Henry Kissinger Has Died • Hacker News Board

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#171

Post by waffleiron » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:57 AM UTC

shimonabi wrote: post #166

hammock wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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> If he was a "war criminal" as many here claim, why wasn't he ever prosecuted or convicted? Kissinger himself said many times that relations between states aren't based on morality, so people who act in the name of states can't be bound by international laws. It's an idea that is the basis of the realist philosophy. A lot of people in the the foreign policy establishment share that view. The USA for example supports…

> so people who act in the name of states can't be bound by international laws.

I’d say exactly the same if I were a war criminal

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#172

Post by baybal2 » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:58 AM UTC

hammock wrote: post #140

breput wrote: post #6

Do yourself a favor and listen to at least one of the six part series that Behind The Bastards podcast[0] did on Kissinger. It will give you a background, with sources, on the "controversial" statesman that you'll read eulogies about over the next few days. [0] https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-bastards/part-one-kissinger [1] https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-bastards/part-two-kissinger [2] https://omny.fm/shows/behind…

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Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#173

Post by deadbabe » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:58 AM UTC

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Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#174

Post by dharmab » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:59 AM UTC

I wonder who won the tontine: https://henrykissinger.rip

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#175

Post by TedDoesntTalk » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 3:59 AM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #154

mattnewton wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not saying I agree with the charge but this also doesn’t refute it. I mean, for one thing the US believes the state department and military of the US is above international war crimes courts. (Thats the actual official position).

Not just "above"; US law explicitly gives the President the power to invade The Hague if they get their hands on American officials or military personnel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members%27_Pr... > The Act gives the President power to use "all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the reque…

So what? Many countries do not recognize the ICC, not just the US. We don’t want a Global World Order; that’s a European fantasy Europe can keep. We don’t share all the same values or laws and never will.

I’m glad for The Hague Invasion Act.

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#176

Post by thrdbndndn » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 4:01 AM UTC

js2 wrote: post #146

prvc wrote: post #36

Full NYT obit: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/us/henry-kissinger-dead.h...

Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/us/henry-kissinger-dead.h...

Don't even know this is a thing. Thank you kind stranger.

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#177

Post by Supermancho » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 4:01 AM UTC

hammock wrote: post #155

mattnewton wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not saying I agree with the charge but this also doesn’t refute it. I mean, for one thing the US believes the state department and military of the US is above international war crimes courts. (Thats the actual official position).

This position is not unique to the US and stems from the potential for politically motivated prosecutions and the need to protect military personnel. Other countries (India, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, etc) are also cautious about subjecting their citizens to the jurisdiction of international courts. If Kissinger committed treason, there was nothing stopping the US government from pursuing charges

> If Kissinger committed treason, there was nothing stopping the US government from pursuing charges

Except the optics and power that his party holds (politics), which is what keeps many congress critters in positions of power. The power that the US wields (economically and militarily) kept the other countries at bay.

People pretending, that the reasons are unclear, are being disingenuous.

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#178

Post by missedthecue » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 4:03 AM UTC

halayli wrote: post #160

He's the reason why the middle east has been in shambles since the 70s.

You may be surprised to learn it's been in shambles for a while longer than that.

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#179

Post by tacocataco » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 4:04 AM UTC

lyu07282 wrote: post #136

e40 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Millions according to the Rolling Stone article.

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We can't afford to be neutral on a moving train.

Re: Henry Kissinger Has Died

#180

Post by ninjin » Thu, Nov 30, 2023, 4:05 AM UTC

charred_patina wrote: post #151

ninjin wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good question. I have heard it referenced multiple times, but that does not make it true. Wikiquote cites The Sydney Morning Herald [1], but that is probably not a great source. I did a bit of digging online and also found The Guardian mentioning it too around the same time [2] (some twenty or so years ago). But I do not have a source that I would be willing to bet my life on. [1]: https://www.smh.com.au/entertainmen…

https://www.avclub.com/tom-lehrer-1798208112

Excellent! Thank you! Right from the man himself: "I've said that political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize." So his objection is not to the quote itself, but rather the implication that he would have retired as a form of protest in relation to said quote.