Second Note to “The Nixon Doctrine”

If it were only a matter of principle and not a matter of power, one could afford to just sever ties with nationalist governments that arose out of anti-western popular uprisings or governments that arose out of military coups that are anti-democratic. But the catch is that if you sever ties with them out of principle, Russia will snatch them up and turn them against you! Hence, power over principle and pragmatism over idealism.