bluegargantua (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bluegargantua) wrote2006-12-21 08:23 am
bluegargantua) wrote2006-12-21 08:23 am
Entry tags:
He did it his way...
Huh,
Looks like Saparmurat Niyazov, President-for-life of Turkmenistan, has ended his term of office.
Niyazov was the classic post-Soviet Republic dictator. He ruled basically by being the focus of a cult of personality. He had giant golden statues of him erected on special turntables so the statue would always face the sun. He wrote a book containing a mish-mash of moral lessons, poetry, and administrative plans and that's the sole schoolbook. He renamed the months and days of the week after him and his family. His country sits on a pile of oil and natural gas and of course, the bounties of natural resources simply enrich his pockets and leave his people destitute.
Here's a snapshot of his country from 2 years ago.
The man was a monster and a jerk. He is also incredibly fascinating if you don't have to live under his rule.
Of course, now the question is who will replace him and there are already some political maneuvering on that front. Here's hoping that the Turkmen get someone significantly better.
later
Tom
Looks like Saparmurat Niyazov, President-for-life of Turkmenistan, has ended his term of office.
Niyazov was the classic post-Soviet Republic dictator. He ruled basically by being the focus of a cult of personality. He had giant golden statues of him erected on special turntables so the statue would always face the sun. He wrote a book containing a mish-mash of moral lessons, poetry, and administrative plans and that's the sole schoolbook. He renamed the months and days of the week after him and his family. His country sits on a pile of oil and natural gas and of course, the bounties of natural resources simply enrich his pockets and leave his people destitute.
Here's a snapshot of his country from 2 years ago.
The man was a monster and a jerk. He is also incredibly fascinating if you don't have to live under his rule.
Of course, now the question is who will replace him and there are already some political maneuvering on that front. Here's hoping that the Turkmen get someone significantly better.
later
Tom
no subject
no subject
There's a wild theory that perhaps Niyazov may have staged his death and will have a "miraculous" resurrection in the coming days, but that's pretty far-fetched.
later
Tom
no subject
Pardon My Obvious Ignorance, But...
Re: Pardon My Obvious Ignorance, But...
In college I watched a lot of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?".
DO IT ROCKAPELLA!
Actually, I've got a thing for crazy dictators. Former Soviet republics are lousy with them. The other big name in the area is Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of the country of Kalmykia and president of the World Chess Federation (or FIDE). He's built a "Chess City" in his capital for games to take place in. True, he doesn't have his own personal squadron of female special forces bodyguards the way al-Gaddafi of Lybia does, but still, he's wicked crazy.
later
Tom