Most recently, and most widely covered in the press, was of course former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's death (April 28, 1937 - December 30, 2006). His reign (July 16, 1979 to April 9, 2003)1, was notable for the so-called Anfal campaign—a genocide against the Kurds in northern Iraq—oppression and persecution of Shi'ite Iraqis, and the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). Methods of genocide and sectacide employed against the Kurds and Shi'ites, respectively, included mass executions, arbitrary imprisonment, kidnappings, "forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of villagers after the demolition of their homes, and the wholesale destruction of nearly two thousand villages along with their schools, mosques, farms, and power stations...Estimates of deaths during that time range from 20,000 to 100,000 for Kurds, and 60,000 to 130,000 for Shi'ites."1 Saddam was convicted for these crimes against humanity on November 5 of last year, and his consequent execution (death by the noose) was carried out on December 302, a date notable because it was the first day of Sunni celebration of Eid ul-Adha, [(Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd al-’Aḍḥā), a religious festival marking the second day of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and commemorating Abraham's "willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for God"3], while the Shi'ite celebration was observed on December 31. Since by law executions cannot be carried out during religious holidays, many considered the scheduling of Saddam's hanging as a slap in the face to Sunni Muslims by the Shi'ite-dominated government.4
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet, (November 25, 1915–December 10, 2006), former Chilean president and general, helped lead the 1973 coup d'état deposing the preceding Marxist government, and ruled that country by military junta from 1974 until 1990, "when he was defeated in a plebiscite to continue his rule." During his reign, he helped implement market reforms (largely influenced by Milton Freedman) to the Chilean economy, countered the hyperinflation caused by his predecessor, enabled the "Miracle of Chile," combated terrorist groups, and staved off a Red advance. Yet at the end of his life he acknowledged his "full political responsibility for atrocities and abuses committed by his regime," that is, the murder, torture and exile of thousands suspected as Leftist threats to his rule and reforms. So, over all, a pretty mixed bag in which questionable means were used to achieve very admirable ends. After a heart attack on December 3, 2006, Pinochet a week later of died of congestive heart failure.5
Another leader who succumbed to cardiac arrest last month—perhaps the least reported on, but certainly most eccentric of the dictators who expired last month—was Saparmurat Niyazov (February 19, 1940 - December 21, 2006), more widely known as the self-styled Turkmenbashi, or "Father of the Turkmen." "Niyazov, at the beginning of his rule, referred to Turkmenistan as a nation devoid of a national identity. He renamed the town of Krasnovodsk, on the Caspian Sea, Türkmenbaşy, in addition to renaming several schools, airports and even a meteorite after himself and his immediate family. He even renamed the months, and days of the week after his family; January becoming Turkmenbashi. Niyazov's portrait is on Manat banknotes and large portraits of the late President hang all over the country, especially on major public buildings and avenues. Statues of himself and his mother are located throughout Turkmenistan, including one in the Karakum Desert as well as a gold-plated statue atop Aşgabat's largest building, the Neutrality Arch. The statue rotates so that it will always face into the sun and shine light onto the capital city." Turkmenbashi also wrote a national epic, the Ruhnama , which was "intended as the 'spiritual guidance of the nation' and the basis of the nation's arts and literature." The Ruhnama was used as a brainwashing and indoctrination devise in schools; an exam on its contents is even a component of the Turkmen driving test.6
So who's left? Despite vociferous protestations to the contrary from the Cuban propaganda mills, it appears that Comrade Castro is on his last leg. Based on reports of pancreatic cancer, various surgeries and ensuing complications, I hardly expect him to last the fortnight. There has also been speculation for some time on the imminent demise of Comrade Kim Jong-Il.
Yet even the passing of these remaining tyrants will not be the end of tyranny, for that last great Despot will still reign in our mortal bodies—that Despot who shall not be vanquished until the culmination of all things.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace...Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness...For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:12 23.
1Wikipedia.org, "Saddam Hussein".
2ibid. "Trial of Saddam Hussein".
3ibid. "Eid Al-Adha".
4 see also: ibid. "Human Rights in Saddam's Iraq".
5 ibid. "Pinochet".
6ibid. "Saparmurat Niyazov".
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