Difference between revisions of "Friendly dictator"
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A '''"friendly dictator"''' from the American point of view is one who is [[authoritarian]] but not [[totalitarian]]. | A '''"friendly dictator"''' from the American point of view is one who is [[authoritarian]] but not [[totalitarian]]. | ||
In the 1980s, friendly dictators included | In the 1980s, friendly dictators included | ||
| − | the [[Shah of Iran]], [[Anastasio Somoza Debayle|President Somoza]] of [[Nicaragua]], [[President Pinochet]] of [[Chile]], [[President]] [[Saddam Hussein]] of [[Iraq]] | + | the [[Shah of Iran]], [[Anastasio Somoza Debayle|President Somoza]] of [[Nicaragua]], [[President Pinochet]] of [[Chile]], [[President]] [[Saddam Hussein]] of [[Iraq]], [[President Marcos]] of the [[Philippines]] and [[Efraín Ríos Montt|President Efraín Ríos Montt]] of [[Guatemala]].<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/84debates/2prez4.html The Second 1984 Presidential Debate]</ref> In debates over American foreign policy, liberals and conservatives differed over whether it was better to withdraw support for their regimes (on [[human rights]] grounds) or to support them as the [[lesser of two evils]]. |
A well known quote on this subject is from [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. Asked about his support for Somoza, he replied that "[Somoza] may be a SOB, but he's our SOB." | A well known quote on this subject is from [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. Asked about his support for Somoza, he replied that "[Somoza] may be a SOB, but he's our SOB." | ||
Revision as of 16:44, July 3, 2014
A "friendly dictator" from the American point of view is one who is authoritarian but not totalitarian. In the 1980s, friendly dictators included the Shah of Iran, President Somoza of Nicaragua, President Pinochet of Chile, President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, President Marcos of the Philippines and President Efraín Ríos Montt of Guatemala.[1] In debates over American foreign policy, liberals and conservatives differed over whether it was better to withdraw support for their regimes (on human rights grounds) or to support them as the lesser of two evils.
A well known quote on this subject is from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Asked about his support for Somoza, he replied that "[Somoza] may be a SOB, but he's our SOB."