"The Vietnam War required us to emphasize the national interest rather than abstract principles. What President Nixon and I tried to do was unnatural. And that is why we didn't make it"

In this quote, Henry Kissinger, who acted as the U.S. Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon, is assessing the complex challenges dealt with throughout the Vietnam War. The statement encapsulates the stress between pragmatic politics and optimistic principles that characterized U.S. foreign policy during this duration.

Kissinger's expression "The Vietnam War required us to highlight the nationwide interest instead of abstract concepts" suggests that the U.S. management focused mainly on the nation's geopolitical and tactical interests instead of on ideological dedications, such as the spread of democracy or the supporting of human rights. This shows a realist method to foreign policy, where the protection and advancement of nationwide interests are focused on over moral factors to consider.

The Vietnam War was a distinct conflict that provided substantial obstacles, consisting of a drawn-out engagement in a remote land, domestic opposition, and worldwide scrutiny. Emphasizing "nationwide interest" suggested making tough choices that typically went against popular opinion and standard democratic perfects. For instance, actions like broadening the war into Cambodia and Laos were seen by some as contravening global law, but were considered needed for the broader goals of containing communism and demonstrating U.S. willpower.

When Kissinger mentions, "What President Nixon and I attempted to do was abnormal", he is acknowledging the difficulty and possibly the fundamental contradiction in pursuing a strategy that deviated from the more familiar ethical structure typically espoused by America. This "abnormal" method might also describe the diplomatic maneuvers, such as opening relations with China and negotiating détente with the Soviet Union, which were essential yet questionable relocations meant to recalibrate the global balance of power.

Lastly, when Kissinger states, "And that is why we didn't make it", he is likely acknowledging the ultimate failure to attain a definitive triumph or a stable peace in Vietnam. The abnormal blending of strategic interest with restricted adherence to standard principles may have resulted in both domestic disillusionment and international criticism, contributing to the failure in meeting their objectives totally. This quote hence works as a candid reflection on the detailed balancing act and the limitations of pragmatic policy-making in complex geopolitical contexts.