Which of these dictators did more good than bad?

[Rasbelin]

I questionise having Vova (guess who ) as he wasn't exactly a dictator in the real sense of the word as he didn't have all the power after all. He was backed up the politburo. He was the visible man, but he was still sharing his power. During the era of Stalinism he was iconised as Stalin wanted (that's what Lenin didn't want). Unfortunately he's seen as the only man who had the power, but actually he was just the visible chairman and not the grand dictator.

Anyway, I voted for Lenin, Castro, Musharraf and Quaddaffi.

Castro - Indeed we westeners look often badly at him and especially USA hates his regime, but after all the cons are less liberties and more restricted Freedom of Speech, but after all there hasn't been any larger massacres or starvation. The socialist regime has guaranteed work (maybe not the best salaries, but at least you have work), education (maybe not the best, but at least people have the necessary basic education) and basic health care (this has been hampered by the boycotte, but overall the socialist regime has guaranteed at least some health services for the majority of the population, unlike in "democratic" African countries). Maybe the lack of democracy is a minus, but at least the Cubans survive.

Qaddaffi - Has been suspected for links to terrorism and bombings like in Lockerbee, but nothing worse really. The country isn't starving and no other major treaths. The old man seems to be even interested in the development of an African union which isn't bad. Maybe I should try to invent some else bad to say, but the terrorism links are one. Otherwise it seems to be a quite working dictatorship that has been hampered by the sanctions.

Musharraf - Militarty dictator. Maybe trying to step down for giving away to real democracy like the military leadership in Nigeria did; however they did that too on a longer term. Right now it seems somewhat good, expect that there's the tension with India.

BTW...

My latest theory is that the top Indian leadership isn't after all much better than the Pakistani government. They're much better covered, but they still seem to be ruling with militaristic plans (those who know the documentary about the Indian nuclear weapon program understand this claim more better) and in general seem to have a very hardline oligarchic foreign policy.

[Saint Marcus]

Franco was a joke. All dictarors left or right fit one of two categories. The jokes, or the megalomanics. I think Franco was the former, while Hitler the latter. Franco's a joke cause you can laugh at him. Not much to laugh about when it comes to Hitler, unless you're fond of a more shocking or darker kind of humor.

[Rasbelin]

Originally posted by oedo
I think Kemal Ataturk should be at least mentioned on this strange list.

Nah, that would warrant the listing of Kaiser Wilhelm II too. K.A. wasn't that much of a dictator. He only played his cards in a good way and the result wasn't after all that bad. Enough Turkey bashing IMO.

[Plan Austral]

Originally posted by Fez
Hey Kublai, who should I thank when Menem gets elected here in Argentina? Hehehehe....

Why don't you just elect me your president... err (spanish puppet dictator)... hehehe... because I am Spanish has nothing to do with it... or does it?

In my opinion Menem wont be our next president, he has all the peronist party against him, to be president he has to win in the peronist primary elections, but Duhalde who hates Menem will not let him win.

Duhalde used to be the gobernor of the Buenos Aires province, and most of the peronist majors in Buenos Aires obey him completely, so, the day of the primary elections Duhalde will use the peronist structure of the Buenos Aires province to turn the elections in favour of hsi candidate and against Menem.

The problem is that Duhalde doesnt have a candidate to face Menem, this is why he has been delaying the primary elections, he needs time to find a candidate to face Menem, nowadays there are 2 possible candidates, De la Sota and Kirchner.

My bet is that the next president will be one of the candidates of Duhalde, most likely Kirchner.
Even though I am a radical , I would vote for Kirchner, and I am quite satisfied with the second half of the Duhalde government, specially since Lavagna is minister of economy.
He stabilized the dolar, and now there are even some signs of reactivation.We have to consider that he became president during last years anarchic turmoil.


In a Ballotage between you and Menem I would vote for you Fez.
Menem is just Satan impersonated, I suppose that you must have at least one virtue hidden within yourself.

I dont understand what you said at the end of your post, that you would be a puppet dictator of Spain or that you would be a spanish puppet dictator (of whom??)



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Does someone knows if the United States punish countries that trade with Cuba?

[Ned]

One of the most famous dictators of all failed to make the list: Julius Caesar, dictator for life. He did more good than harm.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Sprayber


He created a system in which men like Stalin could come to power. Do you think Lenin was above killing people he thought were in his way? Just because Lenin wasn't a psycopath doesnt make him a good person. Compared to Stalin, most dictators pale, but it doesnt lessen what they did so don't make excusses for him.

And correct me if im wrong, but Stalin held most of his postions because Lenin knew what kind of man he was and figured he could put Stalin in powerless postions. I'm sure che may correct me

What decisions would you make if you had an immediate post-revolutionary society, a civil war and a fledgling nation to hold together? A tough job...requiring tough actions.

[germanos]

Originally posted by Ned
One of the most famous dictators of all failed to make the list: Julius Caesar, dictator for life. He did more good than harm.

When you get murdered by your son, you have FAILED miserably by any standards.
So, rightfully he is not in the list.

[VetLegion]

Tito and Slobo were not dictators of the same country. Tito was of Yugoslavia, but Milosevic was only of its remains: Serbia and Montenegro.


That said, Tito ... maybe ... did more good then harm. Maybe.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
How so? The embargo is quite porous and other countries trade with Cuba quite freely.

I think you only need a little common sense to realize that if the US traded openly and freely with Cuba, way more money would flow in. The tourist dollars alone would have a huge impact. Would Cuba suddenly be rich? Of course not. But Castro does not live like some Middle Eastern sheik. If more money came into the country, more would be spend on services for the people, more jobs would be created, etc.

I wish some of you right-wingers out there would realize that I don't love Castro, don't think that his form of government is ideal and don't think it is better than a fully-functioning democracy. I just think that, according to the question, Castro did more good than bad, especially when you consider what Cuba was before his takeover.

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by germanos


When you get murdered by your son, you have FAILED miserably by any standards.

Well that's an assinine statement. It doesn't matter who you're assasinated by, the reasons behind the assasination attempt do. Playing Devil's Advocate here, but what if Julius Caesar was the earliest incarnation of Mahatma Gandi, Mother Terrasa, and Rev. MLK Jr. all rolled into one...and was still assasinated by his son? So that Caesar was an *ssh*le and a failure JUST BECAUSE HE WAS ASSASINATED BY HIS SON? If we judge sucess or failure by the way we die, by your statement Germanos, then there is little hope for ANYONE'S future.

[Capt Dizle]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Franco was rubbish, he didn't even have the guts to join the Germans and Italians even when they were winning.

That stupid uniform and general misery he caused the country were negatives aswell

Without defending Franco the fact is that if he had joined with Hitler it is very possible that Gibraltar could have ended up in German hands. Closing the Med to Allied fleets perhaps?

[Felch]

Franco did an excellent job of protecting Spanish Jews from Hitler. And Pinochet dealt with the leftists in Chile, and had the decency to resign and allow the peaceful transition to democracy. Those two are the only dictators on the list I can say did more good than harm.

[Viking Berserk]

One of the most famous dictators of all failed to make the list: Julius Caesar, dictator for life. He did more good than harm.

The guy who made this thread don't know history, so he didn't include any historical persons.

[Sonic]

Originally posted by Viking Berserk


The guy who made this thread don't know history, so he didn't include any historical persons.

well, fiy I especially didn't included Ceaser/Wilhelm/At Aturk/etc. because I don't think they could be compared to modern day dictators.

[monolith94]

NAPOLEON NAPOLEON NAPOLEON!