I grew up in the Iraq of Saddam Hussein. All long lasting dictators become disconnected from reality. To last a long time they need to be paranoid & ruthless sociopaths. So after a while anyone who dares to raise questions is gone. All that remains are the fawning yes-people.1/
Surround yourself with fawning yes-people and they will amplify your beliefs & paranoia. Hence the increasingly erratic choices over time. Eventually the dictator over reaches - and this normally does not end well. 2/
In the West we often deal with dictators by acting in each country’s own short term interests (democratic nations have politicians with short terms). So we build up a long term problem. Our politicians hate to come clean and say that solving the problem will cost us. 3/
But it will cost us. And we need to decide what matters more - our ultimate values, freedom and security or cheaper imports/ export opportunities.. I think leaders need to speak more clearly about the true choices. End.
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