Talk:Madman theory

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[edit] Anon edits

user:129.118.15.218 (the IP resolves to the Texas Tech) keeps editing this page to state that the term is the work of historian Jeffrey Kimball, which flatly contradicts the Haldeman's quote here. In addtion, it makes all kinds of unreferenced assertions about Haldeman's book. In addition, the anon's version removes all the wikified terms here. Raul654 18:08, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

As I wrote, Haldeman denied writing the Ends of Power and if you read Joan Hoff, Stephen Ambrose, and other historians, you will discover that Haldeman agreed to the book to pay for his legal fees. Also, I have conducted an oral history with Jo Haldeman and she stated the same thing.

Indeed, Jeffrey Kimball used the quote to argue that the so-called "Madman theory" was the centerpiece of Nixon's foreign policy. Furthermore, the excessive threats were an aspect of a much broader foreign policy that included Vietnamization, triangular diplomacy, linkage, and detente with the communist world. Kimball also recognizes that Richard Nixon never used the term "madman theory".

Raul,

Also, I'd like to add that there is no evidence that Dr. Kissinger claimed that Nixon employed a madman theory. Also, Excessive force or the madman theory is used to describe the secret 1969 bombing of Cambodia--not the 1970 ARVN and U.S. incursion to stabliize Cambodia.

I created an account and my username is whitecleats

All right - I've gone ahead and unprotected the page. Please remember to wikipedia:Cite sources when making those claims. Also, please take care not to replace "wikified text" (text which links to other wikipedia articles) with unwikified text. Raul654 19:34, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The defining characteristic?

This article doesn't even bother to cite the source who claims that the 'madman theory' defined Nixon's foreign policy. One would think that such an interpretation would need at least to demonstrate how pretending to be insane was any more central to Nixon's policy than, say, triangulation. --WadeMcR 19:07, 9 January 2007 (UTC)