Architect of cold war strategy; Former US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger passes away

WASHINGTON: Renowned US diplomat Henry Kissinger, a pivotal figure in shaping Cold War diplomacy has passed away at the age of one hundred. Described as a diplomatic icon, Kissinger, a Nobel laureate and former US security adviser was confirmed to have died yesterday at his residence in Connecticut, USA. Kissinger, a highly regarded politician and political thinker, was known as the architect behind America's Cold War strategy favoring practical politics over moral ideals. Even in his later years, he remained active in various capacities, regularly attending White House meetings, publishing a book on leadership styles and testifying before a Senate committee on North Korea's nuclear threats. His surprise meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping occurred during his visit to Beijing last July. Born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923, to a Jewish family in Germany, he and his family immigrated to America in 1938, escaping the Nazi persecution of European Jews. Kissinger became a US citizen in 1943 and served in the Army in Europe during World War II. He pursued higher education at Harvard University on a scholarship, obtaining a master's degree in 1952 and a doctorate in 1954. He lectured at Harvard for 17 years. He notably held the positions of Secretary of State under Republican Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, also serving as the US National Security Advisor during Nixon's administration—a distinction unique to him among American citizens. Kissinger played significant roles in events such as the Vietnam War and the Bangladesh Liberation War. His directives led to the US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. He also supported military coups in Chile and Argentina. The controversial sharing of the Nobel Peace Prize with Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam in 1973, which Tho refused, garnered global attention resulting in the resignation of two Nobel Committee members following the announcement.