His experiences as a refugee from the Nazis and the post-WW2 advances of communism making millions more into refugees, like he’d been. I disagree. I think he was an extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful man, but with a monstrous ego. Read a book he wrote in latter years called “On China”, the first 2/3 of which was an excellent explanation of China’s perspective on the world. Showed how well Kissinger understood the perspectives of his counterparts in debates and negotiations. The last third was Kissinger tooting his own horn and expressing too much admiration for Mao. I think because Mao had been a productive interlocutor.

See, I think you’re right, that Kissinger has a very complex legacy, which has long been recognized. He’s also decidedly not Timothy McVeigh, and over the top characterizations are not required to offset the “tongue baths” which imo you’re only seeing because you object to any expressions of admiration for the man. But those expressions of admiration have been offset by folks thinking more like you since before 1983, and are a prominent part of current retrospectives of his life.

[Post edited by hoolstoptheheels at 11/30/2023 10:40AM]