Brings back memories of the 1972 trip of Kissinger's' which led to the Richard Nixon visit, normalised US-China relations and a changed world. Largely for the better, TBF.
And about this time Steve FitzGerald accompanied then Australian Opposition Leader Gough Whitlam, who was to appoint Steve as first Australian ambassador to China. And I went to China to study Chinese, then served in the Australian embassy in Beijing under Steve, then joined Steve back in Australia in his China consulting firm as a partner in the from 1981 to 1989. Fun days, crazy days, profitable days… so many memories. Some of who Steve has documented in his “Comrade Ambassador”.
Steve met Kissinger several times and described him as the most intelligent man he'd ever met, high praise from a man of formidable intelligence himself.
Kissinger is attacked as a war criminal, most famously by the late great Christopher Hitchens. Whose book on Kissinger I've read. But am not persuaded by, though I love Hitchens. (I also parted company with him in the Iraq war, which Hitchens supported).
People still call Kissinger a war criminal. Though in this household not Jing, who is a big fan, of a big man, who impacted world history, mostly — or at least very often — for the better, and wrote seminal books, most or perhaps all of which, she's read.
Our dear Mutti is rising 102 and in fine fettle but intrepid as she is, I doubt could do a Kissinger at this stage. (Though I'm guessing he came on a private plane with entourage of nurses and doctors).
