According to America’s top three newspapers, as measured by circulation, Henry Kissinger was a figure who both excelled in international diplomacy and generated rivals and critics. [2][3][4]
This “loved by some” mentality is certainly reflected in prominent politicians in the U.S. U.S. Republican Senator John McCain during a Senate Armed Services Committee in which Kissinger made a statement mentioned the protest against Kissinger by the group Code Pink was “disgraceful,” “outrageous,” and “despicable.” And he apologized profusely to Kissinger for “allowing such disgraceful behaviour towards a man who served this country with the greatest distinction.”[5]
In the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, wrote a 2014 review of Kissinger’s book, World Order. In the article she praised Kissinger calling him a “friend” and stating:
“Even when there are tensions between our values and other objectives, America, he reminds us, succeeds by standing up for our values, not shirking them, and leads by engaging peoples and societies, the sources of legitimacy, not governments alone.”[6]
To those not in positions of elite power and privilege, it would be difficult to ignore the multitudes of deaths, torture which flourished from the seeds planted by Kissinger in countries around the globe. His underhanded and covert diplomacy as he pursued his own version of foreign policy realism resulted in massacres across Cambodia, Chile, Argentina, East Timor, and Bangladesh. To name just a few.[7]
And then there are the concerns of the elite class. Consider this quote from Kissinger’s National Security Study Memorandum 200 entitled “Implications of Worldwide Population Growth For U.S. Security and Overseas Interests.”
It reads:
“The study should take into account the President’s concern that population policy is a human concern intimately related to the dignity of the individual and the objective of the United States is to work closely with others, rather than seek to impose our views on others.” (Emphasis added.)
Kissinger finally passed away at the end of November., aged 100. Given the profound impact his policies had on the world stage, and its perception of America, a show like the Global Research News Hour had to put on a show reflecting an appraisal of his monstrous crimes. We do so during this week with the assistance of four guests. They include an emeritus Professor of Law at Princeton University, a scholar from RMIT university, an activist from the U.S. and Canadian journalist and researcher.
Richard Falk is a member of the TRANSCEND Network, Albert G. Milbank Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University, Chair of Global Law, Faculty of Law, at Queen Mary University London, Research Associate the Orfalea Center of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Fellow of the Tellus Institute. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Binoy Kampmark teaches core legal courses within the Legal and Dispute Studies program for the Bachelor of Social Science at RMIT University, Melbourne. He has research interests in the institution of war, diplomacy, international relations, 20th Century History and law.
Jodie Evans is co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink.
Matt J L Ehret is a journalist, historical analyst, lecturer and founder of the Canadian Patriot review.