Question

What key component of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War is Dulles describing?

containment

brinkmanship

domino theory

mutually assured destruction
The ability to get to the verge without getting into the war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into war. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost.

—John Foster Dulles, Life magazine
interview

Answer 1

Brinkmanship.

Dulles is describing brinkmanship — the Cold War strategy of pushing a crisis to the verge of war to force an opponent to back down without actually starting a conflict.