The death of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the age of 100 has sparked a wave of opinions and reactions, with Rolling Stone magazine leading the leftist celebrations of his demise with a brutal headline that labeled him as a “war criminal”. The obituary, written by Spencer Ackerman, was scathing in its portrayal of Kissinger, declaring “good riddance” to the statesman and stating that his legacy should only be his “confirmed kills”.
The article drew comparisons between Kissinger and domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh, who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 that killed 168 people. The outlet went on to say that Kissinger’s infamy sits alongside that of history’s worst mass murderers. The piece was met with praise from leftists on social media, and the magazine even retweeted some of the approving comments.
Rolling Stone was not alone in its quick condemnation of Kissinger. Ben Rhodes, a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama, wrote an op-ed for The New York Times, calling him a “hypocrite”. The Huffington Post also blasted Kissinger as “America’s most notorious war criminal”. Surprisingly, the White House is yet to release a statement from President Joe Biden acknowledging Kissinger’s death.
However, not everyone shared the same sentiments towards Kissinger. Former President George W. Bush led tributes to him last night, and many others paid their respects to the former statesman. Greg Swenson, the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, told the BBC that while he did not defend all of Kissinger’s policy mistakes, he was still a major statesman who did a lot of good for the world. He reminded us that this was during the Cold War, a tumultuous time where difficult choices had to be made. “There weren’t a lot of great outcomes possible,” he added.
The vitriol was not limited to just articles and social media posts. There were even cheers heard on the streets of New York among protesters of the Israel-Hamas conflict, who reacted with jubilation upon hearing the news of Kissinger’s death. This event further highlighted the divisive opinions surrounding the former Secretary of State.
Amidst the polarizing views, there were still those who defended Kissinger’s legacy. Tudor Dixon, a Republican former candidate for governor of Michigan, criticized Rolling Stone for their inflammatory headline, stating that they should be “ashamed of themselves”. Andrew Roberts, writing for The Spectator, called the magazine’s obituary “revolting”. Political commentator Phumlani Majozi stated that while Kissinger could be accused of war crimes, he was not the only US Secretary of State or President to potentially fit this label.
In an earlier interview from 2001, the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain had some scathing remarks about Kissinger as well, stating that one could never forget his actions in Cambodia and wondering why he was not held accountable for his role in the Vietnam War.
With such diverse views and opinions on Kissinger’s legacy, it is clear that his death has ignited a heated debate, causing a divide among the global community. While some view him as a “diplomatic giant” and a “lover of concord”, others see him as a “cynical war criminal”. It is a reminder of the complexities and controversies surrounding those in positions of power and influence.
