Quote:
|
Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck Economics, Science, Diplomacy, Education.. those are the big four.
And leave the military alone. Just call if the diplomacy didn't turn out very well.
North Korea isn't a good example. Kim Jong-il has no real military background. Though apparently he's one hell of a shot with a pistol. It'll come in handy when it's resignation and suicide time. Don't know about the USSR having too many Generals turn to heads of state nor the Chinese after Mao.
But a lot of dictatorships have this in common: they feign a military background. Shiny uniforms and all kinds of medals they got for knowing what day of the week it was. |
------------------------------------------------------------------
"War, is Diplomacy by other means" -Von Claustowitz. So In fact I did include Defense, its just a subtree under diplomacy. The reason Diplomacy is above it is just thats always more fruitful to trying talking to your enemies first, before calling in the Marines. Something our neocons in Washington could have learned. Under normal circumstances, the fact a country goes to war is a telltale sign that the politicans have failed at their job. The problem is since America hasnt fought a war on its own soil in 160 years we have gotten used to the maxim of "shooting first, ask questions later". One needs to witness the destruction of their own nation, and then see afterwards how rigorously they want to beat the war drums. It happened to France after 1918, he moment WWI ended they simply had no more desire to fight anymore, unlike the UK, USA, and Germany whom were untouched.
For the Rest, All USSR General Secretaries served except for Gorbachev. As for North Korea as the Army is the very foundation of Kim Jong Il power, a power that he has wielded and studied (military academy) I'd say that qualifies. I am not saying these guys are great personal soldiers, but that military life spring from within them.
I am not slamming the military, but the military and politics it really is a bad mix. I cannot think of a single country it worked well. The military should always be completely dependent to a CIVILIAN Head of State.
Lastly, alot of those dictators really are from the military. Musharaff for example, Hugo Chavez, Idi Amin, all came from the military.