The Trial of Henry Kissinger

Christopher Hitchens is an acute observer of human nature and he takes Kissinger to task for his often disastrous foreign adventures.

Christopher Hitchens in this well document book, gives an indictment sheet for crimes against humanity committed by Henry Kissinger; the charge sheet is as follows:1. The deliberate mass killing of civilian population in Indo China.2. Deliberate collusion in mass murder.3. Arming and encouraging the government of Pakistan for the murder of over a million civilians.4. The personal suborning and planning of murder, of a senior constitutional officer in a democratic nation Chile with which the United States was not at war.5. Personal involvement in a plan to murder the head of a state in the democratic republic of Cyprus.6. Personal involvement in a plan to kidnap and murder a journalist living in Washington D.C.It is for these reasons and others, according to Hitchens, that Kissinger has gone to great lengths to cover his tracks, by censoring documents or bequeathing them to the Library of Congress under the condition that they remain sealed until his death. In my opinion the Trial of Henry Kissinger in a court of law may create a precedent for other leaders as Saddam Hussein, Atul Vajpaiee, Ariel Sharon to stand trial for their acts against humanity.

I love Christopher Hitchens and a soaring intellect passed awhile ago, but we shared the same hatred for this criminal. I am a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, and this bum and his boss Richard Nixon violated the Logan Act, an act established to prevent from regular citizens from interfering in diplomatic negotiations. Read the book and see how the war was prolonged, and many more died and were wounded when a peace proposal was on the table in 1968. A disgrace. When Ford pardoned Nixon for the BS excuse of ‘National healing, Nixon argued that he was innocent and framed for the rest of his life, and the main reason Ford lost to Carter in 1976.

J. Paul Getty once said: "If you owe the bank $100 that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem." Similarly, if you are a young black guy who has killed one person with a gun while high on drugs, you have a problem and you may find yourself on death row somewhere in the USA; but if you are a Nobel prize winner responsible for killing millions of people with the weapons of statecraft and real politick while high on arrogance and influence, society has a problem and may not be able to prosecute you.Hitchens' book first appeared in 2001 and had additional facts added in 2002; still, 6 years later no one in the USA has dared to bring his case to court. Does that mean the case is weak? Or that someone in power has a problem? Hitchen's evidence seems credible but there may not be a court anywhere prepared to hear the case.It is interesting that according to the back cover of the book, while Dr. Kissinger finds the book 'contemptible' it is not reported that he finds the contents are 'untrue.'An extra star goes to Hitchens for his courage in taking on the 'establishment.'

The book covers many of Kissinger's crimes committed largely in his capacity as Secretary of State under Nixon and Ford but places them in better light and sharper focus than were previously available. The text is what is expected of Christopher Hitchens, clear, concise, and rich with well-researched detail.

Put this in my hands 10 years ago and I would not have believed it. Hitchens does an excellent job of explaining some rather unsavory elements of American foreign affairs that Kissinger was responsible for. Concise and we'll written. It's a good introduction to some of the horrible policies and regimes that the US contributed to during the Cold War.

A trial that should have happened but seemingly never did-until now! Hitchens surgical analysis of a key player in human affairs is brilliant. Having recently finished Kinzer’s “The Brothers” this book shows a continuation of the Calvanist/Manichian penchant & policy that has guided American foreign policy for decades. Hitchens at his best!

Christopher Hitchens gathers in one place all the reasons Doctor Kissinger should have been tried in Nuremberg. It is strictly a policy book, nothing about personal life as a distraction. I remember those times all too well - and how many liberal commentators who hated Nixon and all his works were nevertheless enthralled by Doctor K. And where did they think Nixon was getting his policies? Ort at least their rationalization? This disillusioned me about the commentator class.Billie Louise [email protected]