dictator - Page 7 of 7

Charlie Chaplin on the Villainy of War

Staff / Truthdig Sep 4, 2007 Now seems as good a time as any to revisit the genius of Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator." In this climactic scene, Chaplin rails against the menace of war and hopes for a world where people actually care about each other. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

It Can Happen Here

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jun 12, 2007 Thirty-nine individuals held in U.S. custody at one time or another are unaccounted for -- missing or disappeared in the style of a Third World dictatorship. What have we become? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

King George Loses His Crown

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Apr 5, 2007 In his quest to expand presidential authority, George W. Bush has claimed extraordinary powers, whether to imprison American citizens without charge or ignore the laws of nature. The Supreme Court's ruling on the EPA is a breath of fresh air, not just for the environment but for our democracy. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

A Tale of Two Tyrants

Staff / Truthdig Dec 12, 2006 Agusto Pinochet's death and the looming execution of Saddam Hussein inspires former "60 Minutes" producer Barry Lando to compare and contrast two of America's favorite dictators. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Thatcher Saddened by Despot’s Death

Staff / Truthdig Dec 11, 2006 Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has expressed her sorrow following the death of brutal Chilean dictator Agusto Pinochet, a friend until the end. Victims of Pinochet's atrocities have also expressed sadness, now that the tyrant will escape trial for years of abuses against his people, including torture and the disappearance of some 3,000 individuals. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

O’Connor Warns Against ‘Beginnings’ of Dictatorship

Staff / Truthdig Mar 10, 2006 "It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but we should avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings," former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor told a Georgetown audience, according to an NPR report. (Hat tip: Huff Po) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel Security Chief in Secretly Made Tape: We May ‘Miss Saddam’

Staff / Truthdig Feb 9, 2006 Remember when the neocons boasted that invading Iraq would be good for Israel? The chief of Israel's domestic security agency, Yuval Diskin, begs to differ. Diskin said in a secretly taped speech that a "strong dictatorship would be preferable to the present 'chaos' in Iraq." So much for making the Middle East more stable. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

President Jonah, Meet Oliver Cromwell!

Gore Vidal / Truthdig Feb 8, 2006 Building on his "President Jonah" theme, Gore Vidal offers another angle on Bush's presidency, illuminated by the recent spate of wildfires in Southern California.Updated: Internationally-acclaimed man of letters Gore Vidal issues a new conclusion to his essay about the corruption of the Bush administration: "This is what we call dictatorship. Dictatorship. Dictatorship. And it is time we objected." Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

A Life, Wasted

Staff / Truthdig Jan 3, 2006 The father of a soldier killed in Iraq calls his son's death "wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator--a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires." Read the column Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )