The Death of Heinz (Henry) Kissinger,Former US Foreign Secretary

By: Dr. khalid Al-Mubarak

The United States and the world have lost an astute statesman, who was much more than a former Foreign Secretary. Born in Germany and escaping Nazism , Jewish Heinz became Henry, an American not a German. He played a significant role in detente between his country and Communist China that started when Mao Tse Tong was still alive.That turning point has led to today’s partnership /competition between the two countries. China is now leading the BRICS group that is trying to end the Dollar’s financial hegemony and simultaneously reform or change the Bretton Woods financial institutions. The world has changed since 1945 but some US politicians are in denial and expect the balance of economic and political power to stay the same.It goes without saying that this peaceful tug of war will have an impact on us and on all developing countries. Obituary writers who have praised Kissinger for his China policy have also criticised his record on Vietnam and Asia.There is a lesson for us in this. The Khawajat record both the positive and negative attributes of deceased personalities. Pointing out the negatives helps others to avoid repeating them. In our culture, however, we insist on mentioning only the good aspects, citing the religious injunction “Cite the virtues of those who pass away” .The religious directive never said “Cite ONLY the virtues of those who pass away ” We added “only ” and changed the essence of what should be done. In one of my articles for Sudan Vision Daily, I noted an obituary in the London Independent which was published when an Israeli (former Mossad Head) died.After enumerating his achievements, the writer also recorded that one week after his visit to Zanzibar, a violent coup took place. He never accused the deceased of any wrongdoing, but has highlighted the policies of coups and assassinations that are now back in the Gaza news. The former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak has told the Economist in May 2017 about”budding fascism ” tendencies in Israel. The forces he was worried about are now lawmakers in cabinet. The bones of Heinz who became Henry when he escaped Nazi rule will turn in his American grave.