Christopher Hitchens constructs a legalistic indictment against former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, arguing that his diplomatic actions constitute prosecutable war crimes under international law. The text focuses on specific historical episodes, including the secret carpet-bombing of Cambodia, the backing of the 1973 military coup against Salvador Allende in Chile, and the endorsement of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. Hitchens utilizes declassified government documents and primary sources to link Kissinger directly to mass killings, political assassinations, and the systematic subversion of democratic processes in various sovereign nations.
This book targets readers interested in international jurisprudence, cold war history, and foreign policy ethics. It appeals to those who question the morality of realpolitik and want to understand the tension between state secrecy and public accountability. Readers finish the book with a technical understanding of the Nuremberg principles and the legal arguments required to bring a high-ranking official to trial for human rights violations. It serves as a study in how geopolitical strategy impacts civilian populations in the global south.
- Published
- 2001
- Language
- EN
