There was once Idi Amin, a peculiar African warlord, who managed to become dictator of Uganda in the 1970s.
Idi Amin remained in power for eight years and was known as the “Butcher of Africa”. He himself wanted to be called “His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular”. Fortunately for him he died in his sleep…
In modern history there is no shortage of leaders who frightened their people with their erratic behavior. There was a gang of dictators, from Staling to Gaddafi, who jeopardized world peace.
A prime example of a dangerous stat leader in our age is the head of the North Korean government – who tops the list of maniacs. These observations are not meant to suggest that all eccentric leaders pose a threat to mankind. The leaders who are presented as subverting… the establishment are just as dangerous. See for example the extreme proclamations of the new American President and Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Such leaders are not dangerous because they limit themselves to saying one and doing another. Consequently, none are dangerous!
Stavros P. Psycharis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
