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News of the death ( November 29 , 2023 ) of former United States geopolitical councillor , Henry Kissinger , sent waves around the world . Many lauded his life , former US presidents paid tribute with comments stating he was “ dependable ”, and a “ distinctive voice on current affairs ”. Both undeniable , and yet many felt Kissinger ’ s death in very different ways , with comments that his distinctive voice on current affairs was dependably vicious to the point of being evil .
In the wake of Kissinger ’ s death one critic ’ s voice came to the fore . Anthony Bourdain , a chef , and traveller of note , wrote in his 2002 book , A Cooks Tour ; Global Adventures In Extreme Cuisines , that Kissinger was a “ treacherous , prevaricating , murderous scumbag ”, eluding that the former US secretary of state was devoid of any moral compass and open to mass murder .
Bourdain , who passed away in 2018 was of course speaking about Kissinger ’ s involvement in the Vietnam war and the unprovoked and internationally illegal mass bombing of Cambodia . Bourdain was commenting on a protracted series of events that took place thirty years prior to his comments and yet , were still being felt , in fact they were still being felt at the time of Kissinger ’ s death .
In a period of four years , 1969-73 , it ’ s estimated that the United States , under President Richard Nixon guided by Kissinger , dropped 500,000 tons of bombs on Cambodia , a neutral country . Although an operation said to be outside of military jurisdiction , Kissinger suggested that the region was being bombed to cut supply lines for the Viet Cong , fighting in neighbouring Vietnam , the bombing was not against Cambodia or its people .
The bombing was indiscriminate , widespread attacks that wiped out vast swathes of jungle , wiping villages from the map , and eliminating human life without thought . The bombs rained down without target , resembling a rug being rolled out on a floor , and with it the term " carpet bombing " was coined .
The elderly of Cambodia don ’ t like talking of the past , yet there still remains a level of resentment toward the
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