Henry Kissinger, a dominating and polarizing force in US foreign policy, dies at 100
Henry Kissinger, a former United States secretary of state and national security adviser, passed away at the age of 100. Kissinger, who fled Nazi Germany during his youth, went on to have a profound impact on American foreign policy, making him both influential and controversial. The news of his death was announced by his consulting firm, Kissinger Associates, stating that he passed away at his residence in Connecticut on Wednesday. The firm did not disclose the specific cause of death.
During the 1970s, Kissinger became synonymous with US foreign policy. His efforts in brokering peace in the Vietnam War were recognized when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He played a crucial role in facilitating secret negotiations between President Richard Nixon and communist China, resulting in Nixon's historic visit to the country in 1972.
However, Kissinger faced criticism for his involvement in the bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, which indirectly led to the Brutal Khmer Rouge regime. He also faced backlash for supporting a coup against a democratically elected government in Chile. In the Middle East, Kissinger engaged in shuttle diplomacy to diffuse tensions between Israeli and Arab forces following the 1973 Yom Kippur War. His approach to US-Soviet relations, known as "détente," significantly contributed to the relaxation of tensions and subsequent arms control agreements, which remained influential until the Reagan era.
Despite his achievements, Kissinger's legacy was complicated by his role in the Vietnam War. When Nixon assumed the presidency in 1969, he vowed to implement a "secret plan" to end the conflict. However, by that time, around 30,000 American lives had already been lost in the war. This issue remains a contentious aspect of Kissinger's tenure.
Despite attempts to transfer more combat responsibilities to the South Vietnamese government, American involvement persisted throughout Nixon's presidency. Critics accused Nixon and Kissinger of unnecessarily expanding the war. Eventually, US engagement came to an end with the fall of Saigon in 1975, resulting in the loss of over 58,000 American lives. One highly controversial decision during this period was when Kissinger shared the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize with his North Vietnamese counterpart, Le Duc Tho, for their work on the Paris peace accords. Despite this recognition, Tho declined to accept the prize due to the absence of actual peace in Vietnam. In protest of the award, two members of the Nobel committee resigned. Back in the United States, domestic outrage over the war primarily focused on the bombings of Laos and Cambodia. These bombings proved to be a recruitment tool for the brutal Khmer Rouge movement, which later came into power and carried out one of the most devastating genocides of the 20th century. Kissinger reflected on the tragedy of Vietnam, expressing his belief that the divisions within the United States made it impossible to achieve a resolution that honored the sacrifices made. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer in 2005, he stated, "For me, the tragedy of Vietnam was the divisions that occurred in the United States that made it, in the end, impossible to achieve an outcome that was compatible with the sacrifices that had been made."
Despite the decline of Nixon and the Watergate scandal, Kissinger remained an influential figure in international affairs, always attracting attention for his insights on diplomacy. In a 2008 interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, he emphasized the importance of understanding the perspectives of both sides in order to negotiate and reconcile differences, stating, "In order to negotiate, one has to understand the perception of the other side of the world. And they have to understand our perception. And there has to be a decision on both sides that they're going to try to reconcile these differences."
Kissinger not only left his mark in international diplomacy but also drew public attention in other spheres. He was named Gallup's "Most Admired Man" for three consecutive years in the 1970s. Besides, his personal life, public appearances, and nights spent at New York's renowned Studio 54 club often made headlines.
"He once jokingly remarked that the advantage of being a celebrity is that if you bore people, they will blame themselves. Kissinger, who passed away, is survived by his wife, Nancy, two children - Elizabeth and David - from his first marriage, and five grandchildren. Former President George W. Bush paid tribute to Kissinger's intelligence, charisma, and sense of humor. He said, 'I have always held great admiration for the man who escaped from the Nazis as a young Jewish boy and later fought against them in the US Army. His appointment as Secretary of State, as a former refugee, not only reflected his greatness but also the greatness of America.' Bush expressed gratitude for Kissinger's service and advice, emphasizing the value of their friendship.
Kissinger obtained US citizenship in 1943 and served in World War II before pursuing a doctorate at Harvard University, where he eventually became a professor. However, his passion for public service drew him into government work. Initially, Kissinger provided consultation to the State Department and Pentagon on matters related to national security. He then served as the national security adviser and later as secretary of state under President Nixon. During Kissinger's swearing-in ceremony as secretary of state in 1973, Nixon described it as a significant moment, highlighting the importance of considering America as part of the global community. Despite the constant controversies surrounding the Nixon administration, Kissinger remained a loyal and trusted adviser, being the sole remaining member of the inner circle after the Watergate scandal. In fact, Nixon's resignation note was addressed to Kissinger, and the two shared a prayer on the final night of Nixon's presidency. Reflecting on that solemn moment in a 2012 interview with CBS News, Kissinger remembered, 'On his last night in office, he invited me to the Lincoln sitting room where we used to discuss foreign policy together. It was a profound and fitting moment, considering the tragic turn his life had taken, as a man who had spent his entire life pursuing the presidency only to lose it all due to his own actions.'"
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