| for iran's 20th century dictators, you chose khomeini? really? how about reza shah and mohammed reza shah, who usurped the countries natural resources, sold them to foreign governments and one corporation in particular (the anglo iranian oil company aka today's BP), and who suppressed the population for decades and only survived for so long because of foreign and colonial (indirect) support? And oh yeah, i guess you forgot about the deposition of Doctor Mossadegh--the secular democratically elected prime minister who was exiled in a coup orchestrated to get Mohammed Reza Shah back on the throne?
Khomeini may have had his position preserved (though the elections were more free than the comparison you give to stalin), but keep in mind the huge popular support he had (particularly in the beginning), and the fact that the 8-year-long war iran was under in its new republic made it difficult to establish a democratic framework.
regardless, you probably don't care about this given that you "overlooked" two leaders who were undeniably dictators and tyrants in favour of a leader who is much more unpopular in the (western) press than with most iranian people. |
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