Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State under the Nixon and Ford administrations, has died at the age of 100, leaving behind a controversial and tainted legacy. Kissinger, known for his realpolitik diplomacy, has been accused of siding with military dictators and genocidal regimes during the Cold War, resulting in the deaths of millions of innocent people. According to experts, between 1969 and 1976, Kissinger's policies were responsible for the deaths of three to four million individuals.

One of the most devastating impacts of Kissinger's influence was felt in Cambodia. In a secret bombing campaign known as Operation Menu, the United States dropped over 540,000 tons of bombs in an effort to destroy the Khmer Rouge and prevent their support of the North Vietnamese army. However, this led to a civil war between the Cambodian government and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, resulting in the deaths of approximately 275,000-310,000 people and the destruction of a fifth of the country.

Kissinger's role in the massacre of the East Timorese people also emerged years later. During a meeting with Indonesian dictator Suharto, Kissinger and President Ford gave him the green light to invade East Timor, sparking a civil war that resulted in the deaths of up to 200,000 individuals. Kissinger denied discussing the invasion with Suharto, but declassified documents later revealed his involvement.

In Chile, Kissinger played a significant role in destabilizing the government of democratically-elected President Salvador Allende. The Nixon administration funded covert activities to undermine Allende's government and protect US business interests. After three years of strikes and inflation, a coup led by General Augusto Pinochet overthrew Allende's government, leading to the deaths of thousands of Chilean citizens. Kissinger denied any involvement or knowledge of the coup, but declassified documents suggested otherwise.

Kissinger's support for military juntas extended to Argentina, where he provided US support to General Jorge Rafael Videla after the overthrow of President Isabel Per??n. The military junta engaged in a period known as the Dirty War, during which thousands of citizens were killed or disappeared. Kissinger secured $50 million in funding for the regime from Congress and attended the 1978 Football World Cup as a personal guest of Videla.

In Bangladesh, Kissinger and Nixon backed the military government of West Pakistan in its genocide in what would become Bangladesh. The US illegally transferred military hardware to the East Pakistan government, resulting in a death toll estimated between 300,000 to 5 million people.

Despite these atrocities, Kissinger remained a revered figure within US foreign policy circles until his death. However, there have been widespread criticisms of his actions and calls for accountability. Journalist and chef Anthony Bourdain expressed his disgust and desire to "beat Henry Kissinger to death with [his] bare hands" after witnessing the impact of his policies in Cambodia. Senator Bernie Sanders also accused Kissinger of creating one of the worst genocides in history.

Kissinger's death has reignited discussions surrounding his role in these human rights abuses and has prompted calls for him to be held accountable for his actions.