Bush’s chance to leave historic legacy: Kissinger

Diplomat, scholar and ex-US secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, feels that during the recently concluded Presidential polls, US was faced w...

Diplomat, scholar and ex-US secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, feels that during the recently concluded Presidential polls, US was faced with a situation comparable to post-1945 and that Bush had an opportunity to leave behind a historical legacy, now that he has dealt with the 9/11 crisis in his first term.

‘‘The case of unilateralism versus multilateralism arises when a nation is faced with a crisis which hurts its vital interests. At such a time, it may not be able to forge a consensus and may decide to act unilaterally…But now that this emergency phase is over, Bush has a chance to leave a legacy of history,’’ he said at The Hindustani Times Leadership Initiative today.

According to him, Bush should now focus on the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘‘Other countries may find it easier to help. I think India too can play an important role. I suggest that US have a contact group with countries like India and Russia.”

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On the issue of India in the Security Council, he said: ‘‘It does not reflect the distribution of power…today. It does not make sense that countries like India, Germany, Japan and potentially Brazil are not part of it. But I don’t know how this can be done.’’

External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh emphasised on the need for India to reach out to the Muslim world while speaking of the sense of insecurity that had crept in among Islamic countries due to growing threat of extremist or radical Islam. ‘‘No one has spoken about this, but I feel it is important. We must reach out to the Muslim world,’’ he said, adding that there was much adjustment needed in the world order today.