ABSTRACT
Containment gave policy-makers a sense of purpose and an interpretative framework. It reduced complex local and regional problems to ‘simple’ calculations of East-West balance and competition. It was also a strategy readily communicable to domestic and international constituencies. As such it was a galvaniser of support for US policy and a great legitimising weapon, making ‘acceptable’ all variety of practices by invoking national security to justify dubious means for righteous ends. Ordinarily such practices would be seen as highly contentious and compromising of American leadership and moral authority.
