed by his peers on January 29th by 94 votes to three. Success in the job will involve a reversal, and turn on persuading today's war-weary Americans-starting with Mr Obama-to engage with the world and resist the urge to withdraw from foreign entanglements of all sorts.