When They Were Kings

The United Nations has long been a playground for bad boy dictators. But there are a few notables who won't be making the trek to New York for the festivities and powwows this week.

BY COLUM LYNCH | SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

How times have changed. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his top lieutenants have applauded the fall of an aging generation of Middle East and African autocrats, swept from power by a wave of uprising spurred by popular discontent. In the months leading up to this year's U.N. General Assembly which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 21, Ban has openly encouraged NATO's military efforts to topple the likes of Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, and accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of reneging on his promise to halt military operations against unarmed demonstrators.

But in previous General Assembly sessions -- indeed as recently as last year -- U.N. officials and foreign dignitaries treated these very same leaders like diplomatic royalty, perhaps seeing them, wrongly, as bastions of stability in an otherwise unstable part of the world.

How swiftly a leader can turn from being an honored guest at U.N. headquarters, to a defiled rogue. Still the absence of these players may portend a duller General Assembly session this year. While the attendance of the ever-controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who once made headlines in New York for declaring his country free of homosexuals, can likely be counted on to liven the agenda, his own standing is diminished in Iran and the novelty of his provocations is wearing ever thinner. Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez who, in 2006, famously compared former President George W. Bush to the devil before the U.N. podium, is undergoing cancer treatment and will not attend.

STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

 SUBJECTS: UNITED NATIONS
 

Colum Lynch blogs all things United Nations for Foreign Policy at Turtle Bay.

POLITICALLY CORRECT

9:08 PM ET

September 20, 2011

Tired or not agreeing?

In the above photo you have to wonder if he doesn't agree, hasn't had enough sleep or can't understand anything. Oh how it must be hard to be in the spotlight.
The sooner they flush out 'all' of the defilers and rogues, the better. I suppose I don't really care though, as long as my tax dollars aren't paying for them, they are doing a good job and their actions don't negatively impact mine or others way of prosperous life.

 

JEAN KAPENDA

11:01 PM ET

September 20, 2011

When African Criminals Were Kings: Dictators Uncensored

How has Africa ended up with the largest number of dictators in the last 51 years from Idi Amin Dada, Mobutu, Bokassa to all current despots who still rule with an iron fist in East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, and Northern Africa? Please, do not blame foreigners, do not blame the Cold war! Blame the poor quality of African leadership! Mentally constipated and feeble-minded, they're indeed the worst of the worst humanity has produced since 1960, and they're still hanging there! Their delinquent and antisocial behavior is learned from the association with delinquent peers who share the same subculture that promotes assassinations, organized theft, money-laundering, and all the wickedness of human nature. They used to have a forum called Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union (of Despots), a mafia-like organization that makes Sicilian Mafiosi look like Mediterranean pygmies! They still steal billions of dollars every year, change their countries' constitutions, sell their countries assets without disclosing the amounts, receive kickbacks... As a true African, I feel like vomiting every time those African despots speak at the UN. Shall we bar them from addressing us, individuals of the civilized world? The answer is "yes'"!

 

BRAUERR31

2:55 PM ET

September 21, 2011

What is going on?

When you think of the UN, it's hard to imagine something that really functions well. And we wonder why the world is fall to pieces! Honestly, something really needs to change with all of this. We need to start working together rather than try to posture and position ourselves. Sounds too good to be true, but it is what is necessary to make progress. Until then I'll stick with my newest flight sim. Hopefully all the destruction and chaos is figured out sometime soon.

 

MARIAMULHER

6:14 PM ET

September 22, 2011

Not agreeing?

I agree, hasn't had enough sleep or can't understand anything. Oh how it must be hard to be in the spotlight.
I suppose I don't really care though, as long as my tax dollars aren't paying for them, they are doing a good job and their actions don't negatively impact mine or others way of prosperous life...Thanks!
Ar Condicionado Imoveis Acompanhantes Massagem

 

YARINSIZ

7:05 PM ET

October 14, 2011

Their delinquent and

Their delinquent and antisocial behavior is learned from the association with delinquent peers who share the same subculture that promotes assassinations, organized theft, money-laundering, and all the wickedness of human nature. They used to have a forum called Organization of African Unity, which became the African seslichat Union (of Despots), a mafia-like organization that makes Sicilian Mafiosi look like Mediterranean pygmies! They still steal billions of dollars every year, change their countries' constitutions, sell their countries assets without disclosing the amounts, receive kickbacks.

 

CARTHAGIAN

7:10 AM ET

October 19, 2011

Two thumbs up for Colum Lynch and FP

Two thumbs up for Colum Lynch and FP. Another classic photo essay.