The Trial of Henry Kissinger book cover

The Trial of Henry Kissinger by Christopher Hitchens Summary

The Trial of Henry Kissinger
Christopher Hitchens
3.96 (4505 Reviews)
Politics
Biography
Economics
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
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Overview of The Trial of Henry Kissinger

Hitchens' explosive indictment of Kissinger's war crimes shocked Washington. This meticulously researched 2001 expose, adapted into a documentary, sparked global debate about accountability. As whistleblower Fred Branfman noted, only a "nation in deep disarray" could honor someone with "so much blood on his hands."

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Key takeaways

1

The Architect of America's Darkest Hours

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Henry Kissinger embodies one of America's most troubling contradictions. The pudgy, bespectacled figure who glides through Manhattan galas is the same man who orchestrated bombing campaigns killing hundreds of thousands of civilians. While celebrated as an elder statesman dispensing wisdom on television, he simultaneously lives in perpetual anxiety about which countries might arrest him. His memoir sales top $5 million, yet according to multiple legal experts, his actions constitute prosecutable war crimes. This paradox reflects America's complicated relationship with power and accountability. As international justice increasingly penetrates the shield of diplomatic immunity, Kissinger's freedom to travel narrows-explaining his vigilance about which countries he can safely visit. Behind the celebrity facade lies a man whose rise to power was built on duplicity, power worship, and a complete absence of moral scruple-qualities that would define his entire career in government.

2

The Secret Sabotage That Launched a Career

3

Blood-Soaked Diplomacy in Indochina

4

Enabling Genocide for Diplomatic Convenience

5

Democracy's Assassin in Chile

6

The Profit Margin: Power's Lucrative Afterlife

7

Justice Delayed: The Case for Accountability

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