# Kissinger, we barely knew thee ! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628 "2002-12-13T22:40:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/1 "2002-12-13T22:40:40Z")
First the fix was in, now it’s not: > **[Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=1&cid=578&u=%2Fnm%2F20021213%2Fts_nm%2Fattack_commission_kissinger_dc)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. Don’t let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/2 "2002-12-13T22:57:44Z")
Hoo-ha! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/3 "2002-12-13T22:58:49Z")
"Kissinger had been criticized over possible conflicts of interest. " What? Does he own stock in Al Queda or something? That being beside the point, I am utterly shocked at this story. Shocked, I say. I thought that fucker died years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/4 "2002-12-13T23:11:08Z")
I don’t know. It was sort of nice to see Nixon’s Grey Eminence spooking around in W.’s Rose Garden. The prospect of Henry the K’s Realpolitik and W.’s Marvel Comics think playing on the same field was bound to make for exciting entertainment. Maybe W.’s boys can come up with some unindicted or conviction reversed or conviction forgiven figure from Ronnie’s or George I’s administration to honcho the inquiry and make sure that any skeletons stay securely buried. I have it! It’s a perfect job for Newt! ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/5 "2002-12-13T23:26:29Z")
Why should anyone be surprised at this, this commission is so politically charged that no matter what the findings happen to be, and no matter what evidence is available, someone will find some conspiracy theory. Talk about a poisoned chalice, no wonder anyone with any sense wants out!! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/6 "2002-12-13T23:30:14Z")
The fact that he could be appointed in the first place says more about the US political system than his resignation ever will, unfortunately. Still, i’m glad to see the fucker go. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/7 "2002-12-13T23:57:36Z")
People have long complained about the conflict of interests being the major problem with Kissenger, and I’m not qualified to say whether that was really an issue. What WAS a very important issue is that Kissenger embodies, and is intellectually wedded to, a particular philosophy of foriegn policy. And it is EXACTLY that philosophy which may well be to blame for our intelligence failures: it was a misdirected approach focused on states, insularity, and realpolitik, and dismissive of non-state forces. Given that this attitude was a potential culprit in how we thought about security, intelligence and threats prior to 9/11, Kissenger would never be able to question whether this sort of doctrine was to blame. It was HIS doctrine, after all, one which he has continued to defend and elaborate on. There’s no way he could make an honest appraisal of it’s role in 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/8 "2002-12-14T00:05:02Z")
It’s a good thing. Although this commission is going to be controversial no matter what, I think that George Mitchell (who also resigned) and Lee Hamilton (who is suggested as a possibility in the linked article) would not raise quite the red flags that Kissinger did. Buh-bye! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/9 "2002-12-14T00:12:22Z")
Me, I’m holding out for Ollie North. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/10 "2002-12-14T00:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*"Kissinger had been criticized over possible conflicts of interest. " > > What? Does he own stock in Al Queda or something? The clients for his consulting firm allegedly include more than a few foreign nations. Not a good idea to be heading the 9/11 inquiry if you’re on the payroll of (for instance) Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/11 "2002-12-14T02:08:34Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Jack Batty_ > That being beside the point, I am utterly shocked at this story. > > Shocked, I say. > > I thought that fucker died years ago. I think I can clear up your confusion. From the book [_Who in Hell…: A Gudie to the Whole Damned Bunch_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679764844/qid=1039830978/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-0334547-3982354?v=glance&s=books) (Kelly and Rogers, 1996): > [@](#): > > KISSINGER, Henry WH 1973, Hypocrisy > Some crimes are so heinous as to result in immediate damnation of the soul, even though the sinner’s body (reposessed by a demon) continues to “live” on Earth. Dante (in canto 33 of the _Inferno_) cites the case of treacherous homicide Branca D’Oria, who lived fifty years after his spirit was plunged into Hell. > > However alive and well the esteemed statesman and wealthy consulate may appear to be on his frequent television appearances, the butcher of Cambodia was whisked to his eternal, exceedingly warm reward on October 16, 1973, at the very moment he modestly accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/12 "2002-12-14T06:39:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\*Talk about _a poisoned chalice_, no wonder anyone with any sense wants out!! \*\*(Italics mine – kd99) ? I thought the pellet with the poison was in the _vessel with the pestle_, and the _chalice with the palace_ held the brew that was true! What’s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissinger-we-barely-knew-thee/142628/13 "2002-12-14T06:54:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\* > What WAS a very important issue is that Kissenger embodies, and is intellectually wedded to, a particular philosophy of foriegn policy. And it is EXACTLY that philosophy which may well be to blame for our intelligence failures: it was a misdirected approach focused on states, insularity, and realpolitik, and dismissive of non-state forces. \*\* I don’t know. Couldn’t you argue that it, in some ways, was the rejection of Kissinger’s philosophy of foreign policy that contributed to our intelligence failures? It seems like current foreign policy says that we should base our foreign policy on the pursuit of human rights and democritization, and that we should encourage our allies to improve their human rights record. It’s commonly accepted that intelligence operations like assassinations and coups of other goverments are inappropriate, that the US, in war, should try to minimize innocent casualties, etc.