On November 29, 2023, Henry Kissinger, a well-known politician and diplomat, passed away. His obituaries lauded him as a cunning Nobel Laureate diplomat who significantly contributed to global peace. Did he deserve the accolades that ultracrepidarian social media pundits bestowed upon his passing, or was he a warmonger and did not deserve to be a hero? We must examine his role in the turmoil he brought forth.
Henry’s involvement in several foreign policies and initiatives while serving as President Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford’s National Security Advisor and Secretary of State made him controversial. Here are a few instances that added to his contentious reputation:
Role in the Vietnam War: Kissinger was a major influence in formulating American strategy in the conflict. He played a crucial role in the war’s controversial extension into neighbouring nations like Laos and Cambodia, where covert airstrikes resulted in a large number of civilian deaths and the destabilization of the area. [Reference: New York Times]
1973 Chilean coup: Kissinger participated in the U.S. government’s backing of a military takeover in Chile that resulted in the overthrow of Salvador Allende, the country’s democratically elected president, and the establishment of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. This engagement has drawn criticism for weakening democracy and endorsing a government that violates human rights. [Reference: Chile and Kissinger]
East Timor Invasion: He was also criticized for his part in the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor. Under Kissinger’s direction, the United States armed Indonesia during its invasion and occupation of East Timor, resulting in numerous breaches of human rights. [A Legacy Spoiled by Blood]
Bangladesh Liberation War: Kissinger backed Pakistan’s military dictatorship in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which was in charge of several crimes committed in what was then East Pakistan. This position was perceived as disregarding humanitarian issues in favour of geopolitical objectives. [Bangladesh and Kissinger]
Opening up to China and the detente with the Soviet Union were viewed as diplomatic achievements, but they also had drawbacks. Kissinger’s détente policy with the Soviet Union was criticized for giving too much ground to them, while others felt that he had betrayed Taiwan by opening up to China. [The Kissinger Legacy]
Realpolitik Approach: Kissinger prioritized pragmatic concerns over moral or ideological ones in his realpolitik foreign policy doctrine. He frequently used this strategy to defend authoritarian governments and ignore violations of human rights when doing so benefited US geopolitical objectives. [Kissinger effect on Realpolitik]
Kissinger’s legacy is still disputed; some acknowledge his strategic brilliance, while others condemn his disdain for moral and human rights concerns in international politics. These intricate and sometimes divisive facets of his profession are the source of his controversial notoriety. However, he is unquestionably not a hero deserving of eulogies.
Note: I am sorry if I hurt feelings and admirations of many. These are my thoughts on a controversial figure.
Thinking Out Loud 