Posted on 03/30/2015 7:13:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin
“...maybe even a compassionate conservative dictator no less.. unique for his time,, so was ho chi minh.”
LKY had a vision of a country that had the right to survive and prosper but was adrift. HCM was a cheap drug dealer with a magnetic personality and the vision of an Obama! He didn’t care a whit about the outcome for the people.
I was just reading from Nixon’s book “The Real War” - looking at stuff about conflict in the Middle East with the Saudi’s against Iran, etc. It was written in 1980 or so, so the Soviets were the issue (being the “real” war).
But - Nixon also talked about “totalitarian” dictators as opposed to “authoritarian” regimes - like the Shah of Iran at the time. Sounds like LKY fits into the latter.
Excerpt:
“One thing we should recognize about these regimes is that they are not run by zealots determined to impose their iron will on every aspect of their citizen’s personal lives....political repression is an expedient to enable them to hold power and maintain order....
We must also grasp the distinction between those regimes that threaten their neighbors and those that do not...
Allies do not have to love one another or even admire one another; it is enough that they need one another....
The ‘moral imperialists’ who insist other nations be re-created in our image as the price of our friendship do freedom no favor. I do not suggest that we abandon our commitment to ‘human rights’ in our relations with friends. But to be effective, we need to adopt a policy of realism.”
Nixon then goes on and talks about how it took hundreds of years for Europe to evolve into democratic systems, and concludes with
“Democracy is like heady wine - some can handle it and some cannot, at least not right away.”
History says otherwise. Compare the two men to Marcos.
You know, I’ve actually wanted to visit Singapore for quite some time. I’ve been to Hong Kong (before the ChiCom reannexation) and liked it quite a bit. A friend with me told me Singapore is somewhat similar to HK, only less expensive, and a fair bit stricter on their laws.
As for the laws... I always tread lightly wherever I visit. I may not agree with what I see, but I’m there as a guest, not a citizen. I think I’d have a good time for a visit. I probably wouldn’t like living there long-term but, aside from Japan, I’ve yet to find an Asian nation I’ve visited that I’d likely enjoy living in for an extended period of time. (And I can’t afford Japan!)
Heh, when I hit Hong Kong in the early 90s, it was after a fairly long slog through China. HK was a bit pricey, but the price was worth having chigger-free hotel beds and a complete absence of spitoons in the hallways.
Saw a lot of amazing things in mainland China, and took a lot of icky things in stride. But man, those spitoons just grossed me out!
That's why we're doomed. Most of the people who THINK they are conservative, CRAVE a dictator.
Never heard of Pinochet, Salazar?
Until recent years, most of the Latin American dictators were conservative. In terms of their society, not ours.
I have had pretty much the same experiences in HK and China. I ain’t going back to China.
A “dictator” who willingly gave up power, like Pinochet did?
Oh yes, I remember.
You got know when to fold, know when to hold’em. Know when to walk away, know when to run.
I’m looking for pics or video of his retirement parade — the goose stepping Chilean honor guards with schmeisers slung across their chests.
Pinochet saved Chile.
I agree.
But he was not in any way a conservative. Not like you and I are conservatives.
Chile isn’t the US. What flies here doesn’t necessarily fly everywhere else.
I agree.
"Chewing gum in line, eh?"
HCM was a Soviet agent from the 1920s, his only loyalty was to the Comintern.
Pretty much yes. He de-nationalized industry, shrunk government largess, and promoted Catholic tradition in Chile.
Im not entirely sure why showing Chilean soldiers marching is not conservative? Do conservatives dislike the military? Chile’s military at this time was fighting off a communist insurgency backed by Cuba.
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