Portrait of a Dictator

Some people are offended because I occasionally portray Stalin or Hitler as being particularly despicable despots. In America, we have a despot in the making with Dear Leader, Barack Hussein Obama, who is pushing his utopian socialist agenda down the throats of the American people. Chances are that he won't succeed, but it doesn't mean he's not trying.

Dear Leader has not yet declared himself Field Marshall and President-for-Life as Dr. Field Marshall, President Idi Amin Dada did in Uganda. Since Dear Leader is proud of his African roots, perhaps it's all together fitting and proper that we explore the CULT OF PERSONALITY around Dr. President-for-Life Idi Amin Dada.

Idi Amin Dada

(Note the Israeli jump wings. I always get a kick out of that.)

• Nobody knows for sure where Idi Amin was born. Some say Koboko, others say Kampala.
• Idi Amin attended Islamic school in Bombo and converted to Islam.
• He joined the King's African Rifles of the British Colonial army as an assistant cook and converted to Christianity.
• An officer wrote of him, "Idi AMin is a splendid type and a good rugby player, but virtually bone from the neck up and needs things explained in words of one letter." (Idi didn't have a teleprompter available)
• By 1965, Amin was a smuggling organizer, and was implicated in a deal to smuggle ivory and gold from the Congo into Uganda.
• Upon learning that Prime Minister Obote was going to have him arrested for stealing army funds, Amin led a military coup in 1971. Amin promised that he would be a caretaker and promised elections (yeah, right).
• Amnesty International put the number Amin murdered in a genocidal war at 500,000. The International Commission of Jurists put the number at only 300,000.
• In 1972, Idi Amin declared an "economic war" where he engaged in a system of redistribution of wealth, taking property and businesses owned by 80,000 Asians and giving it to blacks. The businesses were mismanaged, industries collapsed from lack of maintenance and the economy collapsed.
• Later in 1972, Amin becomes a Communist, reconverts to Islam, invites the Soviet Union and Muammar al-Gaddafi (Libya) to support him. He initiates plans to attack Israel.
• 1976, Amin allows a hijacked Air France aircraft with PLO terrorists onboard to land at Entebbe Airport. Israel initiates Operation Thunderbolt and frees most of the hostages.
• Idi Amin Dada expands his title and awards himself a number of medals for bravery. He is now His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal, Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE. He becomes the subject of rumors that he has become a cannibal. Time magazine describes him as a killer and a clown, big-hearted buffoon and strutting martinet, known for self-aggrandizing eccentricities.
• In 1989, he fled to Saudi Arabia where he remained in exile until his death. (he was seen bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions)