As he approaches his 100th birthday, Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State and one of the most famous foreign policy figures in American history, has emerged on social media platforms with calls for his trial as a "war criminal."
Although Kissinger's birthday falls on the 27th of this month, his name rose to prominence on social media after a televised interview two days ago with CBS.
Kissinger, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his role in leading peace talks and stopping the war between America and Vietnam, has been accused over the past decades of being responsible for the deaths of 900,<> civilians in Cambodia and Laos.
According to the State Department archives, Kissinger, who served as national security adviser in 1969, advised then-President Richard Nixon to strike the border areas between Vietnam and Laos.
Although negotiations have already begun between the two sides, Kissinger told Nixon, "If we hit Cambodia violently, it will make them weak in the negotiations."
International rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have estimated that the number of casualties has reached 600,300 civilians in Cambodia and about <>,<> in Laos.
Yale University said U.S. planes and guns rained down on Cambodia and Laos about 2.8 million tonnes of explosives.
A number of social media activists have described Kissinger as a "war criminal", with demands for him to be tried as long as he lives.
There are three sad things about Henry Kissinger turning 100.
1. He is turning 100
2. He lived long enough that his politics are now moderate compared to Biden's administration
3. He's not serving multiple life sentences for war crimes
— Birrion ☭ (@birrion) May 7, 2023
Henry Kissinger has lived to 100 today out of pure evil and spite. pic.twitter.com/Xc2xDsTm8E
— Polly Tickal (@BubblesToBurst) May 8, 2023
Blogger Lambie Lewis said: "Henry Kissinger, the world's oldest living war criminal, will be celebrated after his 100th birthday in a few weeks and everyone will pretend that the man is not a living war criminal who supported genocide."
Henry Kissinger, the oldest living war criminal in the world, will be celebrated for turning 100 in a few weeks and everyone will pretend the dude is NOT A LIVING WAR CRIMINAL who backed genocides.
— Lumpy Louise 🍎🥄🔑 The US are the Baddies (@LumpyLouish) May 7, 2023
Blogger Ron Payne called for Kissinger to be prosecuted, saying: "Henry Kissinger will turn 100 later this month, which means there is still time to be tried for war crimes."
Henry Kissinger is turning 100 later this month, which means there is still time to put him on trial fro war crimes.
— Ron Payne 🦖 +🕛= 🐦 (@RonPayne72) May 7, 2023
In 2001, Christopher Hitchens, author of The Henry Kissinger Trial, filed a bold indictment demanding that Kissinger be tried as a war criminal for crimes against humanity during his time in the US administration.
The author brought several charges against Kissinger, including: the deliberate killing of civilians in Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, ...) , deliberately conspiracy in mass killings and executions in Bangladesh, and personally engaging in planning the murder of a senior constitutional official in a democratic country (Chile) that was not at war with the United States.
Hitchens also accused him of personally engaging in a conspiracy to liquidate a democratic head of state (Cyprus), facilitating and supporting the genocidal campaigns in East Timor, and personally engaging in a plan to kidnap and then assassinate a journalist in Washington, D.C.
The author personally condemned Kissinger for the Indochina Wars and Operation Speedy Express, in which more than 11,<> civilians were killed in the Ken Hua area.
Kissinger was born on May 27, 1923 in Fort, Germany, to a Jewish family that immigrated in 1938 to the United States, where he served during World War II (1939-1945) in the U.S. Army, and in 1943 he became a U.S. citizen.
He served as National Security Advisor to the President from 1969 to 1973 and from 1973 to 1977 as Secretary of State in the Nixon and Gerald Ford Administrations.