Henry Kissinger, the most influential diplomat of the 20th century, is dead at the age of 100.
In his prime, in the late 1960s and early 1970s and under the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Kissinger was a giant and charismatic figure in global diplomacy.
He was the ultra-realist who was relentless in the pursuit of America's interests. But he was also something else: enormously controversial and polarising.
The debate rages to this day and will last long after today's announcement of his death: Was Kissinger the great diplomatic grandmaster, brilliantly using every piece on the global chess board, to ensure American pre-eminence?
Or was he a Machiavellian figure who thought little of the human collateral damage that flowed from a deeply cynical foreign policy?
To many on the left, he was a menacing figure - too clever by half - a ruthless operator who gave intellectual justification for the vast and indiscriminate American bombing campaigns of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
He had one undisputed achievement - so monumental in consequence that it will surely be his enduring legacy.
His secret diplomacy bridged the gulf between Communist China and America.
He opened the door to the normalisation of relations between Washington and Beijing, paving the way for Nixon's historic visit in 1972.
However strained relations may currently be, Kissinger helped bring China in from the cold, and profoundly changed the world we live in today.
In the tumultuous decade of the 1970s, Kissinger was everywhere - a man who personified "shuttle diplomacy."
He was a major player in the Vietnam war, numerous Middle East conflicts, and in the containment of Soviet Russia.
Notably, he helped negotiate the end of the Vietnam War, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
His critics have argued that his role in the conflict deserved to see him in the dock, not acclaimed for his peace-making skills.
He survived the great scandal of Watergate, serving as the US Secretary of State to two presidents.
He was a celebrity in the rarified world of global diplomacy and he relished the limelight.
Despite his often-chaotic and ruffled appearance - he had been a professor at Harvard - Kissinger was at the centre of the Washington cocktail party circuit, often arriving with a fashion model on his arm.
And for decades after he left office, he became the gravelly-voiced doyen of American foreign policy, dispensing advice to all who came to pay their respects.
Kissinger was a preeminent scholar of foreign policy, a prolific author, and a figure whose advice was avidly sought by 12 successive American presidents and dozens of world leaders.
His life's trajectory was truly remarkable: a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany as a little boy to become the most significant architect of foreign policy in the past century.
But his legacy is deeply complicated. As complicated, it might be said, as the world he helped forge, and now leaves behind.
Henry Kissinger is dead
Moderators: Alyrium Denryle, Edi, K. A. Pital
- EnterpriseSovereign
- Sith Marauder
- Posts: 4318
- Joined: 2006-05-12 12:19pm
- Location: Spacedock
Henry Kissinger is dead
Henry Kissinger dead at 100: The 20th century's most influential diplomat
- Gandalf
- SD.net White Wizard
- Posts: 16354
- Joined: 2002-09-16 11:13pm
- Location: A video store in Australia
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
The Betoota Advocate
Australia's Greatest News Source wrote:Tributes are today pouring in for one of the titans of modern history, Doctor Henry Kissinger.
The former US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State passed away yesterday afternoon Australian time, leaving behind a legacy of millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of lives ruined by his aggressive pursuit of America’s Imperial interests – as well as funny anecdotes at charity dinners and foreign policy love ins.
Not only was he beloved war criminal who oversaw the carpet bombing of vast swathes of South East Asia, helped instal bloodthirsty regimes all through Latin America, the Middle East and East Timor, but a family man who was revered for his charming sense of humour and a cutting edge wit (trust me, I should know, I bumped into him in an elevator at a 5,000 dollar a head dinner once and he even said hello!).
Taken way too late at the ripe old age of 100, one of the world’s most famous diplomats but least famous war criminals has been mourned by all those around the world whose lives were ruined by him, and by those well heeled political and business insiders who like to pretend he wasn’t responsible for all the things he was responsible for.
As well as ‘halting the spread’ of communism in places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao, Chile and Argentina, Kissinger was the leader of an American doctrine of ‘Realism’ – aka killing or allowing for the killing of as many people as possible all around the world to ensure that America’s political and corporate interests were advanced.
From overseeing a reign of terror in Vietnam that cost millions of lives, to directly ordering the carpet bombing of 600,000 innocent Cambodians and 150,000 Laotians to death, to toppling democratically elected left wing governments who didn’t adhere to US interests and green lighting the kidnappings and murders of 10’s of 1000’s of people in South America (with plenty having blocks tied to their hands and dropped out of planes into the ocean), to working with the Indonesian President to murder 500,000 East Timorese people in an effort to ensure the region’s oil and resources could be profited off to the max – Kissinger had a marvellous and incredible record.
Following a lengthy stint as a diplomat who oversaw widespread terror that reached to all corners of the world, Kissinger then won many fans by moving into the world of lobbying and making squillions working for all of the people he did favours for while in office.
He will be sorely missed.
Vale Henry Kissinger. 1923-2023.
"Oh no, oh yeah, tell me how can it be so fair
That we dying younger hiding from the police man over there
Just for breathing in the air they wanna leave me in the chair
Electric shocking body rocking beat streeting me to death"
- A.B. Original, Report to the Mist
"I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
- George Carlin
That we dying younger hiding from the police man over there
Just for breathing in the air they wanna leave me in the chair
Electric shocking body rocking beat streeting me to death"
- A.B. Original, Report to the Mist
"I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
- George Carlin
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
Kissinger played a major role in killing off millions of people -many of whom never lived long enough for their first birthday, let alone a hundredth. He had more blood on his hands than anyone else on the planet during the last 50 years. Compared to Kissinger, other mass murderers like Cheney or Albright were amateurs. Rest in Piss.
I hope they remembered to cut off his head and drive a stake through his heart. Where's Peter Cushing when we need him?
I hope they remembered to cut off his head and drive a stake through his heart. Where's Peter Cushing when we need him?
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
This was also someone who, despite being a German Jew who had to flee in order to escape death, despite having most of his family murdered by Nazis and despite personally witnessing the horrifying conditions of a concentration camp, wouldn’t have cared all that much if another Jewish holocaust had happened:
"The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy. And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern."
F*ck this guy.
"The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy. And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern. Maybe a humanitarian concern."
F*ck this guy.
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" - The official Troll motto, as stated by Adam Savage
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
Given his role in the administration he was part of, he had to be careful of what he said. It's an unfortunate consequence of working for the government, especially at high levels.
He may even of had make deals he didn't agree with.
That being said, at the height of his 'fame', he could have resigned from the government and spoken up about alot of shit in the world and made a huge difference just by a man of his fame and reputation offering his opinion.
He may even of had make deals he didn't agree with.
That being said, at the height of his 'fame', he could have resigned from the government and spoken up about alot of shit in the world and made a huge difference just by a man of his fame and reputation offering his opinion.
I've been asked why I still follow a few of the people I know on Facebook with 'interesting political habits and view points'.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
- Highlord Laan
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1394
- Joined: 2009-11-08 02:36pm
- Location: Christo-fundie Theofascist Dominion of Nebraskistan
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
The evil bastard enjoyed every moment of what he did, without shame or consideration. He was a vile monster to the core, just wearing a human skinsuit.Solauren wrote: ↑2023-12-05 04:49pm Given his role in the administration he was part of, he had to be careful of what he said. It's an unfortunate consequence of working for the government, especially at high levels.
He may even of had make deals he didn't agree with.
That being said, at the height of his 'fame', he could have resigned from the government and spoken up about alot of shit in the world and made a huge difference just by a man of his fame and reputation offering his opinion.
That so many scum among the ruling class call him friend and speak of all the "good" he did is literally all we need to know about them, which informs us as to what needs to be done about them.
Never underestimate the ingenuity and cruelty of the Irish.
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
Oh, what do you think needs to be done about them? Can you give any examples?
- EnterpriseSovereign
- Sith Marauder
- Posts: 4318
- Joined: 2006-05-12 12:19pm
- Location: Spacedock
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
For once, PROVE ITHighlord Laan wrote: ↑2023-12-06 01:41amThe evil bastard enjoyed every moment of what he did, without shame or consideration. He was a vile monster to the core, just wearing a human skinsuit.Solauren wrote: ↑2023-12-05 04:49pm Given his role in the administration he was part of, he had to be careful of what he said. It's an unfortunate consequence of working for the government, especially at high levels.
He may even of had make deals he didn't agree with.
That being said, at the height of his 'fame', he could have resigned from the government and spoken up about alot of shit in the world and made a huge difference just by a man of his fame and reputation offering his opinion.
That so many scum among the ruling class call him friend and speak of all the "good" he did is literally all we need to know about them, which informs us as to what needs to be done about them.
I've been asked why I still follow a few of the people I know on Facebook with 'interesting political habits and view points'.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
I think he's too chickenshit to do it.EnterpriseSovereign wrote: ↑2023-12-06 12:15pmGood question, I can't wait for another example of him being Mr ITG.
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/p ... 234804748/
Henry Kissinger was a war criminal who deserves to rot in hell. Period.
Obama witnessed first hand the cronyism/nepotism that occurred due to Kissinger, as American companies looted Indonesia wealth and the nationalisation of oil was rolled back.
Note that this was merely the least, since Kissinger sponsored the coup of Chile including said death squads because socialism!!!
Kissinger first step in politics? Was sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks so Nixon could win an election.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh would be the poor men of South Asia as a result of Nixon/Kissinger decision to play world politics.
But perhaps that's just being hard men making hard decisions.pragmatism.
Hey. Remember how we all hate Bush for supporting dictators and torturing people and etc ?
It's also funny that we don't remember the blowback, because Kissinger had supported Iraq earlier, under George Bush snr. Iraq was a useful tool against Iran, so loans that helped Iraq buy weapons, financial aid and etc was given that was ultimately diverted to Iraq attempts to build WMD.
.
You know. Since Gas attacks against Iran hasn't been effective.
Oh but wait. Why did Kissinger support invading Iraq?
https://twitter.com/JustinTLogan/status ... S1u0Q&s=19
Because the war in Afghanistan wasn't enough to subdue Radical Islam.
So yes. Kissinger is a beloved member of the US foreign policy community. The same community that warred in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, now supports Israel genocide against Palestinians....
You guys are aware why the world don't like US FP, right ?
Henry Kissinger was a war criminal who deserves to rot in hell. Period.
Remember Indonesia attempts to murder Timorese people who were trying to break away? Kissinger endorsed that, because Suharto coup Sukarno, who was friendly to the Indonesian communist party because the commies were part of the resistance for independence.The Yale University historian Greg Grandin, author of the biography Kissinger’s Shadow, estimates that Kissinger’s actions from 1969 through 1976, a period of eight brief years when Kissinger made Richard Nixon’s and then Gerald Ford’s foreign policy as national security adviser and secretary of state, meant the end of between three and four million people. That includes “crimes of commission,” he explained, as in Cambodia and Chile, and omission, like greenlighting Indonesia’s bloodshed in East Timor; Pakistan’s bloodshed in Bangladesh; and the inauguration of an American tradition of using and then abandoning the Kurds.
Obama witnessed first hand the cronyism/nepotism that occurred due to Kissinger, as American companies looted Indonesia wealth and the nationalisation of oil was rolled back.
Note that this was merely the least, since Kissinger sponsored the coup of Chile including said death squads because socialism!!!
So let's start.My evaluation is that you are a victim of all left-wing groups around the world,” Kissinger said, according to a declassified cable, “and that your greatest sin was that you overthrew a government which was going Communist.” Three months later, U.S. diplomats warned Kissinger about Operation Condor, an international campaign of right-wing assassinations pursued by the anticommunist regimes of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Kissinger “has instructed that no further action be taken on this matter,” according to a September 16, 1976 cable. Five days later, a car bomb emplaced by Pinochet’s agents detonated along Washington D.C.’s Embassy Row, killing Orlando Letelier, Allende’s foreign minister, and his American co-worker, Ronni Moffitt.
Kissinger first step in politics? Was sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks so Nixon could win an election.
Nixon first crime.... Was also Kissinger. Sadly, Nixon last crime.... Was not Kissinger who was also involved with Watergate.Nixon ran for president claiming to have a secret plan to end the war. His advisers told Hersh they were deeply afraid that Johnson and Hanoi would reach an accord before the election. It would save lives in Vietnam, American and Vietnamese, but it would undermine Nixon’s hopes of exploiting the explosion in domestic antiwar sentiment. Nixon gratefully took what Kissinger gave him to make the U.S.’ proxy regime in Saigon, whose regime peace would destabilize, more intransigent. No agreement was reached until 1973, and the war ended in American humiliation with Hanoi’s 1975 victory.
“It took some balls to give us those tips,” Richard Allen, a foreign policy researcher on the Nixon campaign, later reflected to Hersh. After all, it was “a pretty dangerous thing for [Kissinger] to be screwing around with the national security.
Let's say the secret bombing of Cambodia, the invasion of Laos was a failed war strategy. What about continuing to assist Pakistan, after the genocide at Bangladesh?In 1971, the Pakistani government waged a campaign of genocide to suppress the independence movement in what would become Bangladesh. Pakistan’s Yahya Khan, an architect of the genocide, was valuable to Nixon’s ambitions of restoring diplomatic relations with China. So the U.S. let Khan’s forces rape and murder at least 300,000 people — and perhaps three million. “We can’t allow a friend of ours and China’s to get screwed in a conflict with a friend of India’s,” Nixon quoted Kissinger shrugging
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh would be the poor men of South Asia as a result of Nixon/Kissinger decision to play world politics.
But perhaps that's just being hard men making hard decisions.pragmatism.
Here he is, being a Good Jew, agreeing with Nixon that Jews were behind My Lai massacreNixon was not subtle about who he meant by the Eastern Establishment. When the media seized upon the U.S. massacre at My Lai, Nixon remarked, “It’s those dirty rotten Jews from New York who are behind it.” Nixon’s White House counsel, John Erlichman, recalled Nixon talking about “Jewish traitors” in front of Kissinger, including “Jews at Harvard.” Kissinger would assure the boss he was one of the good ones. “Well, Mr. President,” Erlichman quoted him responding, “there are Jews and Jews
Hey. Remember how we all hate Bush for supporting dictators and torturing people and etc ?
Here is Kissinger, using his pull with Bush to try and get Pinochet, author of death squads and Scot free.In 1999, Pinochet was arrested in London through an effort by Baltazar Garzon, a Spanish judge investigating Operation Condor. Kissinger urged the British not to extradite the general. “I would be very happy if Pinochet was allowed home,” he told an interviewer. “This episode has gone on long enough and all my sympathies are with him.” Two years later, the administration of George W. Bush responded contemptuously to the Chilean Supreme Court’s efforts to compel Kissinger to testify. “It is unjust and ridiculous that a distinguished servant of this country should be harassed by foreign courts in this way,” an official told the Daily Telegraph. The paper noted that Kissinger was an “informal adviser” to Bush, as he was to many presidents.
It's also funny that we don't remember the blowback, because Kissinger had supported Iraq earlier, under George Bush snr. Iraq was a useful tool against Iran, so loans that helped Iraq buy weapons, financial aid and etc was given that was ultimately diverted to Iraq attempts to build WMD.
.
You know. Since Gas attacks against Iran hasn't been effective.
Oh but wait. Why did Kissinger support invading Iraq?
https://twitter.com/JustinTLogan/status ... S1u0Q&s=19
Because the war in Afghanistan wasn't enough to subdue Radical Islam.
So yes. Kissinger is a beloved member of the US foreign policy community. The same community that warred in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, now supports Israel genocide against Palestinians....
You guys are aware why the world don't like US FP, right ?
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
Well shown.
Unlike others who make statements and then duck out.
Unlike others who make statements and then duck out.
I've been asked why I still follow a few of the people I know on Facebook with 'interesting political habits and view points'.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
Re: Henry Kissinger is dead
To put it simply. Kissinger won points for Opening China and swinging China out from Soviet influence. That was his main historical accomplishment and for that, people accepted that he was someone who endorsed mass murder, as long as it advanced US interests at any costs.
And unlike many others neocons his stature didn't fade when he supported bashing Iraq to prop up US image.
And unlike many others neocons his stature didn't fade when he supported bashing Iraq to prop up US image.
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner