Bad Exes

Most ex-presidents and former prime ministers devote their lives to making a positive difference in the world, or at least fade away into obscurity. Here are five former leaders who have done neither.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | OCTOBER 1, 2010

JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR

Old job: Prime minister of Spain, 1996-2004

New image: Spanish voters gave Aznar the boot after his government attempted to pin the blame for the 2004 Madrid train bombings on ETA, the Basque separatist group, when they were in fact carried out by Islamist extremists hoping to punish Spain for its support of the deeply unpopular Iraq war. Since then, Aznar, who runs a think tank and sits on the board of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., has distinguished himself mainly by the extremity of his rhetoric.

Aznar has joined with Czech President Vaclav Klaus in calling global warming a "new religion" and referring to environmentalists as "flag bearers of the global-warming apocalypse ... who seek to restrict individual liberties in the name of a noble cause ... as the communists did!" (Never mind that under Aznar's tenure, Spain signed on to the Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming.)

Aznar has also suggested that Muslims apologize for the medieval occupation of Spain, called efforts at interfaith dialogue stupid, and called the U.S. election of an African-American president "a historic exoticism and predictable economic disaster." Aznar also attacked Spanish government campaign against drunk driving -- while accepting an award from a vintner's association -- saying, "Let me decide for myself; that's what liberty consists of. Who asked you to come and drive for me? Let me drink my wine in peace; I'm not putting anyone at risk."

Aznar recently kicked off a more defensible campaign to drum up international support for Israel, but the folks in Tel Aviv might want to consider whether he's really their most effective cheerleader.

Krafft Angerer/Getty Images; OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images; ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images; NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images; PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images

 SUBJECTS:
 

Joshua E. Keating is associate editor at Foreign Policy.

 

THEFACTS

4:20 PM ET

October 1, 2010

The only positive difference they do is their bank account!

Hillary Clinton may not have won the Democratic presidential nomination, but the Clinton family shouldn’t be standing in any bread lines in the foreseeable future. Bill Clinton pulls in $250,000 to give a speech, which has been a fairly lucrative racket for him. A 2007 report in the British newspaper The Independent estimated Clinton’s earnings from speeches alone at somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million since he left office six years earlier.

 

REMYKALTER@GMAIL.COM

5:11 AM ET

October 2, 2010

Shinawatra

Just FYI, it's Manchester City, now owned by Sheik Mansour, not Manchester United.

 

P.J. AROON

2:25 PM ET

October 3, 2010

Corrected.

Thanks for pointing out the error. We've corrected it.

 

TRUTH NOT PARTISAN

8:32 PM ET

October 2, 2010

What about Jimmy Carter?

he isn't exactly a role model for past presidents to model after either.

 

FREETRADER

9:46 AM ET

October 4, 2010

Carter

I second the motion. I was somewhat surprised he wasn't listed; presumably, the editors of FP are still desperately trying to get him to write more exculpatory articles about his presidency.

 

AUSTRALIANREADER

8:57 PM ET

October 5, 2010

He is, of course, history's

He is, of course, history's greatest monster

 

ASGOLD25

10:24 AM ET

October 4, 2010

I don't

I certainly don't consider myself a fan of Carter's post-presidential career, but he doesn't deserve to be lopped into the same category as Thaksin or Obasanjo. He's certainly more outspoken (and further to the left, which makes him stand out) than all of the US' former presidents, but there is fair logic behind his ideas and actions. He's at least tried to act selflessly, something that can't be said about anyone else on this list.

 

BUBBLE BURSTER

12:46 PM ET

October 4, 2010

Neither does Aznar

Subject line says it all

 

DAVIDSON

2:55 PM ET

October 5, 2010

Aznar acts selflessly!!!

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. LOL
You guys are so much fun, Aznar selfless, wow!

 

BUBBLE BURSTER

3:04 PM ET

October 5, 2010

Didn't say selfless

I did not say he acts selflessly. Just that whatever his shortcomings they are not the same magnitude. They are garden-variety political venality, not reprehensible.

 

BUBBLE BURSTER

12:44 PM ET

October 4, 2010

what criteria?

OK, so to make the list we have...

gross corruption,

subverting democracy,

incitement to riot,

....and ...disagreeing about global warming.

Get serious!

Where is the category of coziness with tyrants, the use of one's former office to excuse dictators, and false pronouncements on the fairness of elections...oh, sorry, I mean the great humanitarian efforts of former President Carter?

 

JAKOB.SMALL

9:49 PM ET

October 4, 2010

Spanish voters didn't "give Aznar the boot"

Spanish voters may have given the Popular Party the boot, but they didn't give Aznar the boot because Aznar wasn't running for reelection in 2004. He had pledged only to serve two terms as prime minister, and instead Mariano Rajoy ran as the Popular Party's candidate for prime minister.

 

MEDIOTIC

2:42 AM ET

October 5, 2010

"Basque Separatist Group"?

So, I know I'm rude, but WTF is the problem to consider ETA as a terrorist group instead of a "Basque separatist group"?
They're terrorists. No more to say.

 

ZEROED

6:35 AM ET

October 5, 2010

there we go again

History will tell, same way is telling us Washington was not a terrorist, neither was Bolivar neither was the French Resistance...

 

THJEFFERSON

9:41 AM ET

October 5, 2010

ETA is a terrorist group

Spain is a democracy. You may like sangria more or less, you may hate siesta or Catholics or whatever, but Spain is a democracy, a member of the European Union, UN, NATO, and a great ally of the UK. Washington and Bolivar and the French Resistance were not operating amid a democracy, yet the Basque live in a democracy since 1975. You don't have to do tourism in Spain if you hate Spain, but ETA, IRA and AL Qaeda are all terrorist groups.

 

SOREL

10:37 AM ET

October 5, 2010

Basque Separatist Group

MEDIOTIC, you are right, but Aznar himself called ETA "The Basque Liberation Movement" ("Movimiento de Liberación Vasco") when he started negotiations whith them. You know, politicians...

 

DAVIDSON

2:58 PM ET

October 5, 2010

there is always more to say...

...but you do not seem to dictate when the conversation ends, do yo?

 

MEDIOTIC

12:07 PM ET

October 6, 2010

"Basque Separatist Group"?

Hehehehe, that was one of the funniest moments of Aznar in Spain (in Texas he was better) ;-)

 

HERNANIMKEN

9:33 AM ET

October 5, 2010

ETA, why not?

How do you know it was not Eta Mr. Keating? did you actually see the bombings? were you a witness? or is it because you believed the monkey trial they held in the 'Audiencia Nacional'? I don't know who did it but I do know one thing :those clowny arabs they arrested didn't do it.. how could they? Let's be serious.

 

ISLETERO2000

9:49 AM ET

October 5, 2010

Strange booting

I think it's very difficult to boot someone not running for reelection.
Please correct it.

 

PAQUITOCHOCOLATERO

9:21 AM ET

October 6, 2010

ETA is a terrorist group

Mr. Keating, as other readers I must say that ETA is not a Basque separatist group, with about 1,000 people murdered in Spain.

When the trains terrorist attack took place in 11-M, a lot of people in Spain thought that ETA had committed that terrorist act. Is that a thing to consider Aznar stupid?

On the other hand, Mr. Keating, you don't tell anything about the big economic miracle of Aznar's governments: now in Spain we have an unemployment rate situated around 20%, the biggest one in the EU. With Aznar's governments, the unemployment was very low and the Social Security had superavit. You don't tell anything about these two facts.

By the way, the Spanish government -you don't mention this too- sent a hospital ship to Irak, a hospital ship that contributed to alleviate the problems of civil population. In contrast, could you tell me the military operations that had the Spanish Army in Irak?

Come on, Mr. Keating, the Spanish people -and you too- know that there are worst presidents in the history of democracy. By the way, this is the ranking of democrat presidents? Because you should ellaborate a list of non-democrat presidents. What about beginning with North Korea president?

"Thanks" for choosing Aznar as one of the worst presidents in the world and "thanks" for the "reasons" that you describe for that. For a Spanish citizen like me, the Aznar period of government, from an economic point of view is one of the best in the democracy in Spain.

 

MANTARAS

4:24 PM ET

October 6, 2010

the lies of Aznar

Aznar has been the worst prime minister that the young (and still incomplete) spanish democracy has had. He, and his party, the infamous PP, have persistently refused to condemn the fascist regime of Franco in the spanish parliament in spite of several attempts put forward by truly democratic parties. His immoral intent to blame ETA of the bloody terrorist attack in Madrid was because he knew that this attack was a consequence of his support (together with Blair) to the invasion of Irak (by the way it is surprising the absence of Bush Jr. in this list of awful leaders). The economy in Spain under Aznar was good IN SPITE of him: He was lucky to rule the country during the one of the best economic periods of modern times. Had he been ruling Spain during the last few years, we would be in a much wordt situation than we are.
It is true that a lot of people in Spain blamed ETA but this was only for a few hours because anyone could access foreing media through internet and very fast realize that it was an Al Quaeda cell, weheras Aznar and his followers (certainly including "PAQUITOCHOCOLATERO" still today maintain doubts about who is to blame!
Aznar did not run for another reelection BUt he has been and still is in fact pulling the strings that control the PP party (and particularly the puppet called Rajoy). I'm affraid that soon we will be again under the ruling of his party under the control of Aznar. A party that immorally USES democracy to its advantage but that actually is not truly democratic. The shadow of of Franco and his legacy is still a very long shadow in Spain!....Poor Spain!

 

JULES

9:03 PM ET

October 6, 2010

Aznar is an embarrassment for his country

Only those too blind to see can't realize how pathetic the figure of former president Aznar is when touring foreign media. Everytime he opens his mouth he makes headlines, not for the relevance of his words but by the ridicule. He'd rather learn from his old buddy Bush Jr. who after being one of the most infamous presidents of the US ever, has stepped down quietly and is now focused on his private issues away from public exposure, which dignifies him so far.
And to those who still claim doubts about the authorship of the Madrid train bombings, guys get a life (or at least some objective sources of information - i.e. Libertad Digital is not "objective"). This is not politics! It was a bloody terrorist act against innocent people!

 

THAKSINDEAD.COM

7:57 PM ET

October 10, 2010

Scold and curse him forever.

Thaksin Shinawara is an unknown and unclassified animal is capable of scaring people by cheating all people in Thailand, his own nation. He is a great pretender and corruptor and yet a traitor. He is the worst of the worst animal on this planet.

Reference: http://www.thaksindead.com/world-20-ugliest-beasts-of-2010

 

ADVERT88

8:49 PM ET

October 10, 2010

Thaksin Shinawatra International Terrorist

Facts About Criminal Thaksin Shinawatra Former Prime Minister of Thailand, NO Home Land International Terrorist!

http://thaksin-crime.blogspot.com

 

PET

5:06 AM ET

October 11, 2010

Some foreinners is so fool.

Some foreinners is so fool. Thaksin is many Thai People love him, He holded Thailand more develop, but Some paety don't need thai people be smart.

 

PEACE FOR THAIS

11:36 PM ET

October 10, 2010

The other side of coin, regarding Thaksin

For those of you who forget, lets face facts about Thaksin during his term as PM of Thailand. We had never progressed as far, until he came along, rescued us from IMF debt, gave us bustling economy and progressed fastest as a country.
Most importantly, his govt. did the most important thing on one ever did, reaching out to the poor with various measures such as 30 baht cure-all health plan for the poor. And lets not forget his govt. allocated funds to the local villages. Also his govt. brought out the most talents we had ever seen. Sadly most were politically sabotaged and had to went into hiatus for 5 yrs.

Come on guys, wake up, what has happened to us Thai people the past 4 years since the coup? Nothing, and worse, we Thais have witnessed the worst corruption ever in history from military govt. and the coalition govt. headed by Democratic party (military backed). We have seen the worst plunder of our tax payer money. Look at the sharp increased military spending (undisclosed of course) , look at the foolish projects by this govt. Examples: 4000 EGV buses which cost way more than it is, the so called "road without dust" program in upcountry, and of course, the inequality treatment between the red shirts and the yellow shirts.
Those yellow shirt people who invaded govt compounds and shut down airport? nothing done to them until now, and it has been years. The red shirt? jailed immediately without trial.

I however do not support the violence which the red shirt had caused, i do blame for that as well, but we are spiraled into even deeper pit resulting from the battle between parties within coalition govt. headed by Abhisit.
And make no mistake, we Thai people never elect Abhisit and this coalition govt. Lets see if they can still win majority next election.

All Abhisit is doing, is trying to prolonged his corrupted govt in power. And try to divide the pie between his coalition parties.

lets hope national election will come soon, so we all can decide for ourselves

peace for the thais

 

THAI

11:47 PM ET

October 19, 2010

Nobody perfect,,,,,,but Thaksin is the worst PM of Thailand.

The people who said Thaksin is very good.What did you get from Mr.Thaksin?Did you see that he paid the money for the stupid bad people to kill the innocence people and burnt the country.The economic bad.You think to burnt our homeland is good ?You are so stupid and blind.A lot of good thai and clever people tell the same thing that Thaksin is the devil.He has to be in jail but run away to many countries with a lot of money.He did the black business too...........Thanks for this newspaper to tell the truth but I need you to tell more about this bad PM Thaksin.Then the people in the world will know what he did with my nice country.

 

CHILLIRED

1:47 AM ET

October 11, 2010

Thaksin, the great PM of Thailand

Your article showed a bias information of Thaksin.
How actually did you come up with this information??
Who provide you with this bad/bias survey??

Thaksin was in the PM position for 6 years, during the period, he had done so much to improve country's condition.
He had helped the poor to have better living conditions and opportunities e.g., 30 Baht ($1) to be treated in hospital,
scholarship for poor students in upcountry, drug eradication,
getting rid of illegal gambling and lottery and many more.

Because he has done so much to the poor, elite gang are jealous of him and has tried all means to get rid of him; murdered, using bomb, and even force Thai court to mislead the verdicts.

He has been rich even before he devoted himself in the political position. So he did not use his power as PM to be rich.

Well, this is fact and please recheck your raw data and source of your data again!!!! It is NOT FAIR to him and the rest of Thai.

 

IMDOOM

7:17 AM ET

October 11, 2010

Your article showed a bias information of Thaksin

All Abhisit is doing,
is trying to prolonged his zayiflamaecza corrupted govt in power. And try gztlr to divide the pie between his coalition parties.

lets hope national election will come soon, so we all 7ra can decide for ourselves

 

YALL DUMBAZZ IMO

7:23 AM ET

October 11, 2010

The ONLY thing Thaksin loves is Thaksin

Thaksin only appears to have gone quiet lately. His shills and employees (thousands of them) are running a sickening network of lies and misinformation which, if tolerated by the nonchalant Thai majority, will result in "a human rights abuser of the worst kind" (HRW) pardoned for his many crimes - and Thailand will be pitched into the Dark Ages.

Thais need to take a good look at the Philippines and ask themselves whether they want to be overtaken by that country - which will happen if they sacrifice the most honest politician Thailand has ever seen....for the most corrupt politician the world has ever seen. After they already 'learned' their lesson once.

Thaksin only cares about himself. And he plays the idiot Red Shirts like banjos. He gives them pennies whilst he lives in opulent illegitimately-acquired luxury; and they die for him whilst he shops for Louis Vuitton. If Thaksin had to sacrifice 60 of the 70 million Thais - he would do it if it meant he could lord over the remaining 10.

He's a terrorist. He's slaughters innocents without trial. His dream to rule a One-Party-Republic as Emperor. And he's willing to sacrifice the blood of millions if it gives him a 1:10 shot.

Fool Thailand once, shame on Thaksin. Fool Thailand twice, shame on Thailand. There is a price that risks being paid when self-determination and democracy is given to those who will trade in their liberty for an iPhone...that price is Thaksin, suffering...and Hell. good luck with that Thailand - you're walking smack into Hell.

 

DEMOC2010

8:41 AM ET

October 11, 2010

Taksin is the best Thai Hero

When someone mentions " Most of Thai people", please aware, you are not the majority of Thai people.
Exactly most Thai people love Taksin, they need him back to be the great Thai Prime Minister.(they also realize it is impossible). No one like him to spend his life time closely to the poor people.He also leads Thailand to be great in the world status.
How about Abhisit? He has seriously been blamed for the worst criminal case of killing hundred people+thounsands of injuries by majority of Thai people.
When all of you accuse Taksin that he stole money from his motherland, please realize the fact that all corrupter are currently in Thai government gang (guess who in this gang, Navin, Millitary gang, Lim pig head , Abhisit and his party). Taksin has been robbed by this gang.
Currently most of Thai people hate their government. Abhisit and his gang killed their people which tried to tell a lie to the world. He did like everyone in the world to be Jackass.
What a very very bad government!!!!!!!!
It is also a shame when ones like all of you who accuse Taksin with only one side information and do not know the truth. Unfortunately most Thai people cannot communicate with English. So they cannot have chance to read this article and explain to all of you. It is not fair to tell world like this. If you want to know the truth, please visit Thailand and find it by yourselves. But realize no salary, no wages, all of us are poor and unable to give you for telling the truth.
Please do not believe all Thai gov.'s and the gang's propaganda.

 

ULTRAMAN

9:54 PM ET

October 11, 2010

Thug-Sin .... Devil from HELL.

Came from a normal family, married with a rich girl. Luck brought him to be Thai PM.
Nobody could believe that a Thai could harm his own country like what he has done.
Corruptions were widespread during his time which worst of worst was the privatization
of Thai government state enterprises, especially, the telephone and petroleum organizations.

Though the use of his corrupted money, he is fooling the poors, the low and none educated
people especially from the North and North-East. Promising them the prosperity that if he could come back into power. That is a joke for those who know but very seriously to those
people. Not only this, the police and military people are hired also. Thailand cannot move
much and are facing a lot of obstacles and problems caused by him. His political party -
the Pua Thai is also one of them. So, he uses (poor) people, the armed men and the political party together with some medias and lawyers to fulfill his impossible dreams. Burning of
some commercial buildings in the heart of Bangkok, bombings are all around too.
Not only, he is trying to destroy the government but also our beloved monarchy.

 

HARIT

10:01 PM ET

October 11, 2010

i don't know

Why did i don't know Thaksin is hero of thailand but most thai people know he is evil of thailand

 

DEMOC2010

9:55 AM ET

October 11, 2010

Has the case like this happened in Taksin's government?

Poor woman who sales slippers beside street has been arrested.
Sure she is poor.
Sure she sales slippers beside street which printed Abhisit 's picture.
When she has been arrested, she has been told that she against the emergency decree and seriously threated to Thailand National Security.
Ayuthaya province is the area where has already been cancelled for emergency decree.
Is there any events like this in other countries in the world?
any events like this in Taksin's government?
Abhisit's good governance and democracy?
Hundred people were killed under Abhisit's government. Where is spirit? where is responsibility? Could dead and injuries be healed? Who should do?
??????????????

 

ULTRAMAN

10:16 PM ET

October 11, 2010

Thug-Sin is the greatest Thief Thailand has ever had.

You have to tell them (the world) that protest was arranged unlawfully
mixed with a lot of armed men. Many of the protesters were preparing
themselves to create violence and stealing. How can the red-shirt protesters
paraded all around Bangkok, attacked any people who were against them etc.
That time, red-shirt made Bangkok like a messy city with no laws. Fear and dirt
was all around the city. In front, red-shirt says
for justice or for democracy but, in fact, was only for Thug-Sin's return.
Were they paid for this...? Was that a democratic way ? Why many commercial
buildings were burn and many luxurious things were stolen ? Also why
today, Bangkok has a lot of bombings which are traceable to where and whom
they are mobilized ..... Thug-Sin again.

Please update the world with the full and unbiased information.

 

FRANKENGINEER

8:57 PM ET

October 11, 2010

Thank you for understanding Thailand

Thank you for understanding Thailand about Bad Exes THAKSIN SHINAWATRA and Thank you for understanding at Thaksin's supporters, known as "red shirts," occupied central Bangkok and stormed government buildings throughout the country in an effort to force the government to step down. Around 90 people were killed in the ensuing clashes between often-armed protesters and police .and Thank you for understanding at Thaksin reportedly lived under a false name in Germany for more than a year and has used illegally received passports from a number of other countries as well. He now makes his home in Dubai.

Thank you Foreign Policy for understanding Thailand

 

SAKCHAY

9:35 PM ET

October 11, 2010

taksin

???????????????

 

GONDIN

12:19 AM ET

October 12, 2010

The 5th worst leader...

Cheers to FP, at least you're brave enough to report the fact which some Thais do not seem to accept and admit his wrong-doings to the country.. his own country where his ancestors started their new life with happiness and wealth opportunities. And some lawyers (both Thai and foreigner) are as well greedily sold themselves to defend this guy ... how professional !!

 

PAIC

1:12 AM ET

October 12, 2010

TOXIN SIN-AVATAR

Toxin (AKA Thaksin) is evil incarnate who is corrupt and full of greed, lust and lies . He is nothing but a real scumbag who abused his power and an unscrupulous user. Hell is where he belongs.

 

NIVI

5:29 AM ET

October 12, 2010

Thaksin, a low-life parasite that tries to get Thailand infected

I'd like to first thank you, Mr. Joshua E. Keating, for writing a valid and unbiased article on Thaksin, definitely unlike many other foreign journalists who try to run extremely one-sided story about the red-shirted group and its Superior. Concerning this, I do think myself that many Thai people have been very disappointed and wouldn't be convinced any longer by some newsgathering sources like CNN.

They love Thaksin basically because of his money and they adore him because they believe that Thaksin will be the only person who can help them. "Helping" sure sounds good but it actually doesn't because this is about money and money alone, it's not about getting him back so as to improve Thailand or about fighting for democracy for that matter. And the worst part is, the red supporters ARE OK with corruption and some reckless policies. Yes, read again, they are fine with that, really. As long as they get so little the tea money from some insatiable politicians, they are living well.

No one seriously will never ever fight for Thaksin without gaining anything, not to mention 'Democracy'. These red folks never hold 'Democracy' SO dear that they can sacrifice themselves, which is absolutely different from what they are trying to accomplish. To put it simply, they have no political ideology to begin with. They can't even explain how the Democracy system works. It's sad, I know. And it's bad for Thailand, entirely.

 

COOLGUY

12:08 PM ET

October 12, 2010

So SICK of Yellowshirt and Redshirt

Yellow guys says "Taksin is a scum"........ ( h....uum..????)

The Red says "Taksin is Thais HERO"..........( yea...h ????)

Know what, I wish them both ,Taksin the redshirt Boss and Sonti Lim the Yellowshirt Boss , GO BACK TO HELL . These Duo from HELL have done enormous damages to THAILAND.

By the way , If Apisith V. the PM ( Who remined me of Don Coleone's famous quote " POWER can't be given ( by people's VOTEs ) it must be TAKEN !!! - by borrowing Yellowshirt's hands robbed it ) and his Leechy Cabinet can follow those Buttholes to hell , it would be highly appriciated . So we can have an election ASAP.

 

ELLA

5:24 AM ET

October 13, 2010

Beautiful Life

In fact, I’m just starting out in management media and working on to find out how to do it well - resources like this blog post are a great resource. As our website is based in the US, is kind of new to us The reference mention is something that I worry about as well, how to show your own real enthusiasm and share to the community.

 

RKLM

8:52 PM ET

November 18, 2010

Thaksin, a low-life parasite that tries to get Thailand

I however do not support tatil the violence which the red shirt had tutune son caused, i do blame for that as well, but we are spiraled into even deeper pit resulting from gastromid the battle between fix it pro parties within coalition govt. headed by Abhisit.