LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman. Winner 2013 Webby Awards for Best Political Website
May 17, 2013

 Choose a size
Text Size

Trending:     chris hedges     economy     elizabeth warren     politics     robert scheer
Most Read

The History That Birthed the Tsarnaev Boys

'The Daily Show': Stewart Slams Hypocrites Cheney and Rumsfeld

This Is Water: Fishy Advice From David Foster Wallace

Jerry Brown: California's Mystery Man

Chris Hedges: The 'Terrifying' State Assault on Press Freedom

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * How the IRS’ Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional
 * NEW! * Recurring Nightmares? Wake Up and Take Action

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
Act of Congress
Daily Rituals
The Girls of Atomic City

Digs

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Reports

Give Us a Break, Henry

Email this item Email    Print this item Print    Share this item... Share

Posted on Feb 9, 2011
White House / National Archives

By Barry Lando

It’s always comforting to have Henry Kissinger around to advise the current U.S. administration on what to do. His latest advice to President Barack Obama regarding Egypt: Slow down, take things easier, don’t rush Egypt’s sensitive leaders.

“We should be looking at a democratic evolution,” said Kissinger. But he warned that the U.S. should cultivate key democratic reformists and military leaders in a low-key fashion during the process. “It should not look like an American project. The Egyptians are a proud people. They threw out the British and they threw out the Russians.”

On the other hand, when thin-skinned right-wing dictators in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay were kidnapping and murdering “democratic reformists” by the thousands in 1976, Kissinger, then secretary of state—not having to worry about lurid accounts of torture on Twitter and Facebook and Al-Jazeera—advised South American generals to get on with their grisly task so as not to provoke censure from a U.S. Congress beginning to waken to the ongoing slaughter. Or, as Kissinger put it to Argentine Foreign Minister Adm. Cesar Augusto Guzzetti in June 1976: “If there are things that have to be done, you should do them quickly. But you should get back quickly to normal procedures.”

The things to be done were no secret: Human rights organizations and State Department memorandums supplied all necessary details. In Argentina alone more than 10,000 people had been “disappeared” by the end of 1976. But, in the name of fighting the Cold War, messy things had to be done, said the generals and their apologists—Kissinger included.

Ironically, for the past 30 years Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and his allies abroad have justified his brutal repression in similar terms. Some are still doing it. It’s just the name of the bogeyman that’s changed: from communism to radical Islam aka the Muslim Brotherhood—from Fidel Castro’s revolutionary virus to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida. The fact that al-Qaida’s leaders have condemned the Muslim Brotherhood for its willingness to participate in Egyptian politics is an inconvenient detail.

The parallels between Egypt and the onetime military dictators of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are striking. According to the State Department memo on a 1976 meeting between Kissinger and Adm. Guzzetti obtained by the National Security Archives, the Argentine told Kissinger, “Our main problem in Argentina is terrorism. It is the first priority of the current government that took office on March 24. There are two aspects to the solution. The first is to ensure the internal security of the country; the second is to solve the most urgent economic problems over the coming 6 to 12 months. Argentina needs United States understanding and support. ...”

Advertisement

The archives’ analysis of that memo explained, “This at a time when the international community, the U.S. media, universities, and scientific institutions, the U.S. Congress, and even the U.S. Embassy in Argentina were clamoring about the indiscriminate human rights violations against scientists, labor leaders, students, and politicians by the Argentine military, Secretary Kissinger told Guzzetti: ‘We are aware you are in a difficult period. It is a curious time, when political, criminal, and terrorist activities tend to merge without any clear separation. We understand you must establish authority.’ ”

The U.S. ambassador had earlier protested to the Argentina government about the disappearance and torture of human rights workers, including American citizens. Kissinger, however, told Guzzetti, “In the United States we have strong domestic pressures to do something on human rights. ... We want you to succeed. We do not want to harrass [sic] you. I will do what I can. ...”

One could almost hear an American official today—sotto voce—giving similar advice to Egypt’s new vice president, Omar Suleiman, who, let’s not forget, for the past eight years headed up the feared Intelligence Directorate—infamous for systematic brutality, torture and disappearances; so skilled at its work that the CIA frequently used Suleiman and his uniformed thugs in the U.S. rendition program.

All of a sudden, though, Suleiman, with his impeccable dark suit and tie and unflappable demeanor, is not only the go-to man for torture but also, the go-to man to engineer “a transition to democracy.”

Not too fast a transition though, and certainly not too democratic.

Just as Henry the K. would advise.

Barry M. Lando, a graduate of Harvard and Columbia University, spent 25 years as an award-winning investigative producer with “60 Minutes.” He has produced numerous articles, a documentary and a book, “Web of Deceit,” about Iraq. Lando is finishing a novel, “The Watchman’s File.”

A slightly different version of this article has been published elsewhere.


New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.

By barefootblogger, February 15, 2011 at 11:34 pm Link to this comment

Oy Vey!  I could write a book already of all the things I want to say to the Kisseyman.  But mainly, just sail off to the Caribbean, relax, take some sun, and stop talking.

Report this

By Luis Lozano, February 13, 2011 at 4:00 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Kissinger is another one of those Americans we have put on a pedestal for their supposed genius when in reality he has brought more ruin to more countries and whose so-called accomplishments have unraveled faster than a snowball in summer.  Was it his accent or his grandfatherly looks that we fell for?  He should be spending the rest of his life in jail and that pedestal should be replaced with a scaffold.

Report this

By johnny hempseed, February 13, 2011 at 11:18 am Link to this comment

Great Comments,wow David J. hows your bike runnin’?
I heard that anti-christ, stuff from a Mohawk Shaman 35 years ago joe in tokyo.Lost soul remembered,are you busy tonight? Queenie can I scratch behind your ears?Peace prize my ass!

peace

Report this

By drunkfoulmouthfilthybeast, February 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm Link to this comment

I would like to recommend that extradition papers drawn up to any country that has warrants for Mr. Henry “Pinochet” Kissinger arrest for crimes against mankind, I highly recommend a junket to East Timor, Indonesia where he can be the guest of the Interpol Crossbar Hotels International, this resort offers a healthy regime of waterboarding, a rack to stretch tired muscles and a relaxing days of solitude in the Spider’s hole, where you do not risk the chance of the Sun giving one skin cancer. All this for our Ambassador for recruiting terror experts to any country in need for the United States of America’s personal guidance and low cost loans from “Lone Jack” Wolfowich, owner and operator of the IMF. (don’t ask for clarity on IMF,please, expletives best left out, you know.)

Report this

By drunkfoulmouthfilthybeast, February 12, 2011 at 2:01 pm Link to this comment

I would like to recommend that extradition papers drawn up to any country that has warrants for Mr. Henry “Pinochet” Kissinger’s arrest for crimes against mankind, I highly recommend a junket to East Timor, Indonesia where he can be the guest of the Interpol Crossbar Hotels International, this resort offers a healthy regime of waterboarding, a rack to stretch tired muscles and a relaxing days of solitude in the Spider’s hole, where you do not risk the chance of the Sun giving one skin cancer. All this for our Ambassador for recruiting terror experts to any country in need for the United States of America’s personal guidance and low cost loans from “Lone Jack” Wolfowich, owner and operator of the IMF. (don’t ask for clarity on IMF,please, expletives best left out, you know.)

Report this

By TDoff, February 11, 2011 at 2:46 pm Link to this comment

Kissenger can be explained, and completely understood, by knowing just one fact about him: He sleeps each night in a coffin in his private suite/cell located in the dungeon beneath the joint AIPAC/AEI headquarters.

Report this
mindful's avatar

By mindful, February 11, 2011 at 2:09 pm Link to this comment

How much did Henry charge for his advise? He does nothing not in his investment interests.

Report this

By MK Ultra, February 11, 2011 at 9:34 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Henry Kissinger.  What an endorsement!  This guy, like Dick Cheney, is the kiss of death.  Anything he touches goes to hell immediately.  What a proud history the USan Empire has counting some of the West’s most psycopathic, deluded, vicious characters among its ranks and most revered elites.

Report this
joentokyo's avatar

By joentokyo, February 10, 2011 at 11:16 pm Link to this comment

Years ago a Cherokee Indian tried to explain to me that Kissinger was the Antichrist. It involved transposing the letters of his names into numbers as I recall. At the time I thought the guy was crazy. Now I am not so sure.

Report this
blogdog's avatar

By blogdog, February 10, 2011 at 6:49 pm Link to this comment

one has to marvel at how close to the mark Kubrick and Sellers hit in their
visionary Strangelove personage

Report this

By cosmo9, February 10, 2011 at 6:17 pm Link to this comment

A man guilty of killing at least a million people in south east asia, we need no lessons from the likes of him and Tony Blair.

Report this

By frecklefever, February 10, 2011 at 4:36 pm Link to this comment

I CAN’T HELP MYSELF WHEN IT COMES TO HENRY…HE APPEARS WISE…BUT IS REALLY
COMICAL..AND DEADLY..WITH HIS EARNEST AND SAD DEMEANOR HE PEDDLES THICK HEADED
POLICIES…THAT ARE CONVOLUTED AND DISTURBED..

Report this

By samosamo, February 10, 2011 at 3:15 pm Link to this comment

****************

 

It might make some sense for a lot of people to know how
‘visible’ old henry is in the annual bilderberg june fests. Matter
of fact it could surprise a lot people of the number of ex,
current and wannabe members of our government who also
attend these june fests to hobnob and rub elbows with the
people who come out from behind the curtains to have their
yearly june convention. Since the american people pay for the
security of these yearly festive occasions that our cia and
secret service protect, they should have an accounting of what
these people plan and

What is amazing is that as unproductive as kissassenger has
been in advising our government, that people still ask him for
his opinion. His truly is a big old gasbag and still dangerous.

http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2010/06/daniel-
estulin-exclusive-bilderberg-are.html

Report this
lOst_sOuls_rembrd's avatar

By lOst_sOuls_rembrd, February 10, 2011 at 2:26 pm Link to this comment

Enough of him!  I’ve an idea:

Kissinger can take Bush (W) on a trip to EU.  What’s that you say?  Bush can’t leave the country w/o fear of prosecution for crimes against humanity? 

Yeah.

And the point is?  OFF WITH THEIR HEADS. (JOKING mods.  I just left HP for their rollover w/AOL.  I’m jonesing! LOL

Report this

By AnnaDaniher, February 10, 2011 at 1:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

About stepping down: KIssinger has long overstayed his visit. I never understood why he was allowed to insert himself into major decisions. And the way he was and still is held in high regard. After so many years in this country your would think he’d speak the language better than he does. Why can’t he clear his throat. I don’t understand him at all. But I definitely don’t trust him. He should not be included in this discussion.

Report this

By Jim Yell, February 10, 2011 at 12:26 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

My advice to the country is when a dog poops in the same spot on the floor day after day, stepping in it is your own fault.

The classic story of why Henry isn’t to be trusted, do you remember a certain young lady who went to his hotel room, found he had a glint in his eye and refused him. He asked her to wait for a period of time before leaving so he could leave the impression he was a ladies’ man and proceeded to read for the remainder of the visit. Point, he is not to be trusted—about anything.

Report this
RayLan's avatar

By RayLan, February 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm Link to this comment

Dr.Stranglove advising the Obamastan hawk about ‘democratic evolution’. What hilarious Bull.

Report this
David J. Cyr's avatar

By David J. Cyr, February 10, 2011 at 11:50 am Link to this comment

It’s quite appropriate for Kissinger to be advising Obama.

Obama rightfully received the Kissinger Peace Prize… for getting “antiwar” voters to eagerly vote for more war.

It’s apparent that Kissinger and Obama share the incarnate evil gene.

Report this
PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, February 10, 2011 at 9:37 am Link to this comment

Kissinger should be rotting in a jail in Chile.

Report this

By Beth Arnoldy, February 10, 2011 at 9:07 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

In a more just world Henry Kissinger would be serving a life sentence for his war crimes, in some jail much like Spandau prison—not roaming around giving advice on anything.  And even if Kissinger gives the advice, why does anyone listen or report it?

Report this

By gerard, February 10, 2011 at 1:04 am Link to this comment

Kissinger is an jaded, out-dated, finaggler and manipulator crazed by the view that force is the only means and domination is the only end.  He is so out of touch with the century of free-flowing internet communication and information-sharing as to be an anachronism.
  The saddest fact today is that, while our present government is a bit more in tune with the late 20th century, it is itself blind to the possibilities of the 21st.  It’s methods are worn out and ineffective, yet its beliefs in its superiority are so set that even those in the most powerful key positions are unable to shift gears.  They are grinding away in “Low” while the world of internet intercommunication and its huge possibilities for sharing, for democratic organization and open communication is almost completely beyond their comprehension. 
  Offered chance after chance to self-correct, our government blunder on in the old patterns of denial, authoritarian reaction and the hope to dominate by sheer military/economic force.  We ordinary citizens ought to be able to somehow create ways to lead them out of the past.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, February 10, 2011 at 12:14 am Link to this comment

Henry Kissinger always looked and sounded the part of a thoughtful, brilliant intellectual, but I always thought he was shallow, short-sighted, prone to making bad situations worse, and the peace agreements he negotiated failed.  The only one that lasted was with China. His Viet Nam peace accord failed—and the North conquered the South. His “shuttle diplomacy” in the Middle East failed, where Carter’s didn’t.

HK is like Jeanne Kirkpatrick: Any evil and any suppression of freedom, democracy and prosperity in other nations is justifiable to protect OUR power and prosperity.  That has blown up all over the world in our face, now in Egypt.

Unlike his successor, Zbigniev Brezinski, Dr. Kissinger was NOT well-regarded by the academic community at large before his appointment—only by the right-wing myopics to whom he appealed—and the press, whom he played like a violin.

Report this
JohannG's avatar

By JohannG, February 9, 2011 at 11:57 pm Link to this comment

Kissinger’s legacy is a mixed bag. He did not exactly
distinguish himself as a supporter of democratic
values. Kissinger and Obama both were awarded Nobel
Peace Prices. They also seem to share a a philosophy of
political opportunism and lack of moral guidance. Also,
both have deep and resonant speaking voices. Obama
lacks the German accent, though.

Report this

By samosamo, February 9, 2011 at 11:31 pm Link to this comment

****************


This old rust bucket has finally come down with a full fledged
case of dementia. Probably got too close to howdydoody reagan
one day. Surely everyone will eventually stop listening to him.

Report this
Queenie's avatar

By Queenie, February 9, 2011 at 11:03 pm Link to this comment

Evil incarnate.

Report this
Newsletter

sign up to get updates


 
 
 
 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.