Comments on: Kurt Waldheim Dead at 88

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:12:06 +0000

That sufficed to disqualify him as Secretary-General.

It likely would have had it been public knowledge at the time. It wasn't, though, until five years after he left that post.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:57:31 +0000

But his initial denial of serving in the German army unit — and then assertions that he and fellow Austrians were only doing their duty That sufficed to disqualify him as Secretary-General. OTOH, the unkind joke of the period -- Q. What's Waldheimer's Disease? A. It's when you can't remember that you were a Nazi -- was unfair and should never be remembered, particularly on the occasion of his death.

By: World and Global Politics Blog

World and Global Politics Blog — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

that committed atrocities in the Balkans in World War II, died Thursday. He was 88. Waldheim, who was hospitalized in Vienna last month with an infection, died at home of heart failure, with his family at his bedside, state broadcaster ORF reported. [IMG Kurt Waldheim and Wife Sissy 2002 Photo (via WikiPedia)] Austrian President Heinz Fischer issued a statement expressing his “deepest condolences,” and officials lowered the flag outside his office to half-staff. “We have lost a great Austrian,” Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer said.