https://www.conservapedia.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=RegularConservapedia - User contributions [en]2026-09-29T07:31:52ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.35.14https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:World_History_Lecture_Three&diff=1137378Talk:World History Lecture Three2015-02-06T05:31:10Z<p>Regular: </p>
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<div>The instructor's understanding of Buddhism is inaccurate; they do not believe in reincarnation, hell, heaven and are not less moral than any other religion. Being the 4th largest religion, it is a religion. Religion is defined as a system of belief. Some have gods. Some religions, like Buddhism, does not have gods.<br />
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Bombay doesn't exist any more - it's Mumbai. --[[User:Clearlytim|Clearlytim]] 02:34, 15 March 2007 (EDT)<br />
:that's great, this isn't a article. [[User:Geo.plrd|Geo.]] 02:35, 15 March 2007 (EDT)<br />
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''This requires learning about many new religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.''<br />
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Confucianism isn't a religion. [[User:DukeAra|DukeAra]] 06:26, 29 February 2008 (EST)<br />
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I've deleted the very last paragraph as it was mostly incorrect. 1. Christianity may indeed be spread by freedom of speech nowadays but that was very much not the case for almost the entire history of the religion, from 330 to about 1750 AD. 2. Evangelism of Sikhism and Buddhism was almost entirely peaceful, much more so than Christianity. 3. Conversion by force is not accepted by Islamic law. [[User:HSpalding|HSpalding]] 20:05, 14 November 2008 (EST)<br />
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I've deleted the figure of 1 in 9 Chinese being Christian. This figure is very much too high. I don't know how large (or small) the Christian community is in China, so I haven't replaced it with a more accurate figure. Maybe 1 in 100? [[User:HSpalding|HSpalding]] 20:12, 14 November 2008 (EST)<br />
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Regarding the 'Major Belief Systems Today' section, would you really classify all irreligious people (1.1 billion, according to your source) as ANTI-religious? That seems to be quite a leap and it is certainly not what your source says. It's like labeling the Christianity row as "anti-nonChristian" when such a notion is obviously absurd. So, what's the reasoning here? -[[User:Adam9389|Adam9389]] 13:18, 04 March 2010 (MST)<br />
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== Language issues ==<br />
I'd fix these on the page, but Ed Poor asked that I point them out here instead.<br />
So:<br />
* ''Ἰησοῦν'' doesn't say Iesous. Look at the case :)<br />
* I'm not aware of systems that pronounce Jesus' name in Greek as I-ee-soos (assuming this means the first syllable rhymes with "my" and the second with "he"). Having the first syllable rhyme with "he" and the second with somewhere between "hay" and "hare" is more common. There may be a system, perhaps an American one that my classes didn't cover, that uses this pronounciation, in which case, fine, but maybe put a reference in there?<br />
* "Gospel" is not a Greek word.<br />
[[User:DeniseM|DeniseM]] 17:54, 10 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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==Confucius==<br />
That's a very good concise account, but I wonder if it worth mentioning that Confucius was an atheist (or at the very most, a confirmed agnostic)? The huge criticism of Confucianism is that its static nature and inability to cope with changing circumstances led to the stagnation and collapse of the Chinese empire in he late 19th/early 20th century; the Godlessness of Confucian doctrine is surely the explanatiuon for this fatal absence of dynamism. [[User:RegalBruin|RegalBruin]] 11:55, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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: Atheism is a modern concept, and I don't think it applies in ancient times. But thanks for the suggestion.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:28, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
::I thought Socrates was accused of atheism at his trial. Did it have a different meaning for the ancient Greeks? [[User:ReneeStJ|ReneeStJ]] 15:56, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
:::He was accused of impiety, which is a lack of reverence for God. Belief in God was basically assumed in those times. Maybe they did have a higher IQ back then ;-) [[User:MattL|MattL]] 16:00, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
::::I see; there is quite a difference there. So Meletus just meant "impious" by άθεος, not actual disbelief in Gods? [[User:ReneeStJ|ReneeStJ]] 16:02, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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== Reversion explained ==<br />
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The edit was reverted because it was not an improvement, and it had deleted a key date (thereby introducing a misleading time reference).--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:28, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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So what you are saying is that:<br />
* The Chinese "invented" bamboo. (''They made widespread use of it, like every other culture in east and south-east Asia, but did they '''invent''' this naturally growing plant?'')<br />
* The Chinese ''did not'' invent or develop the fixed rudder. (My reading suggests it was used from the 4th century B.C. in China and started being used in the west in the late middle ages.) (Ref: "''Dictionary of Ship Types''": A. Dudszus & E. Henriot. Trans. Keith Thomas. Conway maritime Press 1986)<br />
* The Chinese invented gunpowder '''after''' their invention of fireworks. (''By all means put in this date, but tell us what their first fireworks were made of before the invention of gunpowder.'')<br />
:(I am genuinely trying to help here.) [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 16:43, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
:: Oh, and another thing: I would have discussed this earlier this morning before the edit, but the page was locked. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 16:55, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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:Andy, we need to stress that fireworks are a Chinese invention. As is, the article is not clear as to whether fireworks were extant with the advent of gunpowder, or if it was a new invention. How about:<br />
:<blockquote>"Later, in A.D. 850, China invented gunpowder, which also popularized fireworks, another Chinese invention."</blockquote> [[User:MattL|MattL]] 17:08, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
:::Are we still denying the fixed rudder as a Chinese innovation? And can there be a word further than "invent". Neither the cultivation of bamboo and its development as a source of artifacts; nor the development of silk, can be classed as an "invention" under the generally held meaning of the word. An example is Watt's development of a working practical steam engine is not normally considered an "invention".[[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 17:31, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
::::You have the right word at the start, "innovation." Adapting or developing things in new ways is usually called innovating, as opposed to creating something entirely new, inventing. [[User:ReneeStJ|ReneeStJ]] 19:30, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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==Indus Civilization==<br />
*(1) My ''Penguin Dictionary of Archaeology'' describes the Aryans as "''the people of the Rig Veda who invaded Iran and India from the northwest in the later 2nd millenium B.C. By one theory they were responsible for the downfall of the Indus Civilisation. Their language was an early form of Sanskrit, the most easterly of the Indo-European tongues.''" Who are these "''Aryans''" you mention that arrived in 3000 - over 1000 years before the first recorded evidence of Indo-Europeans into history.<br />
*(2) The edit of mine this morning (which corrected, not "censored" the article) was a paraphrase of the "''Times Atlas of Archaeology''" page on the Cities of the Indus. It has the Aryan Invasion much earlier than Penguin, but is based on more up-to-date scholarship. It makes no mention at all of an earlier Aryan invasion. Neither does any reference work I have ever read. The page on "Early Farming in South Asia" covers the period in that area up to the development of townships - no mention of any Aryan incursion. Indeed it talks about "indigenous" development.<br />
*(3)In the other half dozen or so references I have dug up since returning home and finding your reversion, I can not find any reference at all to Aryans/Indo Europeans entering what would become the "Known world" before about 2000 B.C. (although there is obviously a "homeland" before they went their separate ways.<br />
:I request that you consider reinstating at least the intent of my edit, or at least give some reference for your statement about these "3000B.C. Aryans". I really am trying to help here...as mentioned re the China article, I would have tried to discuss this before I edited but the page was locked. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 20:34, 11 February 2009 (EST)<br />
::Nothing has happened. It now remains to be seen whether there is a homework question that mentions the Ayrans entering the Indus area (''twice'', according to Andy - once about 3000 BC, which not only goes against all historical references but also Andy's own writings elsewhere - then again in the 2nd millenium BC, which is the correct one) and what the students write concerning this matter.<br />
:::One would think that normal standards of courtesy would dictate that I at least receive a reply to my concerns about such a drastic deviation from the accepted historical record. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 19:49, 18 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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== Earliest Chinese archeological findings ==<br />
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I'm not sure what source indicates that the earliest signs of civilization in China were circa 1766-1122 B.C., but that doesn't seem right. According to this link from the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, early Chinese cultures were making objects like flutes circa 7000–5700 B.C.: [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jiah/hd_jiah.htm] Here's a secondary reference as well: [http://www.shakuhachi.com/K-9KChineseFlutes-Nature.html] --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 13:48, 16 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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: Older date claims boost the number of visitors to museums, the sales of newspapers, and government funding. But there's no independent verification of the date claims, and they are implausible.<br />
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: Claims about intelligence in outer space have sold billions of dollars in books, newspapers, movies, etc., also.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:07, 16 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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::Andy is correct in that the first archaeological signs of ''civilisation'' (ie written records, inscriptions etc) are dated to the 1700s B. C. There are artifacts from before then, just as there are artifacts from Egypt and Iran that predate the so-called civilisations in those areas. Chinese civilisation is dated from about 1700, but legend and logic have it that it didn't suddenly appear fully formed and accoutred like Pallas Athena from someone's forehead. For instances there is traditionally, and in records written a few hundred years later, a period of five named "Sages" before the first (Shang) dynasty. There are settlement finds dated well before 1700 but they are not indicative of Chinese culture as we would think of it. It is generally accepted that the Chinese Civilisation began about 1700. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 14:52, 16 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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:::I can see the point about there being a difference between finding artifacts like musical instruments versus evidence of an active civilization. However, it's not the age of an item that make it significant - it's the importance of that item towards improving our understanding of the world and its history that counts. I would also doubt that the Metropolitan Museum would publish findings unless there was some corroboration, and don't see why the date claims are implausible. --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 18:47, 16 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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::::I agree. There is archaeological evidence of villages and (in China's case) millet and wet-rice cultivation going back millenia before the advent of writing, just as there is in the Middle East, Egypt and the Indus valley. I am just saying that Chinese culture ''as we know it'' dates to about 1700 B.C. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 20:31, 16 February 2009 (EST)<br />
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== Saint Paul ==<br />
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The lecture currently calls him "Paul of Taurus". I think it should be "Paul of Tarsus", as in the article [[Saint Paul]]. --[[User:FrederickT3|FrederickT3]] 14:24, 13 September 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Typo ==<br />
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In [[World_History_Lecture_Three#China]], second paragraph, change "vary" to "very". I'd do it myself, but the lecture seems to be locked for editing. --[[User:FrederickT3|FrederickT3]] 16:01, 19 September 2011 (EDT)<br />
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==Protection==<br />
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Don't you think that the page should be unprotected now? [[User:Regular|Regular]] 00:31, 6 February 2015 (EST)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Department_of_Children_and_Families&diff=1136883Department of Children and Families2015-02-03T07:42:26Z<p>Regular: </p>
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<div>The '''Department of Children and Families''' (also known as the '''Department of Children and Family Services''', '''Department of Child Services''', '''Child Protective Services''' or '''Department of Social Services''') is the name generally given to various [[state government]] agencies responsible for the main purpose of investigating and resolving incidents of [[child abuse]], [[domestic violence]] as well as reports of abuse inflicted against both [[disability|disabled]] individuals (both mentally and physically handicapped) as well as the [[senior citizen|elderly]]. The agencies are also tasked with enforcing [[child labor]] laws in their respective states as well as supervising the treatment of minors in the [[welfare]] system, [[school]] system and the workplace. In certain states, the agency provides [[suicide]] prevention support as well.<br />
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The agency was created as a result of the [[Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974]], a [[federal law]] which ordered the creation of individual state agencies to enforce state statutes concerning child and disability abuse crimes.<br />
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DCF State agencies are supervised in the federal government by the Child Welfare division of the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|Department of Health and Human Services]].<br />
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==Criticism==<br />
The DCFS agencies have been accused of several cases of corruption in the past in regards to the agency terminating [[parental rights]] for families of healthy children regardless of a lack of actual proof of child abuse occurring in households, with minors in DCF custody subsequently dying within assisted living facilities or suffering physical harm due to the poor condition of DCF housing facilities. <br />
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[[Conservatives]] have sometimes accused the agency of carrying out biased actions in the performance of their duties, with DCF having likely pressed criminal charges of child abuse against conservative [[Christian]] family homes in the past for often nonrealistic purposes.<br />
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One of the most bizarre cases of a child being removed from their home by DCF [[social worker]]s and [[police officer]]s in the past, for instance, included the [[New Jersey]] agency claiming a girl's parents violated state abuse laws by [[homeschool]]ing their daughter rather then enrolling her in a [[public school]].<br />
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In early 2014, another similarly bizarre case saw the [[California]] DCFS and police officers remove a newly born infant from the home of a young couple after the child's parents asked doctors for a second opinion in order to avoid a life-threatening surgical procedure on their son. The charges were eventually dropped and their son was returned to the couple after it was ruled that the beliefs of the two did not amount to abuse of their child.<br />
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[[Category:Government]]<br />
[[Category:Law Enforcement]]<br />
[[Category:Corruption]]<br />
[[Category:List of Law Enforcement Agencies]]<br />
[[Category:Police State]]<br />
[[Category:Liberalism]]<br />
[[Category:Socialism]]<br />
[[Category:Government Organizations]]<br />
[[Category:Political Correctness]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Untouchables&diff=1136882Untouchables2015-02-03T07:39:41Z<p>Regular: </p>
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<div>'''Untouchables''' are the very bottom of the [[Indian]] [[caste system]]. They were people who, under the system, literally are not be touched because they are considered to be so undesirable. Good [[karma]] enables one to improve his caste in the next life (see [[reincarnation]]). Today, caste [[discrimination]] is illegal in [[India]] but still persists in rural areas.<br />
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Untouchables are also found in some other parts of the world, such as Gypsies in Europe, Burakumin in Japan, among others.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Brahmin]]s -- priests and scholars<br />
* [[Kshatriya]] -- [[warrior]]s and [[noble]]s<br />
* [[Vaishya]] -- [[merchant]]s and [[farmer]]s<br />
* [[Shudra]] -- artisans and those of the [[serf]] class.<br />
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[[Category:Hinduism]]<br />
[[Category:Society]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Untouchables&diff=1136881Untouchables2015-02-03T07:38:57Z<p>Regular: </p>
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<div>'''Untouchables''' are the very bottom of the [[Indian]] [[caste system]]. They were people who, under the system, literally are not be touched because they are considered to be so undesirable. Good [[karma]] enables one to improve his caste in the next life (see [[reincarnation]]). Today, caste [[discrimination]] is illegal in [[India]] but still persists in rural areas.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Brahmin]]s -- priests and scholars<br />
* [[Kshatriya]] -- [[warrior]]s and [[noble]]s<br />
* [[Vaishya]] -- [[merchant]]s and [[farmer]]s<br />
* [[Shudra]] -- artisans and those of the [[serf]] class.<br />
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Untouchables are also found in some other parts of the world, such as Gypsies in Europe, Burakumin in Japan, among others.<br />
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[[Category:Hinduism]]<br />
[[Category:Society]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Christianity&diff=1077914Christianity2014-02-24T16:03:39Z<p>Regular: /* See also */</p>
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<div>{{Christianity}}<br />
'''Christianity''' is the world's largest [[religion]], having 2.1 billion followers with a presence on all seven continents.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html</ref> Christianity is the only religion that emphasizes [[faith]] rather than a mere belief system, and brings God closest to mankind through [[Jesus]] as the Son of [[God]]. Literally, Christianity means "of Christ," or "belonging to Christ."<ref>[http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=2661&dict=CALD Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary]</ref><ref>The early Christian faith was sometimes called ''That Way'', (Acts 19:1,9,23; 24:22), and its adherents were also called ''Nazarenes'' (Acts 24:5), evidently after the city of [[Nazareth]] where Jesus lived.</ref> The [[Acts of the Apostles|Book of Acts]] (Acts:11:26) records that "the disciples were called Christians first in [[Antioch]]." The title ''Christian'' is also used in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. <br />
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== Main Christian Divisions ==<br />
[[Image:Anglican Christ Church.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Anglican Christ Church in Western Australia]]<br />
'''The three largest self-governing bodies of Christians are:'''<br />
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* The [[Roman Catholic Church]] (approx. 1.1 billion baptized members) traces its roots back to [[Saint Peter]] whom Catholics believe established their church and the succession of [[Pope]]s as the spiritual leaders of Christendom. <br />
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* The [[Orthodox Church]]es (approx. 300 million baptized members) trace their roots back to the Apostles, and are organized in Autocephalous national or regional churches in communion with each other. Differing theological perspectives led to the [[Great Schism]] between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches in A.D. 1054.<br />
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* [[Protestantism]]: the largest Communions are the [[Anglican Church|Anglicans]] (approx. 115 million baptized members) and the [[Lutheran]] World Federation (approx. 68 million baptized members). Protestantism has its origins in the European [[Reformation]]. It broke from the Roman Catholic Church under [[Martin Luther]] when differences over the nature of [[faith]] and works in the role of [[Christianity#salvation|salvation]], as well as other practices of the Catholic Church that Luther saw as unBiblical, were raised.<br />
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== Christian Beliefs ==<br />
Christian beliefs [[Christian apologetics|are well supported via a large body of compelling evidence]]. Theologians, over two millennia, have debated a definitive summary of the Christian faith. While its interpretations vary drastically, probably the most commonly accepted statement of the faith is the [[Nicene Creed| Nicaea-Constantinopolitan Creed]].<br />
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Christians and Christian denominations agree on many points of doctrine while disagreeing on some. According to an online Harris poll from 2003, 99% of all American Christians believe in [[God]], 96% in the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ|resurrection of Jesus Christ]], 93% in [[Heaven]], 93% in the virgin birth, 92% in the survival of the soul after death, 82% in [[Hell]], 50% in ghosts, 27% in astrology and 21% in reincarnation.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=359</ref> Note that the latter two beliefs are in opposition to the religious tenants of most Christian denominations.<br />
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Nonetheless, the Nicaea-Constantinopolitan Creed offers a general overall picture of what Christian theology looks like, and serves as a useful outline and historic standard. Other creeds may prove helpful in research. See the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the Athanasian Creed.<br />
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===God===<br />
{{main|God}}<br />
God is a triune being. Though there is only one Divine nature there are three Divine Personages: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three Persons are collectively called the [[Trinity]] or the Holy Trinity. While God is tripartite, this does not imply that Christians are polytheists. The doctrine of the Trinity is central to Christian theology, although several denominations that usually are considered Christian are non-Trinitarian. The God of the Christian is the creator of all things, is everywhere present, exists in all times, is transcendent, all-knowing (omniscient), just, and all-powerful (omnipotent).<br />
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A major theme of the Bible is [[love]]. In the Hebrew [[Old Testament]] the idea is expressed in the Hebrew word ''hessed'', which is variously translated as loyal love, tender mercy, steadfast love, mercy, goodness, etc. in the [[New Testament]] the same idea is expressed in the Greek word ''agape'', which is variously translated as love, compassion, charity, etc. <br />
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===Jesus===<br />
[[Image:Jesus' Baptism.jpg|180px|left|]]<br />
During the reign of [[Augustus Caesar|Caesar Augustus]] the Son (i.e. the second Person of the Trinity) took flesh from a virgin woman and was incarnated as a man. He was born in the town of [[Bethlehem]] and was given the name [[Jesus]]. At approximately the age of thirty he was baptised by his cousin [[John the Baptist]] and began to preach in the area of [[Judea]] and [[Galilee]]. About three years later, his teachings and works of mercy prompted the Jewish authorities to plot Jesus' death. Jesus was [[crucified]]. He rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 people. He ascended to Heaven. The four [[Gospels]] contain the basic account of what Jesus did and said.<br />
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Jesus summarized his moral teachings in two commandments from the Old Testament:<br />
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"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 22:37-39; [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)<br />
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===Morality===<br />
The fundamental principle in Christian moral teaching is [[love]] and forgiveness, as expressed by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament. In the Hebrew [[Old Testament]] the idea is expressed in the Hebrew word ''hessed'', which is variously translated as loyal love, tender mercy, steadfast love, mercy, goodness, etc. in the [[New Testament]] the same idea is expressed in the Greek word ''agape'', which is variously translated as love, compassion, charity, etc. <br />
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There has been endless debate over how a person should express love for God in his or her moral behavior. This moral dialogue found expression in the New Testament, where the [[Apostle Paul]] addressed such controversies as [[circumcision]] ([[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 2:25-29), eating meat that was sacrificed to [[pagan]] deities (1 Corinthians 8), speculating about myths and genealogies (1 Timothy 1:3-5), and observing ceremonial dates and seasons (Galatians 4:9-11). <br />
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Regardless of a person's ethical interpretations, adherents commonly point to New Testament passages John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as scriptural depictions of love. The former states that <blockquote>"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."</blockquote> The latter characterizes love, saying <blockquote>"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."</blockquote><br />
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Jesus Christ affirmed, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) In trying to understand the reason for the growth of Christianity in a pagan culture, it has been noted that while love of one's neighbor is not an exclusively Christian virtue, it appears that the primitive Christian church practiced it much more effectively than any other group.<ref>E.R. Dodds, 1970:136-137</ref> <br />
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In addition to sacrificially showing care for those within the community as well as to those without, (cf. Gal. 6:10) the Christians elevated the sanctity of life, opposing abortion, infanticide, child abandonment, suicide, and gladiatorial contests.<ref>Kenneth Scott Latourette, ''A history of Christianity'' p. 244</ref><ref> Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, Paul Copan, The Apologetics Study Bible, 274 </ref> While the primitive church tolerated the existing and pervasive cultural economic institution of slavery in the [[Roman Empire]], the mandate of equal pay and just treatment (Col. 4:1; Eph. 6:9) greatly ameliorated the treatment of slaves, while advising them to seek freedom if possible, (1Cor. 7:21) and requiring that the escape slave Onesimus be received back not "as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved". (Philemon 1:6) The Christian ethos of love also motivated a great expansion in the building of hospitals.<ref>Albert John Ochsner, Meyer Joseph Sturm, ''The organization, construction and management of hospitals'', p. 17</ref><ref>Roderick E. McGrew, ''Encyclopaedia of Medical Care'', p. 135</ref> By A.D. 500, most large towns in in the Roman Empire had erected them.<ref>George D. Pozgar, ''Legal aspects of health care administration', p. 2</ref><br />
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===Atonement===<br />
[[Image:Dalí The Christ of St. John of the Cross.jpg|thumb|The Christ of St. John of the Cross by [[Salvador Dalí]], 1951.]]<br />
Christians believe with the New Testament that the death of Jesus, in conjunction with His resurrection, is an indispensable event for the reconciliation of lost sinners with God. There are three elements they see to the understanding of His death on the cross.<br />
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- Jesus having the knowledge that His path would lead to his own death, desired and willed that that take place, and persevered in that path though there was opportunity for Him to avoid it. "I have power to take my life and I have power to lay down my life. I lay down my life for the sheep."<br />
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- Jesus saw that in His death there would be a way for people to be brought back to the God from whom they were alienated and lost because of their sins. This would involve a substitution of Himself to effect, i.e. atone for, that development. "For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many." How this would take place was not new to the Jews of His day from their understanding of contemporary everyday practice of substitute payment - as in redemption of the first-born (Pidyon Ha Ben), or in the understanding of what aggadic stories such as the Binding of [[Isaac]] implied (see [[Midrash]]), but it was not the prevalent view that the Messiah was to be that payment. Though while alive on earth, he had hinted at it in sayings such as "unless a seed falls and dies, it remains alone, but when it dies, it brings forth..", it was only after He had risen from the dead that He explained Scripture (the Old Testament) clearly about the necessity of His death to have taken place. The disciples would henceforth preach, and Peter among them, that the death of Jesus the Messiah and His resurrection was for-planned and for-ordained by God the Father, and foretold in the Scripture (Isaiah 53). <br />
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- Christians of all generations have looked to the perfect Atonement, and the hope for reconciliation, accomplished by Jesus on the cross, to provide the means of understanding the solution to the vexing problems of the mind and of life itself.<br />
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===Salvation===<br />
The Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This is often interpreted to mean that everyone has displeased God and is now separated from him in a kind of alienation and enmity that results from the fundamental conflict between selfish human interests and God's interests (Romans 8:5-8; James 4:4). Jesus offered a solution to this Biblical dilemma in that, by repentance of sins and faith in him (Jesus), their sins would be forgiven. He said that "...the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins." ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 2:10) Jesus also said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17).<br />
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Jesus Christ taught that "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" ([[Gospel of John|John]] 3:3). Protestant Evangelical Christianity often uses the terms "saved" and "born again" to mean conversion, while other Christians, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, use the phrase ''born again'' as a synonym for [[baptism|baptized]]. <br />
<br />
Christians are expected to continue living by Christ's teachings (John 8:31), as is appropriate for "children of Light" (Ephesians 5:8-10). Some believe that this is necessary in order to be saved. Others say that this is a common misconception of the text, that it refers instead to the "fruits" of saving faith. Christians in the [[Reformed]] tradition (following the teaching of the 16th century French lawyer and theologian [[John Calvin]]) say that salvation cannot be lost. One Bible passage often cited is John 10:28-29 in which Jesus said of his own Apostles that they could not be snatched from his hand.<br />
<br />
== Resurrection of Jesus Christ ==<br />
[[Image:Jesus resurrected.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"The Resurrection" by Carl Heinrich Bloch]]<br />
The [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ|resurrection of Jesus Christ]] is critical to the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul wrote, "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain" (I Cor:15:14). Traditionally, Christianity has believed in a physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.<ref>http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/crj0056a.txt</ref> <br />
<br />
In recent history, [[Gary Habermas]] is considered a leading [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] for defending the resurrection of Jesus.<ref>Habermas, Gary, [http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/dialog_rexperience/dialog_rexperiences.htm Experiences of the Risen Jesus: The Foundational Historical Issue in the Early Proclamation of the Resurrection], ''Dialog: A Journal of Theology'', Vol. 45; No. 3 (Fall, 2006), pp. 288-297.</ref><ref>"Wildcat" and Holding, J.P., [http://www.tektonics.org/books/lichabrvw.html Book review of "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus"], 22nd June, 2004 (Tektonics)</ref><ref>Habermas, Gary, [http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/NTeSources/NTArticles/CTR-NT/Habermas-Resurrection1-CTR.pdf Jesus' Resurrection and Contemporary Criticism: An Apologetic] ''Criswell Theological Review'' 4.1 (1989) 159-74.</ref><ref>Habermas, Gary, [http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/crj_explainingaway/crj_explainingaway.htm Explaining Away Jesus' Resurrection:<br />
The Recent Revival of Hallucination Theories], Christian Research Journal / vol. 23, no. 4, 2001.</ref><ref>Habermas, Gary, [http://www.apologetics.com/default.jsp?bodycontent=/articles/historical_apologetics/habermas-nt.html Why I Believe The New Testament Is Historically Reliable] (Apologetics.com)</ref><br />
Other notable defenders of the resurrection include: [[William Lane Craig]],<ref>Craig, William Lane, [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/menus/historical.html Articles: Historical Jesus]</ref> [[Lee Strobel]], [[Josh McDowell]],<ref>McDowell, Josh, [http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html Evidence for the Resurrection], 1992.</ref> [[Edwin M. Yamauchi]],<ref>Jamauchi, Edwin M., [http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/yama.html Easter: Myth, Hallucination, or History?]</ref> [[N.T. Wright]]<ref>Wright, N.T., [http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Early_Traditions.htm Early Traditions and the Origins of Christianity], ''Sewanee Theological Review'' 41.2, 1998.</ref> and [[Michael Horner]].<ref>Horner, Michael, [http://www.michaelhorner.com/articles/resurrection/index.html Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?]</ref><br />
<br />
===The Meaning of the Resurrection for Christians===<br />
The fact of the Resurrection of Christ is also believed to produce certain effects on the lives of Christians.<br />
<br />
1. It is because Jesus rose from the dead that believers now can resort to a living Savior to help and deliver them from sin and from situations overwhelming for them by their own powers.<br />
<br />
2. The New Testament sees in the resurrection of Christ a certain vindication of what apparently to the world and to all beings was a failure and an overcoming of Him by His crucifixion.<br />
<br />
3. The coming of Jesus back to life means to the believer that, indeed, his sins are totally forgiven. This is because believers know that His death was as a payment for sins - a "wage of death" for our sins that He received in our stead. If He remained dead, believers would know that the wage had not been fully paid. <br />
<br />
4. It is a now-living Savior that Christians know can go before them, can closely lead them through life &mdash; as He did when He was on earth. This makes following Him practical and real. <br />
<br />
5. The New Testament reveals that it is the Risen Christ who received from the Father the Holy Spirit and He, through Himself, ascended to the Father, has given the Holy Spirit to us. This gives the believer in Christ both the knowledge and the power to live a godly life and live a life that can be an intimately and personally directed one.<br />
<br />
6. The resurrected Christ was no mere reassembling of the molecules and particles of the Body that had been crucified. It was, indeed, a physical body, but one that was fully glorified. It was a "spiritual body". Christians know that likewise, they will one day be granted the nature of a spiritual body, and be full of health. They therefore are full of hope and consolation, and consider that, even now in this life, there is an overcoming through Him.<br />
<br />
==Worship and the Sacraments==<br />
Christians normally attend worship services at once a week, typically on Sundays (although some denominiations, like [[Seventh Day Adventists]] worship on Saturdays). The [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] denominations have seven sacraments: [[baptism]], [[eucharist]], [[confirmation]], [[confession]], [[anointing of the sick]], [[marriage]], and [[holy orders]]. Of these, Protestants have preserved only baptism and eucharist, which are the only two sacraments for which they find Scriptural support.<br />
<br />
==Evangelism==<br />
In what is called the [[Great Commission]], Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to preach the Gospel (literally "good news") and make disciples.<br />
:'''Great Commission'''<br />
:''But the eleven disciples proceeded to [[Galilee]], to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in [[heaven]] and on [[earth]]." Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the [[#God the Father|Father]] and the [[#God the Son|Son]] and the [[#God the Holy Spirit|Holy Spirit]], teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."'' --[[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 28:16-20 [[New American Standard Bible|NASB]]<br />
[[Image:Gleyre The Departure of the Apostles.jpg|thumb|240px|The Departure of the Apostles by [[Charles Gleyre]].]]<br />
<br><br />
<br />
==Internet Evangelism==<br />
<br />
see also: [[Internet evangelism]]<br />
<br />
Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CCCI predicted that internet evangelism will result in more conversion that all other forms of evangelism for CCCI combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref> At [[YouTube]], Christians and Christian creationists have faced problems with [[atheist bullying|atheist cyberbullies]], but they [[Essay: Sharing your Christian/creationist videos on the internet|have developed methods to overcome this problem]].<br />
<br />
== Explosive growth of worldwide Christianity ==<br />
[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077</ref><br />
<br /><br /><br />
<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckln/4815046728/in/set-72157624550425162 Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]<br />
''see also:'' [[Global Christianity]] and [[Internet evangelism]] and [[Evangelical Christians]] and [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]<br />
<br />
Christianity has seen tremendous growth over its 2000 year history.<ref>http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm</ref> Christianity has recently seen explosive growth outside the [[Western World]].<ref><br />
*[http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx The global rise of Christianity - Pew Forum]<br />
*[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]<br />
*[http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/The-stunning-growth-of-Christianity-in-China.aspx The stunning growth of Christianity in China]<br />
*[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th century Africa]</ref> In 2000, there were twice as many non-Western Christians as Western Christians.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref> In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077</ref> There are now more non-Western missionaries than Western missionaries.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077</ref><br />
<br />
In 2011, the ''American Spectator'' declared concerning research published in the ''International Bulletin of Missionary Research'':<br />
{{cquote|The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new [[Islam|Muslims]] every day, and 300 fewer [[atheism|atheists]] every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the [[Western World|West]], while religion is thriving in the Global South, where [[Charismatic movement|charismatic Christianity]] is exploding."<ref>http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity</ref>}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Early Church Community and Commitment: The Biblical Period==<br />
[[File:Hoffman Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.jpg|thumb|left|110px|[[Jesus Christ|Christ]] in the Garden of Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann.]]<br />
<br />
The Bible records that that, at least initially, the church saw itself as united. In the community:<br />
<br />
"...they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. {43} And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. {44} And all that believed were together, and had all things common; {45} And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. {46} And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."(Acts 2:42-47; 4:32) <br />
<br />
This community was soon "scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles," due to determined persecution which resulted in the dispersed disciples going "every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:1,4) Christian communities were primarily to be found in two separate cultural and liguistic entities--the Greek and Latin-speaking empires of Europe and the mid-east, and the Aramaic speaking sphere of the Parthian empire of the mid-east and far-east. This latter sphere encompassed not only the eastern portions of Syria, the Arabian peninsula, and Persia, but also extended to portions of southern India and even China. To this day there are many [[Aramaic Church]] members in the Kerala province of south India.<br />
<br />
==Early Church Community and Commitment: the Post-Biblical Period==<br />
<br />
[[Image:Orthodox churches icon artwork.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Orthodox Church's icon artwork.]]<br />
'''Justin martyr 100 A.D. - 165 A.D. From the "First Apology" (Defense)<br />
''' <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion. (Chapt. LXV - administration of the sacraments)</blockquote> <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist = the Thanksgiving], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone... (Chapt. LXVl - of the Eucharist)<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead...(Chapt.LXVll - weekly worship of the Christians)<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
'''Tertullian (A.D. 160 -220), an Early ecclesiastical leader and writer, in his ''Apology'' (response to pagan charges) in describing the early church community wrote, ca. AD 197: ''' <br />
<br />
:We are a body knit together by one faith, one discipline and one hope. We meet together as a congregation, uniting together to offer prayer to God. We pray for the emperors and all in authority, for the welfare of the world, for peace and for the delay of the final end. We read our holy scriptures to nourish our faith, hope, steadfastness and good habits. We hear exhortations and rebukes. We take such judging very seriously – as befits those who believe they are in the sight of God – especially seriously when anyone sins so grievously we have to cut them off from our prayer, our congregation and all sacred things. Our elders preside over us, obtaining that honor not by money, but by their established character. There is no buying and selling in the things of God. Though we have a fund, but not because people can buy religion. Once a month, anyone who wants to makes a small donation – but only he who is able and willing; there is no compulsion. It is not spent on feasts, but to support and bury poor people, to provide for orphans, the elderly old persons, victims of shipwreck and those in prison for their faith.<ref>Defense by Tertullian (39), Trans. Rev. S. Thelwall. Modernized, abridged and introduced by Stephen Tomkins. Edited and prepared for the web by Dan Graves.</ref><br />
<br />
'''Pliny the Younger, the Roman governor of Pontus & Bithynia (northern Turkey) from A.D. 111-113, reporting to emperor Trajan of Christians, whom such pagan rulers found intolerable:''' <br />
<br />
:... Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ. <br />
<br />
:They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food &mdash; but ordinary and innocent food.<ref>Pliny the Younger Letters, 10.96 </ref><br />
<br />
<br />
=== Implications of the growth of worldwide Christianity ===<br />
<br />
''see also:'' [[Global Christianity]] and [[Internet evangelism]] <br />
<br />
Given the increase in the public's access to global communications, it is thought that the more [[theology|theologically]] [[conservative]] non-Western Christian churches could influence Western Christianity to move in a more theologically [[conservative]] direction.<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18774</ref> For example, non-Western [[Anglican]]s are exerting influence within the worldwide Anglican Communion against the stance of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion's North American provinces with regard to [[homosexual]] practices.<ref>http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-politics/district/5751-bishop-mw-anglicans-totally-against-homosexuality.html</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2156406/Anglican-church-schism-declared-over-homosexuality.html</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
== Resources related to becoming a Christian ==<br />
<br />
''see also:'' [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]<br />
<br />
'''Below are some resources on becoming a [[Christian]]:'''<br />
<br />
*[http://www.livingwaters.com/good/ Are you a good person? Take the test]<br />
<br />
*[http://creation.com/good-news Good news of Christianity] <br />
<br />
*[http://www.thewordfortoday.org/?page=C2000 Free audio Bible and Bible audio streaming]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.allaboutgod.com/ AllAboutGod.com]<br />
<br />
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]<br />
<br />
*[[Video testimonies of Christians]]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html Repentance]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Tips on choosing a Christian church:'''<br />
<br />
*[http://www.allaboutreligion.org/choosing-a-christian-church-faq.htm Choosing a Christian Church]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Spiritual growth as a Christian:'''<br />
<br />
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness] by Jerry Bridges<br />
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges The Practice of Godliness] by Jerry Bridges<br />
*[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529785.The_Complete_Book_of_Discipleship The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ]<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
'''Denominations or branches of Christianity'''<br />
*[[Roman Catholic Church]]<br />
*[[Eastern_Orthodoxy|Eastern Churches -- Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East]]<br />
*[[Protestantism|Protestant]]<br />
**[[Amish]]<br />
**[[Anglican]] ([[Church of England]])<br />
***[[Episcopal Church]] (USA affiliate) <br />
**[[Baptist]]<br />
**[[Congregationalist]]<br />
**[[Disciples of Christ]] and [[Churches of Christ]]<br />
**[[Evangelical Christianity]]<br />
**[[Friends]]<br />
**[[Fundamentalism]]<br />
**[[Liberal Christianity]]<br />
**[[Lutheran]]<br />
**[[Mennonite]]<br />
**[[Methodist]]<br />
**[[Pentecostal]]<br />
**[[Plymouth Brethren]]<br />
**[[Presbyterian]]<br />
**[[Reformed]]<br />
**[[Seventh-day Adventist]]<br />
<br />
'''Disputed'''<br />
*[[Christian Science]]<br />
*[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]<br />
*[[Latter-day Saints]]<br />
*[[Unitarian]]<br />
<br />
'''Christianity in the World'''<br />
*[[List of countries by number of Christians]]<br />
<br />
'''Other articles'''<br />
*[[Adiabene]]<br />
*[[Essay: The earliest Christian Church, a prison in Armageddon]]<br />
*[[Aramaic Church]]<br />
*[[Cathedral]]<br />
*[[Catholicism]]<br />
*[[Christian apologetics]] (Defense of Christianity)<br />
*[[Christians and the Law of Moses: an essay]]<br />
*[[Christianity and Science]]<br />
*[[Church]]<br />
*[[Conservative Christianity]]<br />
*[[Eucharist]]<br />
*[[Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America (Syro-Chaldean)]]<br />
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]<br />
*[[Gospel reading in the Church: the Turgama]]<br />
*[[Inspiration of Holy Scripture: An Eastern Christian and Jewish Perspective]]<br />
*[[Jesus Christ]]<br />
*[[Judaism]]<br />
*[[Messiah]]<br />
*[[New Testament understanding through the Jewish perspective]]<br />
*[[Jewish Biblical way of interpretation: a solution for New Testament understanding]]<br />
*[[Early Aramaic Jewish Christian prophesying]]<br />
*[[First Century Aramaic Jewish Christian Gospel and poetry]]<br />
*[[Aramaic Judaism, Jewish Aramaic Christianity, and John 1:1]]<br />
*[[God on earth, the original!: an essay]]<br />
*[[Passover Seder]]<br />
*[[Persecution of Christians]]<br />
*[[Red-letter Christian]]<br />
*[[Sign of the Cross]]<br />
*[[The Sign of the Cross: of Jewish Origin]]<br />
*[[Essay: The Way of Salvation]]<br />
*[[Gates of Hell]]<br />
*[[Anti Abortion activism: a personal essay]]<br />
*[[Transmigration of Words in Religion: an essay]]<br />
*[[Singing the Hebrew Scriptures]]<br />
*[[Christmas in the Holy Land: an essay]]<br />
*[[Essay: How to "get" a church]]<br />
*[[Bible translations]]<br />
*[[Essay: The superiority of the King James Bible: Looking through!]]<br />
<br />
'''Internet evangelism:'''<br />
<br />
*[[Essay: Sharing your Christian and creationist videos on YouTube and the internet]]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
===Encyclopedias===<br />
* Bodensieck, Julius, ed. ''The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church,'' (3 vol 1965), ECLS perspective <br />
* Brauer, Jerald C. ''The Westminster Dictionary of Church History'' (1971), 880pp<br />
* [http://newadvent.org/cathen/index.html ''The Catholic Encyyclopedia'' (1907-1913)], old but highly detailed and online<br />
** '' New Catholic Encyclopedia'', edited by the Catholic University of America, 17 vol. 1967-1979.<br />
*Cross, F. L., and E. A. Livingstone, eds. ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church'' (3rd ed. 1997), 1840pp; [http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Dictionary-Christian-Church/dp/0192802909/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b excerpt and text search]; online at [[OUP]]<br />
* Elwell, Walter A., ed. ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'' (2001) 1312 pages; articles by over 200 Evangelical or Fundamentalist scholars <br />
*Hastings, Adrian et al. eds. ''The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought'' (2000) 808pp; 600 articles by 260 Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox scholars; [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0198600240/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-4292297-2766841#reader-link excerpt and text search]; online at [[OUP]]<br />
*''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), ), major sources of older scholarly articles; mainline Protestant perspective <br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc01.toc.html Vol. 1: Aachen - Basilians]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc02.toc.html Vol. 2: Basilica - Chambers]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.toc.html Vol. 3: Chamier - Draendorf]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc04.toc.html Vol. 4: Draeseke - Goa]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc05.toc.html Vol. 5: Goar - Innocent]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc06.toc.html Vol. 6: Innocents - Liudger]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc07.toc.html Vol. 7: Liutprand - Moralities]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc08.toc.html Vol. 8: Morality - Petersen]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc09.toc.html Vol. 9: Petri - Reuchlin]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc10.toc.html Vol. 10: Reutsch - Son]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc11.toc.html Vol. 11: Son of Man - Tremellius]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.toc.html Vol. 12: Trench - Zwingli]<br />
**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc13.toc.html Vol. 13: Index]<br />
<br />
===Histories===<br />
*Briggs, J. H. Y., Robert D. Linder, and David F. Wright. ''Introduction to the History of Christianity: First Century to the Present Day'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-History-Christianity-Century-Present/dp/0800638123/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200823548&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search] <br />
*Gonzalez, Justo L. '' A History of Christian Thought: Volume 1: From the Beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon'' (2nd ed. 1987); [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Thought-Beginnings-Chalcedon/dp/0687171822/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200823941&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search vol 1]; ''A History of Christian Thought: Volume 2: From Augustine to the Eve of the Reformation'' (2nd ed. 1987) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Thought-Augustine-Reformation/dp/0687171830/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200823941&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search vol 2]; ''A History of Christian Thought: Volume 3: From the Protestant Reformation to the Twentieth Century'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Thought-Protestant-Reformation/dp/0687171849/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-12 excerpt and text search vol 3]<br />
*Horsley, Richard A. ''Christian Origins: A People's History Of Christianity, Vol. 1'' (2006), 318pp [http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Origins-Peoples-History-Christianity/dp/080063411X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200886474&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]<br />
*Latourette, Kenneth Scott. ''A History of Christianity'' (2 vol 1975) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-Beginnings-1500-Revised/dp/0060649526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200823548&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search vol 1, to 1500], by leading Baptist scholar<br />
*Latourette, Kenneth Scott. ''A history of the expansion of Christianity'' (7 vol 1939-1970), monumental history of missionary work worldwide<br />
*MacCulloch, Diarmaid. ''The Reformation'' (2005), influential recent survey [http://www.amazon.com/Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]<br />
*McGonigle, Thomas D., and James F. Quigley. ''A history of the Christian Tradition: From Its Jewish Orgins to the Reformation'' (1988); ''A History of the Christian Tradition, Vol. II: From the Reformation to the Present'' (1996) [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Tradition-Vol-Reformation/dp/0809136481/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200808706&sr=8-15 excerpt and text search vol 2]<br />
*Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine'' (5 vol 1975-91) [http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Tradition-Development-Doctrine-Medieval/dp/0226653757/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201083460&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search v. 3, 600 AD -1300]]; [http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Tradition-Development-Reformation-1300-1700/dp/0226653773/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201083460&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search vol 4, 1300-1700]; [http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Tradition-History-Development-Doctrine/dp/0226653803/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201083460&sr=8-3 excerpt and text search vol 5, 1700-present] This is the standard history of Christian doctrine. <br />
*Ward, Keith. ''Christianity: A Beginner's Guide'' (2008), 195pp<br />
<br />
===United States===<br />
* Ahlstrom, Sydney E. ''A religious history of the American people'' (1979) 1192 pages; classic history from broad perspective [http://books.google.com/books?id=5kFF6a1viGcC&dq=inauthor:ahlstrom&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search] <br />
* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2nd ed. 2004), 655pp [http://www.questia.com/library/book/encyclopedia-of-evangelicalism-by-randall-balmer.jsp ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' online edition]<br />
* Lippy, Charles H. and Peter W. Williams, eds. ''Encyclopedia of the American religious experience: studies of traditions and movements'' (3 vol 1988) 1872 pages; standard reference work; long essays by scholars <br />
* Noll, Mark A. '' A history of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992), by leading Evangelical historian [http://books.google.com/books?id=VGF3wbzzy9QC&dq=intitle:christianity+inauthor:noll&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]<br />
* Queen, Edward L. et al, eds. Encyclopedia of American Religious History'' (3rd ed. 2 vol. 2009) 1200pp<br />
* Reid, Daniel G. et al. eds., ''Dictionary of Christianity in America'' (199)<br />
* Wooley, Davis C. ed. '' Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists'' (5 vol 1958-19820; 2565 pages<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
==External Links==<br />
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/christians/ What Liberals Say - Category: Christians], [[Accuracy In Media]]<br />
*[http://www.churchbud.com Christian] Social Network<br />
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/2012/11/jesus-through-fabric-of-our-lives.html Jesus through the Fabric of our Lives]<br />
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Real Life and Death: the interplay of Bible, Israel, America]<br />
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Who can be saved? Who can not be saved?]<br />
[[Category:Christianity| ]]<br />
[[Category:Religion]]<br />
[[Category:Worldviews]]<br />
[[Category:Featured articles]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1077912Hinduism2014-02-24T16:02:49Z<p>Regular: replace source</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law ==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh" by S. Shashi, p. 115</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Caste system is neither unique to Indian society or limited, it has been prevalent in many parts of world, such as "Al-Akhdam" of Yemen, "Songbun" of North Korea, and others.<br />
<br />
It's apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The book ''Manusmriti'' texts contains ''varnas'' based on profession. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest class)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
Originally, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career.<ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref> With the start of British colonization, caste system established by British and caste became defined by birth.<ref>de Zwart, Frank (July 2000). "The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India". Acta Sociologica 43 (3): 235–249.</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==Hinduism and abortion==<br />
The teachings of Hinduism exact non-violence. Hinduism is generally opposed to [[abortion]] except if the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
* [[Hinduism and evolution]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1070357Hinduism2013-11-25T19:47:56Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law ==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Caste system is neither unique to Indian society or limited, it has been prevalent in many parts of world, such as "Al-Akhdam" of Yemen, "Songbun" of North Korea, and others.<br />
<br />
It's apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The book ''Manusmriti'' texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
Originally, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career.<ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref> With the start of British colonization, caste system established by british and caste became defined by birth.<ref>de Zwart, Frank (July 2000). "The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India". Acta Sociologica 43 (3): 235–249.</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==Hinduism and abortion==<br />
The teachings of Hinduism exact non-violence. Hinduism is generally opposed to [[abortion]] except the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
* [[Hinduism and evolution]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1070356Hinduism2013-11-25T19:45:33Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law ==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Caste system is neither unique to Indian society or limited, it has been prevalent in many parts of world, such as "Al-Akhdam" of Yemen, "Songbun" of North Korea, and others.<br />
<br />
It's apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The book ''Manusmriti'' texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
Originally, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career.<ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref> With the start of British colonization, caste system established and caste became defined by birth.<ref>de Zwart, Frank (July 2000). "The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India". Acta Sociologica 43 (3): 235–249.</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==Hinduism and abortion==<br />
The teachings of Hinduism exact non-violence. Hinduism is generally opposed to [[abortion]] except the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
* [[Hinduism and evolution]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1070355Hinduism2013-11-25T19:44:16Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law ==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Caste system is neither unique to Indian society or limited, it has been prevalent in many parts of world, such as "Al-Akhdam" of Yemen, "Songbun" of North Korea, and others.<br />
<br />
It's apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The book ''Manusmriti'' texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career.<ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref> With the start of British colonization, caste system established and caste became defined by birth.<ref>de Zwart, Frank (July 2000). "The Logic of Affirmative Action: Caste, Class and Quotas in India". Acta Sociologica 43 (3): 235–249.</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==Hinduism and abortion==<br />
The teachings of Hinduism exact non-violence. Hinduism is generally opposed to [[abortion]] except the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
* [[Hinduism and evolution]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Counterexamples_to_Global_Warming&diff=1070354Counterexamples to Global Warming2013-11-25T19:34:16Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:GlobalTemps June2009.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Despite an increase in atmospheric CO2, the earth has been cooling slightly for the past decade.]]<br />
<br />
[[Global warming]] is the theory that the earth is gradually warming up due to human influence. Unusual cold weather disproves the politically motivated claim by [[liberal|liberals]] that the [[Earth]] is rapidly warming.<br />
<br />
[[Liberal bias]] is severe for this issue: the [[lamestream media]] are far more likely to report on unusually hot weather than unusually cold weather. When there is strikingly cold weather, the [[lamestream media]] headlines distort the truth by calling it "nasty" or "severe", rather than "very cold."<br />
<br />
== Cold Weather Patterns ==<br />
====North America/United States====<br />
<br />
Many record-breaking cold temperatures and snowstorms have occurred in the last 10 years:<br />
<br />
*About as many snowfalls have occurred in Florida in the past 10 years as in the 100 years before that.<br />
<br />
*Prior to [[Thanksgiving]] 2013, a snowstorm ravaged the southwest and Texas, while temperatures in the northeast were about 15 degrees below normal.<br />
<br />
*In the first half of 2011, West Coast temperature have been consistently running at least 10-15 degrees below normal. Many have theorized that this is [[God]] sending a message to [[liberals]].<br />
<br />
*In Truckee-Tahoe in the second half of June 2011, every day the temperatures have been colder than normal, '''''often nearly 30 degrees below average'''''.<ref>http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KTRK/2011/5/30/MonthlyHistory.html</ref><br />
<br />
*Though unreported by the [[lamestream media]], temperatures in [[New Jersey]] at the beginning of July 2011 are about ten degrees below normal.<br />
<br />
*In January 2010, "coldest weather in 12 years hits North Texas."<ref>http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Coldest-Weather-in-12-Years-Descends-on-North-Texas-80828417.html</ref><br />
<br />
*In early February 2011, snow and ice pummeled Dallas and Houston, Texas, in a nearly unprecedented fashion.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/houston-gripped-by-ice-under-winter-storm-forecast-to-turn-toward-new-york.html?nstrack=sid:5028563|met:104|cat:247|order:1</ref><br />
<br />
*February 2010, 241-mile Lake Erie was completely frozen over for the first time in 14 years.<ref>http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100213/NEWS02/302129904</ref><br />
<br />
*Lake Michigan had not frozen over since the 1970s until ... 2009, when it froze over, and then again in 2010 and 2011.<br />
<br />
*[[New York City]] had its sixth-largest snowstorm '''''ever''''' on the day after [[Christmas]] in 2010, and the [[liberals]] in charge were unprepared.<ref>http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/snow_and_snowstorms/index.html</ref><br />
<br />
*In February 2011, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-weather-sanfrancisco-idUSTRE71P1NH20110226 some parts of San Francisco witnessed snow], though it was too little to count for an official measurement. San Francisco has not witnessed a recordable snow fall since 1976.<br />
<br />
*Meteorologists did a thirty-year study of California forecast data. 75% of measurement sites saw a reduction in temperatures. <ref>[http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/07/long-term-california-cooling-trend-blamed-on-global-warming/ Long-term California Cooling Trend Blamed on Global Warming, Gateway Pundit, July 6, 2011]</ref><br />
<br />
*In late October of 2011, a [[Northeaster]] dumps 2+ feet of snow in much of the region, and leaves over 3 million people without power.<ref>Melia, Michael. "3M powerless as October snow surprises Northeast." October 30, 2011. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/10/30/snow_smacks_northeast_power_could_be_out_for_days/</ref><br />
<br />
====Australia====<br />
<br />
In spite of predictions, 2011 is shaping up to be a cold year for [[Australia]]. It saw the [http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/06/24/ipswich-shivers-on-years-coldest-day/ coldest day on record for the east], the [http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/coldest-june-night-on-record-20100628-zdz9.html coldest June on record in the west], the [http://www.smh.com.au/national/coldest-may-on-record-for-darwin-20110531-1fe1x.html coldest May on record in the north], only *almost* record breaking [http://www.smh.com.au/national/coldest-may-on-record-for-darwin-20110531-1fe1x.html in the middle of the country], likewise for the [http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/05/31/260901_news.html south] and nationally it was [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/aus/summary.shtml the coldest Autumn on record, ever].<br />
<br />
But, but, but global warming! Maybe the west should burn ''more'' fossil fuels to heat things up? Or maybe they can use the hot air coming out of Al Gore's mouth?<br />
<br />
Even SMH, a notoriously Liberal men's magazine, is asking [http://globalfreeze.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/australia-wakes-to-a-deep-freeze/ "Where's my Global Warming, Dude?"].<br />
<br />
====Europe====<br />
<br />
*The North-Western part of the European continent had [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/snow-brings-parts-of-britain-to-a-standstill-2144267.html an unusually cold November and December in 2010], leaving even the most convinced "global warming" believer to ask "If everything is heating up and we're all going to die in a matter of a few years, why have these months been so cold!?" The global-warming alarmist "answer": [http://andyrussell.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/why-has-this-winter-been-so-cold-in-europe/ "It's hotter, therefore it's colder. No really!"]<br />
<br />
*In February of 2012, temperatures in Eastern Europe reached below -22 F. "Blizzards and the bone-chilling cold have resulted in the deaths of over 550 people so far, with rooftop-high snow drifts trapping tens of thousands of villagers in their homes and cutting off access to entire towns. It has even snowed as far south as North Africa."<ref>"Europe Hammered by Winter, Is North America Next?" February 16, 2012. NASA Science News. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/16feb_deepfreeze/</ref><br />
<br />
====South America====<br />
<br />
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10749124 Cold waves in Peru are so bad they have to issue safety warnings about them.]<br />
<br />
Tom Rowan from the American Thinker asks, [http://arcticsnap.com/index.php?id=65&linkbox=true&position=7 will 2011 be the year without Summer?]<br />
<br />
Thirty-two inches of snow fell on the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in [[Chile]]. They record less than 50mm of rain per year, 80cm of snow July 2011. <ref>[http://beforeitsnews.com/story/792/905/32_Inches_Of_Snow_Falls_In_Driest_Place_On_Earth.html 32 Inches Of Snow Falls In Driest Place On Earth!, beforeitsnews, July 7, 2011]</ref><br />
<br />
====Indian Subcontinent and Asia====<br />
<br />
Delhi has been hit by thick fog during the winter of 2011 which disrupted flights, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12125207 closed schools] and killed [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8438879.stm dozens of people], proving that even the Indian subcontinent is [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12106386 not immune to the cold wave sweeping over the globe for 2011].<br />
<br />
Even the BBC, a liberal media bastion, is [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8439136.stm showing the pictures for all to see]. Is even the mainstream media abandoning "global warming", or is the evidence too much for them to sweep under the rug any more?<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the communist and atheist nation of North Korea (known as The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2011/02/02/289892/N-Korea.htm freezing their little Atheist toes off]. The cold is so bad that the river that bisects Pyongyang has frozen over. <br />
<br />
The cold appears to be universal, among industrial and non-industrial nations alike. Is it really ''carbon'' causing these events? And why are there no answers from the "global warming" community about the obvious inconsistencies in their theories?<br />
<br />
====Central America====<br />
<br />
In Mexico the unseasonably cold weather has caused [http://geo-mexico.com/?p=3766 significant destruction of crops] in early February 2011. If it's so cold that corn can't survive, why do people keep claiming the planet is warming up?<br />
<br />
====Russian Landmass====<br />
<br />
A severe cold [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/02/15/russian-winter-severe-cold-to-invade-moscow-and-eastern-europe/ was expected by Dr. Ryan N. Maue to hit Russia in February 2011].<br />
<br />
The famous Russian cold defeated Napoleon's armies, perhaps it will defeat the armies of Al Gore too?<br />
<br />
====China====<br />
<br />
Chaos in China as a cold snap there [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-01/05/c_13677854.htm freezes over the highways, raises food price and causes Atheistic toes to curl]. Is there any part of the world actually affected by global warming? Going simply by the law of averages, at least *somewhere* must be getting warmer.<br />
<br />
==Warm Weather Patterns ==<br />
<br />
Warm weather patterns are fully expected in the absence of [[global warming]]. With global warming we wouldn't expect cold weather patterns, because the earth would be warmer.<br />
<br />
The [[lamestream media]] publicize reports of hot weather, but that is utterly ineffective in trying to prove the existence of [[global warming]]. Warm weather does not change the fact that record cold weather disproves global warming. All the following record-breaking high temperatures would still be expected without [[global warming]]:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/34756/moscow-breaks-alltime-high-tem.asp?partner=accuweather Moscow]<br />
<br />
* [http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/feb/18/tri-cities-area-ties-all-time-record-high-thursday-ar-851560/ Tennessee]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/syracuses_temperature_sets_his.html Syracuse]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/high-temperatures-hit-records-for-towns-in-oklahoma-arkansas.html Oklahoma]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.kwes.com/story/14931869/record-high-temperatures West Texas], [http://capitalclimate.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-toasted-20-all-time-record-high.html including the all-time record high in Amarillo, TX]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.lsureveille.com/news/baton-rouge-facing-record-high-temperatures-1.2601916 Louisiana]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.wctv.tv/weather/headlines/105_DEGREES_Tallahassee_Sets_New_All-Time_Record_High_123943144.html Tallahassee]<br />
<br />
* [http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/06/28/52485345.html Western Europe]<br />
<br />
* [http://english.sina.com/china/p/2011/0517/373689.html China]<br />
<br />
* [http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2011-06-26/record-temperatures-dont-stop-competitors-ironman South Africa]<br />
<br />
* [http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KICT/2011/6/9/WeeklyHistory.html Wichita, Kansas (temperature rose above 100 F around midnight)]<br />
<br />
* [http://mapcenter.hamweather.com/records/7day/us.html?c=maxtemp,highmin| In one week in July 2011, approx 700 high temperature and 2000 high minimum temperature records are shattered] in a [http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2011/07/22/extreme-heat-smothers-large-part-us/?test=latestnews heatwave that blankets the entire MidWest and East Coast].<br />
<br />
:* However, this also happened alongside a massive cold streak during the winter, so it is not a legitimate sign of Global Warming, and the heat wave is relatively short in duration.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44019419/ns/weather/#.Tj3h8GakLUg Little Rock, Arkansas, and 14 other cities and towns break their all-time record high temperature records], and Texas temperature records look set to be shattered in a summer heatwave that is sitting over the South in the summer of 2011. "I can't remember any year with the magnitude and length of this heat wave," Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service said.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/us-drought-idUSTRE77A3P120110811 Texas drought is worst in a century, and extending to other Mid-Western States].<br />
<br />
* As of July 6, 2012, 23,283 daily high temperature records have been set in 2012, up 71% compared to the same period in 2011.<ref>Memmott, Mark. "How Hot Is It? All You Need To See Are These Two Maps." July 6, 2012. NPR. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/07/06/156369399/how-hot-is-it-all-you-need-to-see-are-these-two-maps</ref><br />
<br />
Random temperature fluctuations, including those above, would occur in the absence of [[global warming]].<br />
<br />
== General Climate Patterns ==<br />
<br />
*Although Global warming should be causing massive droughts,<ref>http://www.naturalnews.com/020649.html</ref> massive flooding along the Mississippi river in 2011 has resulted in many deaths as well as billions in property damage.<br />
<br />
== The Gore Effect ==<br />
Often, when a climate conference is held, a new record low temperature is set for that location. Maybe [[God]] is trying to send the alarmists a message? In light of the global cold snap all around the world, perhaps the message extends beyond Al Gore?<br />
<br />
*During the Cancun climate conference, record low temperatures in the low 50s were set on three consecutive days. <ref>http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/12/08/gore-effect-strikes-cancun-climate-conference-3-days-in-a-row/</ref><br />
<br />
[[File:GoreFireBreathing.jpg]]<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<br />
*[[Counterexamples to the Bible]] (none)<br />
*[[Counterexamples to Evolution]] (60 and growing)<br />
*[[Counterexamples to Relativity]] (48 and growing)<br />
*[[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]] (43 and growing)<br />
*[[Biblical Scientific Foreknowledge]]<br />
*[http://www.accuweather.com/ Find the temperature in almost any city]<br />
*[http://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/norms/daily/index.html Daily Station Normals (extensive historical temperature data at NJ weather stations)]<br />
*[http://www.surfacestations.org/ Surface Stations]<br />
*[http://wattsupwiththat.com/ Watts Up With That]<br />
*[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/Climsum.html Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries (find climate statistics for thousands of locations in the western United States)]<br />
*[http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/ Science and Public Policy Institute]<br />
*[http://www.JunkScience.org JunkScience.org] [[JunkScience|(Our wiki entry on JunkScience.org)]]<br />
*[http://www.globalclimatescam.com/ Global Warming Scam]<br />
*[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html NOAA Satellite & Information Service]<br />
*[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1871503 PDF: The Tragedy of the Risk-Perception Commons: Culture Conflict, Rationality Conflict, and Climate Change]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
{{Counterexamples}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Counterexamples]]<br />
[[Category:Global Warming]]<br />
[[Category:Environmentalism]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Russell_Kirk&diff=1069991Russell Kirk2013-11-17T06:04:32Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Russell Kirk''' (1918 &ndash; 29 April 1994) was an American political theorist, conservative intellectual, historian of ideas, social critic, and man of letters, who is best known for his role in the American conservative movement. Kirk's 1953 book, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'',<ref>It went into 7 editions, the later ones with the title ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot''.</ref> attempted without complete success to lay claim to the history and direction of the modern conservative movement. His book traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving pride of place to the ideas of 18th century British writer and statesman [[Edmund Burke]], an Irish Protestant who was sympathetic to independence for the American colonies.<br />
<br />
==Life==<br />
Russell Amos Kirk was born in Mecosta, Michigan, in a house his grandfather built. He was the son of Russell Andrew Kirk, a railroad engineer, and Marjorie Pierce Kirk. <br />
<br />
Kirk obtained his B.A. at Michigan State University, thanks to a scholarship, then took an M.A. at Duke University. After serving in the Army during World War II, he attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In 1953, he became the first American to be awarded the degree of doctor of letters by that university.<br />
<br />
Kirk taught briefly at Michigan State. He resigned in 1959, after having become disenchanted with that university's academic standards, rapid growth in student numbers, and emphasis on intercollegiate athletics and technical training at the expense of the traditional liberal arts. Thereafter he ridiculed Michigan State as "Cow College" or "Behemoth University." He later wrote that academic political scientists and sociologists were "as a breed--dull dogs."<ref> Kirk, ''The Portable Conservative Reader''. 1982. page xxxviii.</ref> Late in life, he taught one semester a year at [[Hillsdale College]], where he was Distinguished Visiting Professor of Humanities.<br />
<br />
Kirk frequently published in two American conservative journals he helped found, ''[[National Review]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Modern Age]]'' in 1957. He was the founding editor of the latter, 1957-59. Later he was made a Distinguished Fellow of the [[Heritage Foundation]], where he gave a number of lectures.<ref>Many published in his ''The Politics of Prudence'' (1993) and ''Redeeming the Time'' (1998).</ref><br />
<br />
After leaving Michigan State, Kirk returned to Mecosta where he wrote the many books, academic articles, lectures, and the syndicated newspaper column (which ran for 13 years) by which he exerted his influence on American politics and intellectual life. In 1963, Kirk married Annette Courtemanche; they had four daughters. She and Kirk became known for their hospitality, welcoming many political, philosophical, and literary figures in their Mecosta house (known as "Piety Hill"), and giving shelter to political refugees, hoboes, and others. Their home became the site of a sort of seminar on conservative thought for university students. Piety Hill now houses the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.<br />
<br />
Kirk never learned to drive, calling cars "mechanical Jacobins", and would have nothing to do with television and what he called "electronic computers."<br />
<br />
==Ideas==<br />
===''The Conservative Mind''===<br />
''The Conservative Mind'', the published version of Kirk's doctoral dissertation, helped revive interest in [[Edmund Burke]] as well as:<br />
*Conservative European and American statesmen such as [[John Adams]], [[George Canning]], [[John C. Calhoun]], [[Joseph de Maistre]], [[Benjamin Disraeli]], and [[Arthur Balfour]];<br />
*The conservative side of such well-known authors as [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]], [[Walter Scott]], [[James Fenimore Cooper]], [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], [[James Russell Lowell]], [[George Gissing]], [[George Santayana]], and [[T. S. Eliot]];<br />
*Onscure British and American authors such as [[Fisher Ames]], [[John Randolph of Roanoke]], [[Orestes Brownson]], [[John Henry Newman]], [[Walter Bagehot]], [[Henry Maine]], [[Edwin Lawrence Godkin]], [[Leslie Stephen]], [[Albert Venn Dicey]], [[Paul Elmer More]], and [[Irving Babbitt]]. ''The Portable Conservative Reader'' (1982), which Kirk edited, contains sample writings by most of the authors he favored.<br />
===Conservative attacks on Kirk===<br />
Some conservatives have strongly rejected Kirk's reading of the conservative tradition. Notably Claremeon scholar [[Harry Jaffa]] (a student of [[Leo Strauss]]) thought Kirk misread Burke because Burke's attack on metaphysical reasoning related only to modern philosophy's attempt to eliminate skeptical doubt from its premises and hence from its conclusions. Jaffa said:<br />
:Like T.S. Eliot, Kirk wanted Christianity established in America. Like Eliot, he thought that "free thinking Jews" were a corrosive element within Christian civilization. For Kirk, the Enlightenment, as the moving cause of Jewish emancipation, as well as of the French Revolution, was the source of virtually all evil in the modern world.... Kirk and Kristol have been as one in their fanatical opposition to the doctrines embodied in the Declaration of Independence....their influence has been exerted to ignore or ridicule anyone who—like Jefferson, Lincoln, and Pope John Paul—believes that the truths held to be self-evident really are so, and can be proved to be so....[Kirk wrote]: "the Declaration is not conspicuously American in its ideas or its phrases, and not even characteristically Jeffersonian."<ref> Harry Jaffa, [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)]</ref><br />
<br />
===Kirk and Orestes Brownson===<br />
Russello (2004) argues that Kirk adapted what 19th century American Catholic thinker [[Orestes Brownson]] called "territorial democracy" to articulate a version of federalism that was based on premises that differ in part from those of the Founders and other conservatives. Kirk further believed that territorial democracy could reconcile the tension between treating the states as mere provinces of the central government, and as autonomous political units independent of Washington. Finally, territorial democracy allowed Kirk to set out a theory of individual rights grounded in the particular historical circumstances of the United States, while rejecting a universal conception of such rights.<br />
<br />
===Principles===<br />
see [[Conservative principles]]<br />
Kirk developed six "canons" of conservatism, which Russello (2004) described as follows:<br><br />
#A belief in a transcendent order, which Kirk described variously as based in tradition, divine revelation, or natural law;<br />
#An affection for the "variety and mystery" of human existence;<br />
#A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;<br> <br />
#A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;<br />
#A faith in custom, convention, and prescription, and<br />
#A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence.<br />
<br />
Kirk said that Christianity and Western Civilization are "unimaginable apart from one another."<ref> See [http://theoccidentalquarterly.com/vol5no2/52-griffin.html]</ref> and that "all culture arises out of religion. When religious faith decays, culture must decline, though often seeming to flourish for a space after the religion which has nourished it has sunk into disbelief." <ref> See [http://www.thomasaquinas.edu/news/pressroom/inthenews/other/books_faith.html]</ref><br />
<br />
===Kirk and Libertarianism===<br />
Kirk grounded his "Burkean conservatism" in tradition, political philosophy, ''belles lettres'', and the strong religious faith of his later years; rather than libertarianism and free market economic reasoning. ''The Conservative Mind'' hardly mentions economics at all. <br />
<br />
In a polemic essay,<ref> See [http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm]</ref> Kirk (quoting [[T. S. Eliot]]) called libertarians "chirping sectaries", adding that they and conservatives have nothing in common. He called the libertarian movement "an ideological clique forever splitting into sects still smaller and odder, but rarely conjugating." He said a line of division exists between believers in "some sort of transcendent moral order" and "utilitarians admitting no transcendent sanctions for conduct." He included libertarians in the latter category.<ref> See [http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm] </ref><br />
<br />
===Kirk and Neoconservatism===<br />
Late in life, Kirk grew disenchanted with American [[neoconservatism|neoconservatives]] as well. On December 15, 1988, he gave a lecture at the Heritage Foundation, titled "The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species."<ref> See [http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm] </ref> As ''Chronicles'' editor Scott Richert describes it, <br />
<blockquote>[One line] helped define the emerging struggle between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives. "Not seldom has it seemed," Kirk declared, "as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States." A few years later, in another Heritage Foundation speech, Kirk repeated that line verbatim. In the wake of the Gulf War, which he had opposed, he clearly understood that those words carried even greater meaning.<ref> See [http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/Chronicles/July2004/0704Richert.html]</ref></blockquote><br />
<br />
Neoconservative [[Midge Decter]] attacked Kirk's line as "a bloody outrage, a piece of anti-Semitism by Kirk that impugns the loyalty of neoconservatives." She claimed that Kirk "said people like my husband and me put the interest of Israel before the interest of the United States, that we have a dual loyalty." She told [[The New Republic]], "It's this notion of a Christian civilization. You have to be part of it or you're not really fit to conserve anything. That's an old line and it's very ignorant."<ref> See [http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm]</ref><br />
<br />
Paleoconservative [[Samuel Francis]] called Kirk's "Tel Aviv" remark "a wisecrack about the slavishly pro-Israel sympathies among neoconservatives.<ref>See [http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm]</ref> He called Decter's response untrue, "reckless" and "vitriolic." Furthermore, he argued that such a denunciation "always plays into the hands of the left, which is then able to repeat the charges and claim conservative endorsement of them."<ref> See <br />
[http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/1996/vo12no16/vo12no16_invasion.htm]</ref><br />
<br />
==Man of letters==<br />
Kirk's other books include ''Eliot and his Age: T. S. Eliot's Moral Imagination in the Twentieth Century'' (1972), ''The Roots of American Order'' (1974), and the autobiographical ''Sword of the Imagination: Memoirs of a Half Century of Literary Conflict'' (1995). Kirk was renowned for the fine prose style of his polemical writings.<ref>Nash (1998).</ref><br />
<br />
==Fiction==<br />
Kirk was an accomplished teller and writer of fiction, especially ghost stories. His first novel, ''Old House of Fear'', was a gothic; ''A Creature of the Twilight'' told of revolution and political intrigue in Africa with his continuing character Manfred Arcane, who would appear in many of his ghost stories. <br />
<br />
His supernatural tales were collected in three volumes, ''The Surly Sullen Bell'', ''The Princess of All Lands'', and ''Watchers at the Strait Gate'', and in ''Off the Sand Road'' (2002) and ''What Shadows We Pursue'' (2003). Kirk's "There's A Long, Long Trail A-Winding" won the 1977 World Fantasy Award for best novella. <br />
<br />
The science-fiction writer [[Jerry Pournelle]] is a protégé of Kirk's.<ref> See [http://www.jerrypournelle.com/archives2/archives2view/view322.html]</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
==Bibliography==<br />
''Modern Age'' articles are available online free at [http://www.isi.org/journals/archive/archive.aspx?id=912934da-f962-47fe-9bb8-4135b22303e4&journal=MA atchive]<br />
<br />
* Attarian, John. "Russell Kirk's Political Economy," ''Modern Age'' 1998, 40: 87-97. Issn: 0026-7457.<br />
* East, John P. "Russell Kirk as a Political Theorist: Perceiving the Need for Order in the Soul and in Society," ''Modern Age'' 1984, 28: 33-44. Issn: 0026-7457 .<br />
* Jaffa, Harry. [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)], a stinging attack on Kirk by a leading conservative<br />
* McDonald, William Wesley. "Reason, Natural Law, and Moral Imagination in the Thought of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age'' 1983, 27: 15-24. Issn: 0026-7457.<br />
* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and The Age of Ideology." (2004); [http://www.amazon.com/Russell-Kirk-Ideology-Wesley-McDonald/dp/0826215122/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205881&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]; also [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=109320091 complete online edition] <br />
* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and the Prospects for Conservatism," ''Humanitas'' 1999 XII: 56-76. <br />
* McDonald, William Wesley. "Kirk, Russell (1918-94)," in "American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia". (2006). ISI Books: 471-474. Biographical entry.<br />
* Nash, George H., ''The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America''. (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Conservative-Intellectual-Movement-America-Since/dp/1933859121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205931&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Person, Jr., James E., 1999. ''Russell Kirk: A Critical Biography of a Conservative Mind''. [http://www.amazon.com/Russell-Kirk-Critical-Biography-Conservative/dp/1568331312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205984&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Russello, Gerald J. "The Jurisprudence of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age'' 1996, 38: 354-63. Issn: 0026-7457. Reviews Kirk's writings on law, 1976-93, exploring his notion of natural law, his emphasis on the importance of the English common law tradition, and his theories of change and continuity in legal history.<br />
* Russello, Gerald J. ''The Postmodern Imagination of Russell Kirk''. (2007) University of Missouri Press. [http://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Imagination-Russell-Kirk/dp/0826217206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205466&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Russello, Gerald J. "Time and Timeless: the Historical Imagination of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age'' 1999, 41: 209-19. Issn: 0026-7457.<br />
* Russello, Gerald J. "Russell Kirk and Territorial Democracy," ''Publius 34'': 2004, 109-24. Issn: 0048-5950. <br />
* Schoenwald, Jonathan M. ''A Time for Choosing: The Rise of Modern American Conservatism.'' (2001). [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104931191 online edition]<br />
* Whitney, Gleaves. "The Swords of Imagination: Russell Kirk's Battle with Modernity," ''Modern Age'' 2001, 43: 311-20. Issn: 0026-7457. Argues that Kirk used five "swords of imagination": historical, political, moral, poetic, and prophetic. [http://www.mmisi.org/ma/43_04/whitney.pdf online edition]<br />
<br />
===Primary sources===<br />
* Kirk, Russell. ''The Sword of Imagination: Memoirs of a Half-Century of Literary Conflict''. (1995( Kirk's memoirs.<br />
* Kirk, Russell. ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'' (1953) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=55416563 online edition]<br />
* Kirk, Russell. ''Randolph of Roanoke: A Study in Conservative Thought,'' (1951) [http://www.questia.com/read/59492155 online edition]<br />
* Kirk, Russell. ''Edmund Burke: A Genius Reconsidered,'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85677594 online edition]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* Miller, John L., "[http://www.traversemagazine-digital.com/traversemagazine/200701/?b=0&u1=text His Conservative Mind,]" ''Traverse'' (January 2007).<br />
*"[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/freud-per-kirk.html From The Academy.]"<br />
*"[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/ANNETTE.HTM Life with Russell Kirk]" by Annette Kirk.<br />
*"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/765281/posts Russell Kirk on the Draft.]"<br />
*[http://www.kirkcenter.org/kirkbio.html Biography], at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. With links to a very incomplete bibliography.<br />
*"[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/kirk.html Russell Kirk Web Site]" .<br />
*Kirk, Russell, "[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm Libertarians: Chirping Sectaries.]"<br />
*[[Heritage Foundation]] lectures by Kirk:<br />
**"[http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species.]" Heritage lecture 178, December 15, 1988.<br />
**"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770015/posts The Conservative Movement: Then And Now.]" No date.<br />
* [http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.html Kirk Center]<br />
====Notes====<br />
<references/><br />
[[Category:Conservatives]]<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Russell}}</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1069990Hinduism2013-11-17T06:02:57Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Caste system is neither unique to Indian society or limited, it has been prevalent in many parts of world, such as "Al-Akhdam" of Yemen, "Songbun" of North Korea, and others.<br />
<br />
It's apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The book ''Manusmriti'' texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==Hinduism and abortion==<br />
The teachings of Hinduism exact non-violence. Hinduism is generally opposed to [[abortion]] except the life of the mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/hinduethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
* [[Hinduism and evolution]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism_and_evolution&diff=1068682Hinduism and evolution2013-10-24T02:50:28Z<p>Regular: Enlarged the article.</p>
<hr />
<div>Hinduism does not actively oppose [[evolution]] as some other religions do, due to many similarities with the evolution theory. [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] is a [[Hindu]] [[organisation]] that doesn't chose evolution has fully legit, but doesn't reject it either.<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism]]<br />
[[Category:Evolution]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1067282Hinduism2013-09-24T17:05:39Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
As per the book named "Manusmriti" of Hindus, which is regarded as the law book of hindus, is apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admirers includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1067281Hinduism2013-09-24T17:04:15Z<p>Regular: Grammar.</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
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<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
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2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
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3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
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4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
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5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
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6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
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7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
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8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
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Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
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Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
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For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
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==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
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==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
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===Caste system===<br />
As per the book named "Manusmriti" of Hindus, which is regarded as the law book of hindus, is apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
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In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
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''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this, there has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admires includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
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==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
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==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=NATO_war_in_Libya&diff=1066808NATO war in Libya2013-09-16T06:41:02Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Military conflict<br />
| image =[[File:Bombing Tripoli Libya.jpg|thumb|Bombing Tripoli, Libya.]]<br />
| conflict =Libyan War<br />
| partof =[[Arab Spring]]<br />
| date =February 15, 2011-October 23, 2011<br />
| location =[[Libya]]<br />
| combatant1 =Libyan government<br />
| combatant2 =Libyan opposition (mercenaries)<br>include:<br>[[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]]<br>[[Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb]]<br>[[NATO]]<br />
| commander1 =[[Muammar al-Gaddafi]]<br />
| commander2 =[[Mustafa Abdul Jalil]]<br />
| strength1 =<br />
| strength2 =<br />
| casualties1 =<br />
| casualties2 =<br />
}}<br />
[[File:Gaddafi and Mandela 1.JPG|thumb|right|250px|[[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Nelson Mandela]] greets an old friend and ally, Muammar Gaddafi, who supported the [[ANC]] during their struggle against [[apartheid]]. ''[[Reuters]]'' reports President Obama secretly ordered support for [[al Qaeda]] terrorists seeking Gaddafi's ouster.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html</ref>.]]<br />
The '''Libyan War''' started as the '''Benghazi rebellion''', a series of protests in extremist dominated eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011 after the toppling of secular regimes in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. The scale of violence contrasted markedly with the more peaceful and generally popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The [[Islamist]] terror group, the [[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]] with its elements of Ansar al-Shariah, the local branch of [[Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb]] (Al-Qaeda in North Africa), vowed to do everything in its power against the Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]].<ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/24/al-qaeda-in-n-africa-backs-libya-uprising-site.html Al Qaeda in N. Africa backs Libya uprising: SITE] </ref><ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates Libya uprising.] </ref> The same group later murdered the U.S. Ambassador and others and burnt down the U.S. Embassy.<br />
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[[President Obama]] granted U.S. assistance to this same group.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/extremists-among-libya-rebels_n_837894.html Anti-American Extremists Among Libyan Rebels U.S. Has Vowed To Protect], David Wood, ''Huffington Post'', 3/19/11.</ref><br />
== Libya before the 2011 uprising ==<br />
[[File:Libya Irrigation project.jpg|thumb|330px|Satellite view is showing irrigated farming projects at Al Khufrah Oasis in south-east Libya. Part of the "Great Man Made River Project" ($33 billion), where water is drawn from vast underground aquifers. This water is transported about 800 km (500 mi) to the coastal cities of Libya by means of the world's largest underground network of pipes.]]<br />
In 1951 Libya was officially the poorest country in the world, <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864742,00.html]</ref> but by the time of the 2011 uprising, Libyans' living standards were considered the highest in Africa. The [[GDP]] per Capita was more than double that of Egypt, and above that of Russia. All people had access to doctors, hospitals, clinics and medicines, completely free of charge; but more than the advances in housing, agricultural, industry, health care, education, was the advance in direct popular democracy. <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8744/libfacts.htm]</ref> [[Condoleezza Rice]] praised Libya for its "excellent co-operation" in the US-led [[war on terror]]. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4773617.stm] (BBC News)</ref>.<br />
<br />
The living standards of Libyans improved significantly since the 1970s, ranking the country among the highest in Africa. Urbanization, developmental projects, and high oil revenues enabled the Gaddafi regime to elevate the people's living standards. The social and economic status of women and children has particularly improved under the [[secular]] ruler. Various subsidized or free services (health, education, housing, and basic foodstuffs) ensured basic necessities. The low percentage of people without access to safe water (3 percent), health services (0 percent) and sanitation (2 percent), and a relatively high life expectancy (70.2 years) in 1998 indicated improved living standards. Adequate health care and subsidized foodstuffs sharply reduced infant mortality, from 105 per 1,000 live births in 1970 to 20 per 1,000 live births in 1998. The Gaddafi regime also subsidizes education, which was government supported, co-educational and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. The expansion of educational facilities elevated the literacy rate (78.1 in 1998). There now are universities in [[Tripoli]], Benghazi, Marsa el-Brega, Misurata, Sebha, and Tobruk. <ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Libya-POVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html] (SOURCE: Handbook of the Nations; CIA World Factbook.)</ref><br />
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[[Nobel Peace Prize]] recipient [[Nelson Mandela]] warned of the machinations of outside influences in a speech recognizing Gaddafi and his leadership in Africa:<br />
{{Cquote|In a world where the strong may seek to impose upon the more vulnerable; and where particular nations or groups of nations may still seek to decide the fate of the planet - in such a world respect for multilateralism, moderation of public discourse and a patient search for compromise become even more imperative to save the world from debilitating conflict and enduring inequality. When we dismissed criticism of our friendship with yourself, My Brother Leader, and of the relationship between [[South Africa]] and Libya, it was precisely in defence of those values.<ref>http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656?oid=222537&sn=Detail</ref>}}[[File:Benghazi shopping center Libya.JPG|thumb|Benghazi shopping center.]]<br />
By 2011 the Libyan people seemed to be thriving with Gaddafi as leader. A delegation of medical professionals from [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Belarus]] wrote in an appeal to "Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] and Prime Minister [[Putin]] that after becoming acquainted with Libyan life, it was their view that in few nations did people live in such comfort". Libya then was not a highly polarized society divided between extremes of wealth and poverty.<br />
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On February 24, 2011, no threat was seen to Libya’s Seat on top U.N. Human Rights Body. A European Union draft resolution “strongly condemned” human rights violations sparked by opponents to the government, rather than condemning Gaddafi or the regime for committing them. [http://www.cnsnews.com/public/news/article/no-threat-seen-libya-s-seat-top-un-human]<br />
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The "United Nations Development Program (UNDP) confirms that the country had excellent prospects for achieving United Nations development goals by 2015. NATO's war will have already dashed those hopes. A collapse like the one in Iraq now threatens the country. [http://www.newsfrommiddleeast.com/?new=77210]<br />
===Outside assistance to Islamist rebels===<br />
Journalist David Wood reported, <br />
{{Cquote|Eastern Libya has been described by U.S. diplomats as a breeding ground for Islamist [[extremism]]. In diplomatic cables released by [[Wikileaks]], the region’s young men were said to have "nothing to lose" by resorting to violence. Sermons in the local [[mosque]]s are "laced with phraseology urging worshippers to support [[jihad]]," one diplomat reported.<ref>http://91.214.23.156/cablegate/wire.php?id=08TRIPOLI120&search=</ref>}}<br />
Wood added,<br />
{{Cquote|extremist elements make up only a portion of the resistance to Gaddafi and have been present in every popular uprising in the region stretching from the [[Iran]]ian revolution to the [[Egypt]]ian people’s overthrow of [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/extremists-among-libya-rebels_n_837894.html</ref>}}[[File:View to Tripoli Libya.jpg|380px|thumb|right|Tripoli, 2009.]]<br />
Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi, the Libyan rebel leader, has said [[jihad]]ists who fought against American troops in [[Iraq]] served on the front lines. <ref> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links.] </ref> <ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/guantanamo-files-libyan-detainee-now-us-ally-of-sorts.html Libyan, Once a Detainee, Is Now a U.S. Ally of Sorts.]</ref><br />
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An international coalition intervened in what many described as an "illegal war"<ref>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/01/obamas_illegal_war</ref> led by the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), whose own leaders have openly questioned what the value, purpose, and reason for existence of NATO is. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/world/europe/14iht-letter14.html</ref><ref>http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/article_58ebd6cf-0558-5ee2-bd8d-cf27c1af7630.html</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/12/nato-usa</ref><br />
<br />
It was reported on February 24, 2011, that an emergency meeting of the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] (UNHRC) on Libya would take no action, or make no recommendation to the [[UN General Assembly]], to remove Libya from its seat on the UN Human Rights Council, despite alleged [[human rights]] abuses.<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/no-threat-seen-libya-s-seat-top-un-human</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] (UNSC) then voted on March 17, 2011, to pass Security Council resolution 1973 proposed by [[France]], along with its British and Lebanese partners, initiating the use of military force in Libya. [[China]], [[Russia]], [[India]] and [[Brazil]] (the so-called BRIC nations) all abstained from the vote. The [[Obama administration]] called for Gaddafi to step aside, and has provided assistance to the insurgent tribes. US Congressional leaders were not consulted, <ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/262921/boehner-obama-libya-many-other-members-house-representatives-are-troubled-robert-costa</ref> nor did the United States Congress ever authorize any use of force in Libya.<br />
<br />
Military and intelligence experts in France, [[Britain]], and the United States warned about uncertainties, but were overruled by political leaders. The result was a set of decisions focusing on short term considerations and gambling on the outcome. French, British, and US leaders did not fully coordinate, but according to Anthony Cordesman, it became clear,<br />
{{Cquote|they sought and got international cover from the UN by claiming a no fly zone could protect civilians when their real objective was to use force as a catalyst to drive Gaddafi out of power.}}<br />
[[Sarkozy]], [[David Cameron|Cameron]], and [[Obama]] seem to have assumed that a largely unknown, divided, and fractured group of insurgents could win through sheer political momentum, and could then be turned into a successful government. Within the first month it was obvious a "weak, divided, poorly led, and badly equipped and supplied set of rebel tribes can only hang on with the present level of air support" that was provided.<br />
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The assault on Libya set off a frenzy of speculations about the real motive behind the war in the oil-rich country, with many analysts saying that under the guise of protecting civilians, as enshrined in the UNSC Resolution 1973, Washington and its Western allies are basically after the North African country’s vast oil reserves. <ref>[http://2012indyinfo.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/presstv-germany-slams-nato-mission-in-libya/ Germany slams NATO mission in Libya.]</ref><br />
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[[Stephen Lendman]]: Libya assault planned months ahead; See interview: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSlXO_X_fE&feature=related in Youtube.]<br />
===Petrodollars and oil===<br />
According to a Russian article titled ''Bombing of Libya - Punishment for Qaddafi for His Attempt to Refuse US Dollar,'' Gaddafi initiated a movement to refuse the dollar and the [[Euro]] as payment for Libya's oil, and called on [[Arab]] and African nations to use a new currency, the gold dinar. Gaddafi proposed establishing a united African continent, with its 200 million people using this single currency. The initiative was viewed negatively in the United States and the [[European Union]], with French president Nicolas Sarkozy calling Libya a threat to the financial security of mankind. But Gaddafi continued his push for the creation of a united Africa. As early September 9, 1999, the first steps towards the formation of the [[African Union]] were taken by the Heads of State of the Organisation of African Unity.<ref>[http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/au_in_a_nutshell_en.htm The AU in a nutshell]</ref><br />
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In the wake of the global [[financial crisis of 2008]] forcing the United States into [[recession]], both China and Russia called for the dollar’s role in the global financial system to be diluted. Both China and the USSR abstained from UNSCR 1973.<br />
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''Bloomberg News'' reported in September 2010 that China and Russia planned to start trading in each other’s currency as the world’s second-biggest energy consumer and the largest energy supplier seek to diminish the dollar’s role in global trade. Bhanu Baweja commented {{Cquote|Given the risk to the dollar and U.S. assets from their fiscal position they want to reduce their dependence on the dollar as an invoicing currency....It makes sense for two large economies to exclude a third, overly dominant economy from their trading equation.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/china-russia-push-yuan-ruble-trading-to-diminish-dominance-of-u-s-dollar.html</ref>}}<br />
===The African Union===<br />
An observer spelled out one of Gaddafi’s motivations for proposing an African Union:<br />
{{Cquote|It began in 1992, when 45 African nations established RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communication Organization) so that Africa would have its own satellite and slash communication costs in the continent. This was a time when phone calls to and from Africa were the most expensive in the world because of the annual US$500 million fee pocketed by Europe for the use of its satellites like Intelsat for phone conversations, including those within the same country.<br />
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An African satellite only cost a one-time payment of $400 million and the continent no longer had to pay a $500 million annual lease. Which banker wouldn't finance such a project? But the problem remained – how can [[slave]]s, seeking to free themselves from their master’s exploitation ask the master’s help to achieve that freedom? Not surprisingly, the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the USA, Europe only made vague promises for 14 years. Gaddafi put an end to these futile pleas to the western ‘benefactors’ with their exorbitant interest rates. The Libyan guide put $300 million on the table; the African Development Bank added $50 million more and the West African Development Bank a further $27 million – and that’s how Africa got its first communications satellite on 26 December 2007.<ref>http://www.vtcommons.org/blog/2011/04/21/ethan-allen-qaddafi</ref>}}<br />
===Libyan Central Bank===<br />
In an article posted on the Market Oracle, Eric Encina observed:<br />
{{Cquote|One seldom mentioned fact by western politicians and media pundits: the Central Bank of Libya is 100% State Owned.... Currently, the Libyan government creates its own money, the Libyan Dinar, through the facilities of its own central bank. Few can argue that Libya is a [[sovereign]] nation with its own great resources, able to sustain its own economic destiny. One major problem for globalist banking cartels is that in order to do business with Libya, they must go through the Libyan Central Bank and its national currency, a place where they have absolutely zero dominion or power-broking ability. Hence, taking down the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) may not appear in the speeches of Obama, Cameron and Sarkozy but this is certainly at the top of the globalist agenda for absorbing Libya into its hive of compliant nations.<ref>Eric Encina,''[http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article27208.html Globalists Target 100% State Owned Central Bank of Libya,]'' Market Oracle.</ref>}}<br />
Ellen Brown adds,<br />
{{Cquote|Libya not only has oil. According to the IMF, its central bank has nearly 144 tons of gold in its vaults. With that sort of asset base, who needs the BIS (Bank of International Settlements), the IMF and their rules.<ref>Ellen Brown, ''[http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/289-134/5625-libya-all-about-oil-or-all-about-banking Libya: All About Oil, or All About Banking,]'' Reader Supported News, April 15, 2011.</ref>}}<br />
Gaddafi’s proposal to introduce a gold dinar for Africa contravenes IMF rules and is designed to bypass them.<br />
===U.S. State Dept Report on Religious freedom (2009)===<br />
The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 said this of religious freedom's under Gaddafi's regime: <ref>U.S. Department of State, [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/rellibya09.html International Religious Freedom Report 2009,] Released by the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Washington, DC, (October 26, 2009). www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org </ref><br />
{{QuoteBox|a basis for some degree of religious freedom is provided in the Great Green Charter on Human Rights of the Jamahiriya Era, and the Government generally respects the right to observe one's religion freely in practice. The Government tolerates most minority religions but strongly opposes militant forms of Islam, which it views as a security threat... The World Islamic Call Society (WICS) is the official conduit for the state-approved form of Islam....WICS serves as the religious arm of Qadhafi's foreign policy... There were no reports of forced religious conversion...prominent representatives from the Government and society made new efforts to promote religious coexistence and harmony. ...minority religious communities achieved several symbolic milestones within the context of the country's increasing openness to the international community. ...There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.}}<br />
In 2001 Gaddafi's Islamic Call Society provided the [[Anglican Church]] of Christ the King with a church building on the downtown square in Tripoli.<ref>[http://www.arabwestreport.info/year-2001/week-19/8-libyan-government-supports-anglican-church-tripoli The Libyan government supports the Anglican church in Tripoli,] Munir Hanna Anis Armanius, Religious News Service from the Arab World, May 16, 2001. </ref><br />
=== Italian Friendship treaty ===<br />
"We signed a friendship treaty with Libya, that includes a non-aggression clause, but when the counterpart '''no longer exists''' — in this case the Libyan state — the treaty cannot be applied”, said [[Italy]]’s foreign minister, Franco Frattini on February 26, 2011, ten days after the uprising began. <br />
{{Cquote|Italy’s treaty with Libya, signed by Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] in August 2008, calls on Italy to pay Libya $5 billion over 20 years in reparations for its colonial past there. In return, Libya pledged to help block the flow of illegal immigrants to Italy and grant favorable treatment for Italian companies seeking to do business in Libya. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/europe/28military.html]</ref>}}<br />
==French aid to rebels==<br />
A report from Congressman [[Dennis Kucinich]] corroborated the claim of Franco Bechis<ref>''[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:RkUoFsgEwm8J:www.voltairenet.org/article169069.html+French+plans+to+topple+Gaddafi+on+track+since+last+November&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com French plans to topple Gaddafi on track since last November]'', by Franco Bechis, VoltaireNet, March 26, 2011.</ref> in Italy that "plans to spark the Benghazi rebellion were initiated by French intelligence services in November 2010."<ref>http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24347</ref> <br />
<br />
On March 10, 2011, France became the first and only country to recognize the Libyan Transitional National Council “as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.”<ref> “Sarkozy’s Libyan Surprise,” ''The Economist'', March 14, 2011.</ref> "France recognizes states, not parties", said a senior official on March 9th. After a meeting arranged by [[Bernard Henri Levy|Bernard-Henri Lévy]] the next morning, on March 10th, two representatives of the Libyan opposition emerged from President Sarkozys office at the Elysée Palace to announce that "France recognizes the Libyan Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people". <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/africa/02levy.html?_r=2</ref><ref>http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/03/france_and_libya</ref><br />
<br />
On March 19, two days after passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1973,<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=278685</ref> French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] convened an emergency meeting of allied and Arab leaders in [[Paris]] which endorsed the immediate deployment of military aircraft to attack Gaddafi forces defending Benghazi and establish a no-fly zone. Before the end of the meeting, French fighter planes were attacking armored vehicles and tanks outside Benghazi. Some participants at the Paris meeting were critical of the French government, both for insisting on convening the meeting before agreeing to endorse air strikes, and then for launching air strikes before the meeting was over.<ref>Allies Open Air Assault on Qaddafi’s Forces in Libya, ''New York Times'', March 19, 2011.</ref> French officials claim that meeting participants were informed of the operation beforehand. The strikes had clearly been planned and coordinated with the [[United States]] and some other NATO forces.<ref>Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya): Background and Issues for Congress, ''Congressional Research Service'', March 30, 2011, p. 19 pd.</ref><br />
<br />
[[National Public Radio]] (NPR) reported Sarkozy enjoyed a "burst of public support"<ref>http://wap.npr.org/story/134855539</ref> while the ''[[London Guardian]]'' wrote Sarkozy's actions may save him from "electoral humiliation."<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/20/libya-crisis-nicolas-sarkozy-electoral</ref> Several analysts speculate Sarkozy used the crisis to propel France into a Superpower role, usurping the global leadership of the United States abrogated by [[President Obama]].<ref>http://www.businessandpolitics.org/?p=4651</ref> Columnist Jim Hoagland of the ''[[Washington Post]]'' observes, <br />
{{Cquote|France is a country that has a past being involved in world affairs, wanting to count in world affairs, and being willing to pay its way for defense forces and to use those forces abroad. So, France plays a natural role in that. At a time when governments are slashing defense spending and reducing troops, France still wants to occupy an important role in world affairs....the reason you're seeing France taking on such a much larger role is that other countries, including the United States, are not willing to do it anymore. And Sarkozy is trying to fill that vacuum.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june11/france2_04-07.html</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Sarkozy's approval rating stood at 30% prior to the intervention.<br />
===Legality of French actions===<br />
On May 29 two French lawyers, Roland Dumas and Jacques Vergès, announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] for crimes against humanity over the [[NATO]] led campaign in [[Libya]]. Dumas (who also served as a foreign minister under President [[François Mitterrand]]) said that the NATO mission, which was meant to protect civilians, is in fact killing them.<ref>http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46395</ref> On July 4 a French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, called for investigation of the International Criminal Court on NATO "war crimes". [http://www.lemonde.fr/libye/article/2011/07/04/libye-un-avocat-demande-une-enquete-de-la-cpi-sur-les-crimes-de-guerre-de-l-otan_1544755_1496980.html]<br />
==Security Council Res. 1973 and NATO==<br />
UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 of March 17, 2011 followed on the heels of Gaddafi’s public announcement on March 2 he may throw western oil companies out of Libya, and his invitation on March 14 to Chinese, Russian, and Indian firms to produce Libyan oil in their place.<ref>''[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/7661/Business/Economy/Gaddafi-offers-Libyan-oil-production-to-India,-Rus.aspx Gaddafi offers Libyan oil production to India, Russia, China,] Agence France-Presse, March 14, 2011.</ref> China, Russia, India and Brazil all abstained on UNSC Resolution 1973.<br />
<br />
Despite France taking the lead role in the intervention, the Congressional Research Service reports, "Only the United States and NATO possess the command and control capabilities necessary for coalition operations enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya." France only recently rejoined the NATO alliance, in 2008, after a 40 year absence. The Congressional Research Service, which analyzes information and prepares reports for members of Congress, also states,<br />
{{Cquote|In spite of statements underscoring NATO unity on steps announced to date, the initial planning and operational phases were also marked by significant levels of discord within Europe and [[NATO]] on the aims and future direction of the mission. A key point of contention was reportedly the amount of flexibility that NATO forces would be granted to protect civilians and civilian areas, as called for in paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1973. Reports indicate that French officials insisted on maintaining the ability to strike ground forces that threatened civilian areas, while their [[Turkish]] counterparts vocally opposed any targeting of ground forces. Adding to the strain within NATO, NATO ally [[Germany]] abstained from UNSCR 1973 and, opposed to any potential [[combat]] operation, on March 23, withdrew its naval assets in the [[Mediterranean]] from NATO command. Throughout the first week of operations, other European allies contributing to the mission, including Italy and Norway, expressed increasing frustration with the lack of agreement within NATO, with Norway refusing to deploy its fighter jets unless under they were under NATO command and control.<ref>[http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc99034/ Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya):<br />
Background and Issues for Congress,] ''Congressional Research Service,'' March 30, 2011, p. 20 pdf.</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Of NATO's 28 members, 14 are said to be "actively participating," but only 6 provided military support. By June Norway announced its intention to quit the coalition<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/norway-quit-libya-operation-august</ref> and French and British leaders expressed concerns over being able to meet the costs of a war they dragged the United States into.<ref>http://hosted2.ap.org/COGRA/2e515285f07040df999bd6b670db791c/Article_2011-06-14-EU-NATO-Libya/id-f6d2287c00ba4816924c082ed9cc12fa</ref> Of the 22-country [[Arab League]], whose appeal prompted the United Nations to vote on intervention, only [[Qatar]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are involved. Of the 192 members of the [[UN General Assembly]], who all have a legal "responsibility to protect" civilians attacked by their own governments, only [[Sweden]] has responded.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref> After the authorization and commitment of NATO and U.S. forces, Secretary Gates announced,<br />
{{Cquote|The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country, yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S., once more, to make up the difference.}}<br />
and warned<br />
{{Cquote|The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress—and in the American body politic writ large—to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense.<ref>http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/06/10/robert_gates_nato_defense_secretary_questions_future_of_the_alli.html</ref>}}<br />
===Exceeding UN mandate===<br />
Resolution 1973 authorized strict limitations, according to international law, on NATO as the organization with responsibility for the implementation of the resolution. Particularly, it provides only for a naval blockade enforcing the arms embargo, and enforcement of a no-fly zone. On March 29, 2011, Russian envoy Dmitry Rogozin commented after a meeting with NATO officials in [[Brussels, Belgium]], that Russia expressed deep concern over the interpretation of the Security Council’s resolution, as some countries have effectively turned it into an approval for ground operations.<br />
{{Cquote|[[Moscow]] has many questions about how the UN Security Council’s resolution is being carried out...First of all, there are reports that civilians have been killed in the air strikes. This is odd if you consider the message of the resolution, which says that the foreign forces’ actions should protect civilians. So it’s hard to comprehend how you can protect civilians by killing them....we demanded that the UN Security Council be fully informed about the actions of the alliance in Libya at all times... We have reports of air strikes against convoys far from the front line. This is a far cry from the UN Security Council resolution.<ref>http://rt.com/news/coalition-libya-nato-russian-envoy/</ref>}}<br />
NATO planes and ships have been striking cities and military installations in Libya since mid-March, 2011. Allied military officials have spoken in recent weeks of the need for escalation to help protect Libyan civilians and have called for Gaddafi to step down. Libyan officials have said that NATO is picking sides in a civil war and complained that strikes on Gaddafi’s Tripoli compound are attempts to assassinate the leader of a sovereign country. NATO launched its largest airstrike against Moammar Gaddafi’s regime on May, 24, 2011, with at least 15 massive explosions rocking the Libyan capital. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/french-officials-france-and-britain-to-use-attack-helicopters-in-libya/2011/05/23/AFTF909G_story.html?hpid=z2]<br />
<blockquote><br />
On May 15, two months into the NATO bombing campaign against loyal Gaddafi’s forces, Britain’s top military commander said that the Libyan leader could remain “clinging to power” unless NATO broadened its bombing targets to include the country’s infrastructure. <ref>http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
The French and the British described plans for a wargames exercise for an attack on Libya last November, in the end they used those military assets that had been mobilized for the real thing 3 months ago. We know that NATO doesn’t just go and bomb a country over night, these things are planned far in advance, and in this case there is conclusive evidence that there have been plans for this for many many years. <ref> [https://lizziesliberation.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/letter-from-libya-to-a-close-friend/ Letter from Libya to a close friend] June 4, 2011. </ref><br />
<br />
On Jun 18, Prime minister of Libya Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi accused [[NATO]] of a "new level of aggression" over the past 72 hours in which he said the military alliance intentionally targeted civilian buildings, including a hotel and a university. "It has become clear to us that NATO has moved on to deliberately hitting civilian buildings. ... This is a crime against humanity," he told reporters in the capital. Libya's Health Ministry released new casualty figures that put the number of civilians killed in NATO air strikes through to June 7 at 856. <ref> [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/gaddafi-rages-at-nato-after-bombing-2299509.html Gaddafi rages at NATO after bombing.] </ref><br />
[[File:Women with Gaddafi Libya.jpg|thumb|280px|Lizzie Cocker with mum and two daughters from Sudan who have been living in Libya for 17 years. They had to flee from Misrata to Tripoli following atrocities committed by the rebels against black skinned peoples. They are firmly standing behind their leader Moammar Gadaffi. The sisters have written on the poster, on the left: "King of Kings of Africa" and on the right: "Our souls are for you".]]<br />
=== Italy - Berlusconi ===<br />
[[Italy]] called for a suspension of hostilities in [[Libya]] on June 22 in the latest sign of dissent within [[NATO]] as the civilian death toll mounts and [[Muammar Gaddafi]] shows no signs of quitting power. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110622/ts_afp/libyaconflictnatoitalydiplomacy]<br />
===African response to outside intervention===<br />
NATO's Libyan intervention has proven fractious in black Africa; in March [[Nigeria]]'s Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia commented, "The contradictions between principle and national interest ... have enabled the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Libya ostensibly to protect innocent civilians from slaughter, but to watch seemingly helplessly (in [[Ivory Coast]]) as ...men, women and children are slaughtered in equally, even if less egregious, violence."<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8300-503543_162-503543.html?keyword=ivory+coast</ref><br />
<br />
Amr Moussa, the outgoing head of the Arab League and a front runner to become president of a democratic Egypt, has voiced reservations about NATO's bombing campaign in Libya, calling for a ceasefire and talks on a political settlement while Muammar Gaddafi remains in power. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/21/arab-league-chief-libya-air-strikes]<br />
<br />
The Arab League, which in March asked the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians, condemned the loss of life in bombing incidents.<br />
<br />
"When the Arab League agreed on the idea of having a no-fly zone over Libya it was to protect civilians but when civilians get killed this has to be condemned with the harshest of statements," said Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed Ben Helli.<br />
<br />
The Libyan leader says the Western-led military campaign is an act of colonial aggression designed to steal Libya's oil. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110620/wl_nm/us_libya]<br />
==United States intervention==<br />
[[File:Treaty of Tripoli PD LC.jpg|thumb|Treaty of Tripoli, Libya was one of the first nations to recognize the US in 1796.]]<br />
===Frozen assets===<br />
President Obama moved swiftly to support French plans to frustrate Gaddafi’s proposal for an African Union with his unilateral declaration of a national emergency in order to freeze all of the Bank of Libya’s $30 billion of funds to which America had access. This was reported in the U.S. press as a freeze of the funds of "Colonel Qaddafi, his children and family, and senior members of the Libyan government.<ref>''New York Times'', February 27, 2011.</ref> The second section of Obama’s decree explicitly targeted "All property and interests… of the Government of Libya, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central Bank of Libya.<ref>Executive Order of February 25, 2011, citing International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, seizes all Libyan Govt assets, February 25, 2011, link. The authority granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "may only be exercised to deal with an unusual and extraordinary threat with respect to which a national emergency has been declared for purposes of this chapter and may not be exercised for any other purpose" (50 U.S.C. 1701).</ref> The consequences of the $30-billion freeze for [[Africa]], as well as for Libya, have been spelled out by an African observer:<br />
{{Cquote|The US$30 billion frozen by Mr Obama belong to the Libyan Central Bank and had been earmarked as the Libyan contribution to three key projects which would add the finishing touches to the African federation – the African Investment Bank in Syrte, Libya, the establishment in 2011 of the African Monetary Fund to be based in Yaounde with a US$42 billion capital fund and the Abuja-based African Central Bank in Nigeria which when it starts printing African money will ring the death knell for the CFA franc through which Paris has been able to maintain its hold on some African countries for the last fifty years. It is easy to understand the French wrath against Gaddafi.}}<br />
===War Powers Act===<br />
Under the [[War Powers Act]] of 1973 the U.S President has limited authority to use military force without Congressional authorization when there is an imminent [[national security]] threat, however President Obama made clear that he ordered the use of force for other reasons. Members of Congress of both parties have expressed concern the President may have violated the law in doing so.<ref>http://rooney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3190:rooney-resolution-president-should-obtain-congressional-authorization-or-end-military-campaign-in-libya-&catid=48:2011-press-releases</ref> The War Powers Act specifically states that the President’s power to introduce forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities can only be exercised pursuant to (1) a declaration of war; (2) specific statutory authorization; or (3) a national emergency created by an attack on the United States or its forces. The War Powers Act requires the President in every possible instance to consult with Congress before introducing American Armed Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities unless there has been a declaration of war or other specific Congressional authorization. None of these prerequisites have been met.<br />
<br />
On March 21, 2011, President Obama publicly announced U.S. military forces commenced no fly-zone operations in Libya two days earlier, on March 19, "to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" and cited UN Resolutions as giving him the authority to do so. Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] warned establishment of a no-fly zone meant attacking Libaya.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> Officials as National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough also opposed to attacking Libya; but "[[Hillary Clinton]] won the bureaucratic battle to use DOD resources to achieve what's essentially the State Department's objective... and Obama let it happen". <ref>[http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war How Obama turned on a dime toward war.] </ref> The Charter of the [[United Nations]], in Article 2(4), prohibits the “threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence” of a member state, and many observers have wondered whether the establishment of a no-fly zone would constitute a violation of this prohibition. The Congressional Research Services advised that a no-fly zone imposed against a state that has not carried out an attack on its neighbors may consider the imposition of a no-fly zone an “armed attack.” CRS warned that even if no-fly zone operations in a given state do not constitute an “armed attack",<br />
{{Cquote|that state, and other members of the international community, might consider them a violation of the prohibition of the “threat or use of force,” as well as of the customary duty of non-intervention in the affairs of other sovereign states.}}<br />
<br />
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama publicly admitted to intervention that U.S. intelligence knew of [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements among the Libyan insurgents.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html</ref> <br />
<br />
===Organizing the Libyan Islamic Fighters Group===<br />
A document published by the U.S. [[West Point]] Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center reveals that jihadi rebels, unhappy with the Gaddafi regime, exited Libya to join the [[Operation_Iraqi_Freedom#Insurgency|Islamic insurgency]] in Iraq in numbers greater than any other country. The captured Sinjar documents<ref>[http://www.ctc.usma.edu/harmony/pdf/CTCForeignFighter.19.Dec07.pdf A First Look at the Sinjar Documents]</ref> include background information on foreign jihadists who migrated to Iraq to kill American soldiers,<ref> The Sinjar Documents are a collection of al Qaeda computer data captured by Americans in 2007 in a predawn raid near Sinjar, Iraq, six miles from the Syrian border.</ref> many of those jihadi rebels coming from among the very people Obama pledged to protect in the name of "humanitarianism". David Wood wrote: "Almost one in five foreign fighters arriving in Iraq came from eastern Libya, from the towns of Surt, Misurata and Darnah. On a per capita basis, that’s more than twice as many than came from any other Arabic-speaking country, amounting to what the counter terrorism center called a Libyan 'surge' of young men eager to kill Americans." The report notes 82% of Libyan jihadi rebels volunteered as suicide bombers, well above the 56% of all foreign insurgents in Iraq.<br />
<br />
The report reminded that Benghazi has long been associated with Islamic militancy in Libya, in particular for an uprising by Islamist organizations in the mid‐1990s. One group—the Libyan Fighting Group (''jamaʹah al‐libiyah al‐muqatilah'')—claimed to have [[War on Terror|Afghan]] veterans in its ranks. The Libyan uprisings became extraordinarily violent. The West Point study noted Gaddafi had taken measures to mitigate the threat from rebel jihadi groups, and amnestied some Muslim Brotherhood activists in the hope that they would moderate the views of more violent Islamist activists.<br />
<br />
The Combating Terrorism Center document concludes,<br />
{{Cquote|The [[Syria]]n [ [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] regime] and Libyan [Gaddafi] governments share the United States’ concerns about violent salafi‐jihadi ideology and the violence perpetrated by its adherents. These governments [Syria, Gaddafi, and the US] like others in the Middle East, fear violence inside their borders and would much rather radical elements go to Iraq rather than cause unrest at home. U.S. and Coalition efforts to stem the flow of fighters into Iraq will be enhanced if they address the entire logistical chain that supports the movement of these individuals—beginning in their home countries – rather than just their Syrian entry points.}}<br />
<br />
This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp</ref> Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for what came to be known as [[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]] which included elements of al Qaeda.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref> Direct arms support would violate the arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1970 on February 26, 2011.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref><br />
<br />
Public opinion initially was divided on support for President Obama's actions, within 30 days however, opposition rose 15%<ref>http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/americans-rapidly-turn-against-obama-over-handling-of-libyan-intervention.php</ref> as the reality of the intervention set in.<br />
<br />
====Ambassador Stevens dispatched to give aid====<br />
On Friday March 8, 2011, President Obama told reporters he would appoint an official to maintain contact with the Libyan opposition. The number two official at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, [[Christopher Stevens]]<ref>[http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/us-names-chris-stevens-liaison-to-libyan-opposition.html US Names Chris Stevens Liaison to Libyan Opposition,] ABC News Radio, March 14, 2011. </ref> was tasked with helping to coordinate Obama's assistance to the rebels, whose top military commander, Abdelhakim Belhadj, was the leader of the Al Qaeda affiliate, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).<ref>[http://counterjihadreport.com/tag/libyan-islamic-fighting-group/ ‘White Out’ on Benghazi: State Dept. Issues Report,] Clare Lopez, December 23, 2012. http://counterjihadreport.com </ref> Hillary Clinton attended a meeting in Paris with Stevens and representatives of the Libyan opposition, as did U.S. Ambassador Gene Cretz, who has also had contacts with the opposition. Clinton discussed what the Obama administration would do to help the jihadis and that they would do more than just provide humanitarian aid.<br />
<br />
===Questions on the legality of U.S. actions===<br />
The ''[[Washington Post]]'' reported on May 20, 2011 President Obama missed the legal deadline set in the 1973 law that required him to obtain Congressional approval for U.S. military operations in Libya. Under the [[Nixon]]-era War Powers Resolution, the president must obtain Congressional authorization of military action within 60 days, or else begin withdrawing forces.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-likely-to-miss-deadline-for-congressional-approval-of-libya-operations/2011/05/19/AFFLKn7G_story.html</ref> Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations warned President Obama, <br />
[[File:NATO strike Libya.jpg|right|220px|NATO strike, Libya.]]<br />
{{Cquote|U.S. military operations in Libya have assumed a different character than you suggested when you announced the decision to initiate them. In your March 21 letter to the Congress, you indicated that these operations would be limited in their nature, duration, and scope, and focused on protecting civilians and civilian populated areas from attack. Two months into these operations, your Administration is unable to specify what limits will apply to the duration of the operations, and the coalition in which we are participating appears to have expanded its objectives to weakening the Gaddafi regime’s hold on power through strikes on leadership targets and, potentially, infrastructure targets.<ref>http://lugar.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=332967&</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-obama-above-the-law/2011/05/26/AGL5zyCH_story.html</ref>}}<br />
<br />
The evidence is President Obama’s war in Libya is illegal and unconstitutional. Columnist George Will laid out the case in, “Is Obama Above the Law?” The war is a violation of the War Powers Act, which says the president can go to war without Congressional approval only if there is an imminent threat to the U.S. and there is a 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of forces. [http://www.conservativetruth.org/article.php?id=2467]<br />
<br />
The law states that “The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to<br />
<br />
(1) a declaration of war,<br />
<br />
(2) specific statutory authorization, or<br />
<br />
(3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States , its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”<br />
<br />
Since there was no declaration of war or statutory authorization for the Libya action, there has to be a national emergency created by an attack on the U.S. There was none in the Libya case.<ref>http://www.conservativetruth.org/article.php?id=2458 Conservative Truth.</ref> A [[bipartisan]] group of legislators have begun action against what they percieve to be President Obama's unconstitutional misuse of power.<ref>http://thehill.com/homenews/house/166577-kucinich-jones-sue-white-house-over-libya-war</ref><br />
<br />
According to Rep. [[Dennis Kucinich]]:<br />
* '''It is unconstitutional''', violating Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution which gives the power of declaring war to the Congress.<br />
* '''It is illegal''', as the War Powers Resolution was exploited out of context in order to declare war.<br />
* '''American public opinion is against it''', as 6 Americans out of 10 oppose the war.<br />
* It '''distracts''' the President from more immediate concerns, such as the dire state of the economy.<br />
* It '''costs''' funds that should be used for other purposes.<br />
* Although the war was declared by Britain and France, '''America is paying more than other NATO allies'''.<br />
* '''Civilians are being killed''' by the same powers that are supposed to protect them.<br />
* '''The U.N. Resolution that authorized limited military action did not allow for regime change'''<br />
* '''Public support of the war is eroding even in other allied countries.'''<br />
* '''The situation is a stalemate''' that ought to be solved by political, not military means.<br />
<br />
See more at: [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-dennis-kucinich/10-reasons-to-oppose-the_b_881554.html 10 Reasons to Oppose the War in Libya.]<br />
<br />
Kucinich's bill to oppose intervention in Libya was supported by 87 conservative House Republicans.<br />
<br />
Rep. [[Ron Paul]] said "Why did the US intervene in a civil war in a country that has neither attacked us nor poses a threat? We are told this was another humanitarian intervention, like Clinton’s 1999 war against [[Serbia]]. But as civilian victims of the US-led coalition bombing continue to add up, it is getting difficult to determine whether the problem we are creating on the ground is worse than the one we were trying to solve." [http://www.ronpaul.com/2011-03-28/ron-paul-end-the-libyan-war/]<br />
<br />
"Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s Bin Laden unit, explained in a recent article that there is plausible reason to believe the rebels are current or former Islamist mujahedin, eager to engage in jihad. Indeed, Gaddafi has fought against Libyan Islamists for years and is seen by them as a bitter enemy. Astoundingly, it may well be that we are assisting al Qaeda in this new war! [[Ibidem]]"<br />
<br />
==Role of China==<br />
In the first decade of the Twenty-first century China quietly has overtaken the United States to become Africa's largest trading partner, particularly in oil, which accounts for 73 percent of all African exports. According to the Chinese government's first white paper on its economic and trade cooperation with Africa, China's trade with Africa has soared to $114.81 billion in the first 11 months of 2010. China uses about 8 million barrels per day (bpd), a demand that is projected to rise to 11.3 million bpd by 2015 and now receives 28 percent of its oil imports from Africa. China's top oil suppliers are [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Iran]], [[Angola]], Russia, [[Oman]] and [[Sudan]]. Saudi Arabia is China's top oil supplier (1.1 million bpd.) China is also buying oil from [[Chad]], [[Gabon]] and [[Nigeria]] as well. China's top African oil suppliers are [[Angola]], [[Sudan]] and [[Nigeria]]. The [[International Monetary Fund]] reports, oil now accounts for 99 percent of Sudanese exports, with China absorbing for 65 percent of them. Energy is Angola's sole export hard currency earner, with China now accounting for 35 percent of Angolan exports.<ref>http://mammutcapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/upcoming-us-china-struggle-for-african.html</ref><br />
===Competition for resources===<br />
After hostilities began China evacuated over 36,000 of its energy and construction workers and shut down operations of Chinese companies with over $18.8 billion of Chinese investments in Libya.<ref>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1119924/1/.html</ref> China alone is expected to invest on a scale of $50 billion a year in Libya and Africa by 2015, a figure - funded by America’s [[trade deficit]] with China - which the Western powers and NATO cannot match.<ref>Leslie Hook, ''China’s future in Africa, after Libya,'' March 4, 2011. The U.S trade deficit with China in 2010 was $273 billion.</ref> China, Libya's largest Asian oil customer, called for an immediate ceasefire.<br />
<br />
Dr. [[Paul Craig Roberts]], former Assistant Secretary of US Treasury in the [[Reagan administration]] observed the joint French, British, and US coalition's objective is<br />
{{Cquote|to eliminate China from the [[Mediterranean]]. China has extensive energy investments and construction investments in Libya. They are looking to Africa as a future energy source. The US is countering this by organizing the United States African Command (USAC), which Qaddafi refused to join. So that's the second reason for the Americans to want Qaddafi out.}}<br />
Roberts observes <br />
{{Cquote| the protests in Libya are different from the ones in Egypt or [[Yemen]] or [[Bahrain]] or [[Tunisia]] and the difference is that this is an armed rebellion...these protests originated in the eastern part of Libya where the oil is - they did not originate in the capital city. And we have heard from the beginning credible reports that the CIA is involved in the protests, and there have been a large number of press reports that the CIA has sent back to Libya its Libyan asset<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/26/111109/new-rebel-leader-spent-much-of.html</ref> to head up the Libyan rebellion... China has 50 major investment projects in eastern Libya.<ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175076.html</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Whatever Washington’s ulterior motives, there is no doubt that NATO’s military operations in Libya are harming China’s fiscal interests. According to information from China’s Ministry of Trade, by March, when the military operation began, there were 75 major Chinese companies operating in Libya, and they had concluded $18 billion in contracts. Because of the NATO operations in Libya, the Chinese companies are expecting gigantic losses. <ref> [http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ Washington Using NATO For Proxy Conflict With China In Libya.] </ref><br />
== Formation of the National Transitional Council ==<br />
The National Transitional Council of the Libyan Republic announced its official establishment in early March 2011 in the city of Benghazi. The stated goal was to the overthrow of Mu’ammar Gaddafi.<ref>http://ntclibya.org/english/</ref> It has been recognized by France, [[Qatar]], Italy, [[Kuwait]], [[Maldives]] and [[Gambia]]. They have proceeded to form a transitional government for the post-Gaddafi era. Before forming a government, they robbed about $505 million from the Central Bank of Libya in Benghazi.<br />
[[File:Libya Rebels Gaining Momentum.jpg|thumb|Anti-Gaddafi tribal insurgents in March, 2011 (Photo:Reuters).]]<br />
{{Cquote|The top leaders of the “revolutionary” masses in Benghazi are two recent defectors of what the Left dubs Gaddafi’s “murderous regime”, Mustafa Abdul Jalil a former Justice minister (who prosecuted dissenters up to the day before the armed uprising), Mahmoud Jebril a top Gaddafite neo-liberal prominent in inviting multi-nationals to take over the oil fields (FT, March 23, 2011, p. 7) and Ali Aziz al-Eisawa, Gaddafi’s former ambassador to India who jumped ship when it looked like the uprising would succeed. These self-appointed leaders of the “rebels” are staunch backers of Euro-US military intervention just as they previously were long-term backers of Gaddafi’s dictatorship and promoters of MNC takeovers of oil and gas fields. The heads of the “rebels” military council is Omar Hariri and General Abdul Fattah Younis former head of the Ministry of Interior, both with long histories (since 1969) of repressing any democratic movements.<ref>http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/euro-us-war-on-libya-official-lies-and-misconceptions-of-critics/</ref>}}<br />
===Jihadi Death Squads===<br />
Insurgent jihadis created a wanted list and placed suspects under round-the-clock surveillance. Secret militia units raid houses without court warrants and often interrogate suspects for hours. Those released have to sign a document stating their loyalty to the revolution. As many as 30 civilians are being held at various jihadi rebel military bases around Benghazi without due process of law, said human rights activists, judges and prosecutors. In recent weeks, at least seven former members of the internal security police have turned up dead, their bodies riddled with bullets. Although it is not known who killed them, many suspect that they died at the hands of jihadi rebel-affiliated death squads. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/libyan-rebels-accused-of-reprisal-attacks/2011/05/20/AFaeAh8G_story.html?hpid=z4]<br />
<br />
On May, 26, the deputy leader of Libya's rebel administration said it could take up to two years to organize elections, backtracking on promises of a six-month transition to democracy. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110526/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_libya]<br />
<br />
Libyan rebels have also been reported to have committed violence against African migrant workers.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/rebels-settle-scores-in-libyan-capital-2344671.html</ref><ref>http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/08/31/robertson.libya.african.jails.cnn?&hpt=hp_c2</ref> Similar reports have also emerged of violence against black Libyan.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/17/us-libya-displaced-idUSTRE79G2CY20111017</ref><br />
===Misuse of outside humanitarian assistance===<br />
In May, 2011, NATO and Arab countries agreed in Rome to set up a fund to manage donations to help areas controlled by the jihadi rebels; they announced a financial mechanism to assist the opposition in Libya. This would include a partial unfreezing of Libyan assets in banks that would go into a temporary fund managed by the U.N. Sanctions Committee. And it would be intended to help the jihadi rebels with their immediate needs to cover food, medicine and hospital costs;<ref>http://www.npr.org/2011/05/05/136011941/diplomats-discuss-aid-to-libyan-rebels</ref> The insurgents would gain access to a special $3 billion (£1.8 billion) trust fund established by its Western backers to finance the breakaway regions fighting against Gaddafi on the outskirts of Benghazi. Modern urbanization and equipments may be clearly seen there.<br />
[[File:Tripoli NATO bombing Libya.jpg|thumb|280px|Tripoli, NATO bombing.]]<br />
==Outside intervention escalates the conflict==<br />
UN Security Council Resolution 1973, passed in March 2011, does not authorise participating members to support the anti-Gaddafi tribes, to defend armed groups, or to oust Gaddafi. Nor does it authorise a ground invasion or military occupation. Strategic analyst Anthony Cordesman notes the similarities between Libya and Iraq and the loose uncoordinated coalitions "failure to plan for the decisive and lasting use of force, failure to plan for the civil side of military operations and to support stability operations, and focus on short term goals without a realistic plan for a successful strategic and post-conflict outcome." Cordesman notes,<br />
{{Cquote|the lives and futures of some 6.6 million Libyans are at stake. The Franco-Anglo-American gamble now seems far too likely to fail at their expense. Moreover, it seems likely to drag the other nations that support the operation into their failure -- along with part of the reputation of NATO and credibility of the UN.... gambling on Qaddafi caving in has created a far more serious humanitarian crisis for the Libyan people than would ever have occurred if the Coalition had acted decisively from the start ...The humanitarian cost of humanitarian restraint is all too clear: Hundreds of Libyan and foreign workers have been killed...hundreds of thousands lack jobs, security, and safe conditions of life....an enduring war of attrition will turn a minor humanitarian crisis into a major one ...This kind of operation cannot be “surgical’ – if “surgical” now means minimizing bloodshed regardless of whether the patient dies. Hard, and sometimes brutal, choices need to be made between limited civilian casualties and collateral damage during the decisive use of force and an open-ended war of attrition that will produce far higher cumulative civilian casualties and collateral damage.<ref>http://csis.org/publication/libya-will-farce-stay-us-and-france-and-britain</ref>}}<br />
Cordesman notes mission creep and boots on the ground ultimately lead to [[nation building]]:<br />
{{Cquote|France, Britain, and the US now have a special obligation to both finish what they started in military terms, and deal with the aftermath. A post-conflict Libya will need extensive help in building a workable political system, in rebuilding the capability to govern, in both rebuilding the existing economy and correcting for decades of Qaddafi’s reckless and constantly shifting eccentricities.}}<br />
On April 19, 2011, one month after Sarkozy, Cameron, and Obama asked the UN Security Council for authorization for a limited use of force, the UK ''[[Guardian (UK)|Guardian]]'' reported,<br />
{{Cquote|Britain is now publicly doing what it expressly said it would not do when the no-fly intervention began: putting boots on the ground in Libya. France is taking similar action. Given that the rebel tribes have convincingly demonstrated their inability to win on their own, given the sizable negatives for David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy of an open-ended, inconclusive conflict, and given Barack Obama's flat refusal to do any more, the question now is: how many more British and French boots will follow, sooner or later, in the advisers' fateful footsteps?....By encouraging and assisting rebel resistance, as [[George H. W. Bush|George Bush Snr]] did with the [[Shia]]s of southern [[Iraq]] in 1991, Britain and France risk worsening the plight of the Libyan civilians they are primarily pledged to defend. The UN and concerned aid agencies all agree the humanitarian situation is growing steadily worse, the longer the conflict continues. ..<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, in particular, has been scathing about Western intervention in Libya, comparing the Resolution 1973 to “a medieval call to the crusades” and saying “the so-called civilized community, with all its might, pounces on a small country, and ruins infrastructure that has been built over generations.” Mr. Putin returned to the subject of Libya repeatedly, despite acknowledging that foreign policy decisions were not within his portfolio as prime minister. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/world/europe/28russia.html?hp]<br />
<br />
By August the ''New York Times'' reported [[Christian]] churches were openly praying to protect Gaddafi as NATO bombs fell.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/world/africa/07tripoli.html?_r=0 In Libya's Capital, Straight Talk From Christians,] By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, ''The New York Times'', August 6, 2011. </ref><br />
===Manufacturing Consent===<br />
"On how the western media makes the case for war. Our consent has been manufactured by the criminalization of Gaddafi and his government, and the Libyan people cannot believe it when I tell them what is said about him in the west. And if only you could see how they live, they are far more free than us in England in many ways, this does not fit in with the oppressive image of Gaddafi portrayed in the west.<br />
<br />
So for example, I have had Libyans coming up to me asking me about a report in the popular French newspaper Le Figaro that came out about 3 days ago saying 10,000 people have been killed in Tripoli over the past 3 months by government forces. They are astonished, because this is complete and utter lies. " [https://lizziesliberation.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/letter-from-libya-to-a-close-friend/ Letter from Libya to a close friend.]<br />
=== Gaddafi's murder and aftermath ===<br />
Libyan rebel fighting groups with support from NATO airstrikes, overtook the capital of Tripoli and toppled the government of Libya causing Gaddafi to flee into hiding. This victory finally peaked the interests of the liberal media, who remained silent, even as the President violated the War Powers Act. <br />
<br />
October 2011, the last enclave of government/tribal resistance fell in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte. Ghaddafi was captured and brutally and sadistically murdered.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPzeLLL9V-c Leading from behind - a critique of Obama foreign policy]</ref> The jihadis were immediately recognized by the U.S. and the U.N. as the legitimate government. It remains to be seen how much of the billions of dollars held in foreign banks by the former regime will be released to the new government. It will be a year or longer before Libya can resume exporting oil at its pre-war capacity. <br />
<br />
The situation in a post-Gaddafi Libya is uncertain. Fears that the nation will be end up an Islamic state were proven true when Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, announced in late October that [[Sharia]] will be the source for all legislation in Libya and that all laws conflicting with Sharia are null and void.<ref name="Sharia">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8861608/Libya-Al-Qaeda-flag-flown-above-Benghazi-courthouse.html Libya: Al Qaeda flag flown above Benghazi courthouse - Daily Telegraph]</ref> Abdel Rahim al-Kib, the country's interim prime minister, echoed Jalil's words a couple of days later.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail/207953.html New Libyan PM backs Islamic sharia law]</ref> Around the same time these statements were made an Al Qaeda flag was flown above the Benghazi courthouse, and reports were surfacing that the Libyan jihadis imposed Sharia law in some parts of the country even earlier.<ref name="Sharia" /> <br />
<br />
U.S. intelligence says as many as 20,000 advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles are missing and could end up in terror groups' arsenals. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2011/09/27/u-s-intelligence-now-says-up-to-20000-advanced-surface-to-air-missiles-mussing-from-libya/ U.S. Intelligence Now Says Up To 20,000 Advanced Surface-To-Air Missiles Missing From Lib, Weasel Zippers, September 27, 2011]</ref> Already some of those missiles reached the hands of [[Hamas]] in the Gaza Strip.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/hamas-boosting-anti-aircraft-arsenal-with-looted-libyan-missiles-1.392186 Hamas boosting anti-aircraft arsenal with looted Libyan missiles - Haaretz]</ref> [[Al Qaeda]] is very active in the region and the conflict. No one is sure how to rid the country of this terrorist element.<br />
<br />
===Ambassador Stevens murdered===<br />
:{{main|Benghazi Attack}}<br />
A March 29, 2011 article in the ''Washington Post'' included these paragraphs:<br />
{{Cquote|"It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html</ref>}}<br />
With several U.S.embassies besieged on the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] declared authorities had no reason to believe the attack on the sovereign territory of the United States consulate in Benghazi less than two months before the [[2012 Presidential election]], was a terrorist attack. Ambassador [[Christopher Stevens]] was brutally and hideously murdered,<ref>[http://www.aina.org/news/20120913165253.htm Ambassador Stevens Was Raped Before His Murder, Reports Claim,] Assyrian International News Agency, 9-13-2012.</ref> as were several other Americans. Stevens was appointed by Obama as the chief liaison to give money and aid for Stevens own killers.<br />
{{Cquote|The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive,}}<br />
became the official White House line. President Obama went on the ''Comedy Channel'' to say the deaths of Americans was "not optimal".<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/18/Obama-Benghazi-murders-not-optimal Interview with Jon Stweart of the ''Daily Show''].</ref> When pressed by reporters, who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was a terrorist attack, Press Secretary Carney argued “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”<br />
<br />
On September 16, 2012 Ambassador Susan Rice showed up on all five major Sunday morning talk shows to push the administration's spin linking the Benghazi murders and a satirical video. Rice told longtime Democratic partisan [[George Stephanopoulos]] of ABC’s ''This Week,'' the attack was “a spontaneous – not a premeditated – response to what had transpired in Cairo” – referring to a demonstration in which a mob breached the embassy compound wall and tore down an American flag. Rice repeated the false claims throughout her morning talk-show appearances on all networks.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/18/171933/obama-administration-officials.html</ref><br />
<br />
Around a week after the attack Obama finally ordered an investigation. The leading suspected jihadis in the murders and terrorist attack were the local Benghazi branch of Ansar al-Shariah, known to have ties to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).<ref>http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/10/19/when-an-obama-adviser-called-benghazi-an-al-qaeda-hotbed/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway</ref> A commander of the terrorist group boasted jovially over drinks with reporters for the ''[[New York Times]]'' in Benghazi<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/election-year-stakes-overshadow-nuances-of-benghazi-investigation.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world</ref> as President Obama's investigators failed to interview him.<ref>http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/frappe-libya-attack/</ref><br />
<br />
===Barack Hussein Obama's "Mission Accomplished"===<br />
Obama launched the war in Libya giving the reason for the need to avoid a "humanitarian" catastrophe. Not that Gaddafi's gone, lawlessness, brutality, and [[religious]] [[intolerance]] has increased. "Thousands of people, including women and [[children]], are being illegally detained by rebel [[militia]]s in Libya," and "up to 7,000 new "enemies of the state", "disappeared" in a dysfunctional system, without recourse to [[law]]. [http://spectator.org/blog/2011/11/24/about-barack-obamas-grand-adve] A church bombing by the end of 2012 left two dead,<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/us-libya-bomb-church-idUSBRE8BT09S20121230 Attack on Libyan church building kills two,] ''Reuthers,'' Dec 30, 2012.</ref> and in February 2013 four foreign nationals were arrested for distributing Bible pamphlets. They may face the death penalty. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries Libya arrests foreign 'missionaries' Four foreign nationals accused of distributing Christian literature, a charge that could carry the death penalty], Chris Stephen guardian.co.uk, Sunday 17 February 2013.</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
We all thought [[Libya]] had moved on – it has, but into lawlessness and ruin. Libya has plunged unnoticed into its worst political and economic crisis since the defeat of [[Gaddafi]]. (Thanks to Obama and Hillary). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/special-report-we-all-thought-libya-had-moved-on--it-has-but-into-lawlessness-and-ruin-8797041.html] <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
===Al Qaeda in the Maghreb===<br />
:''Main article:'' [[Al Qaeda in the Maghreb]]<br />
Two more Americans were killed, along with 35 others, after being taken hostage by rebel jihadists in Mali shortly after the Libyan upheaval.<ref>[http://world.time.com/2013/01/21/algeria-37-foreigner-hostages-killed-in-attack/ Algeria: 37 Foreigner Hostages Killed in Attack], Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2013. ''TIME'' magazine.</ref><br />
<br />
Hillary Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the wake of the Benghazi murders that occurred under her stewardship, that weapons and fighters equipped by the Obama administration made their way into [[Mali]] and [[Algeria]]:<br />
{{cquote|There is no doubt that the Algerian terrorists had weapons from Libya. There is no doubt that the Malian remnants of AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] have weapons from Libya.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-says-militants-used-weapons-libya-algeria-attack-154222664.html Clinton says militants used weapons from Libya in Algeria attack,] Reuters, Jan 23, 2013.]</ref>}}<br />
<br />
President [[Vladimir Putin]] of Russia observed, "Upheaval in Libya, accompanied by the uncontrolled proliferation of arms, contributed to the deterioration of the situation in Mali. Terrorist attacks in Algeria that took away the lives of innocent people – including those from foreign countries – became the consequences of such tragic developments."<ref>[http://rt.com/news/putin-libya-mali-algeria-704/ Putin links Algeria attack, Mali unrest to Libyan upheaval], January 25, 2013. rt.com</ref><br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/in-arming-libyan-rebels-the-us-would-follow-an-old-dark-path/73019/ In Arming Libyan Rebels, the U.S. Would Follow an Old, Dark Path.]<br />
*[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels.] ''The Independent'', UK.<br />
*[http://www.sott.net/articles/show/225613-Operation-Libya-The-US-NATO-Attempted-Coup-d-Etat-in-Libya-and-the-Battle-for-Oil "Operation Libya": The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya and the Battle for Oil.]<br />
*[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2055251,00.html Why Libya's Uprising Is Bad for the World Economy.]<br />
*[http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions False pretense for war in Libya?]<br />
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-nato-civil-war-cameron These humanitarians come to Libya with missiles, and an agenda.] by [[Simon Jenkins]].<br />
*[http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=24188 The West's War Against Gaddafi. Yet another long-lasting, tragic crime against humanity.]<br />
*[http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obama%E2%80%99s-war-in-libya-is-illegal-and-unconstitutional/ Obama’s War in Libya is Illegal and Unconstitutional.] by Cliff Kincaid.<br />
*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/30/us-libya-school-idUSTRE73T24620110430 Libya disabled children school hit in NATO strike.] Reuters.<br />
*[http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2011/06/08/natos-alternate-universe-in-libya.html NATO's "Alternate Universe" in Libya.]<br />
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reese-schonfeld/are-the-lessons-of-kosovo_b_868281.html Are The Lessons of Kosovo Spreading to Libya?]<br />
*[http://www.lemonde.fr/libye/article/2011/06/22/le-patron-de-la-ligue-arabe-fait-part-de-scrupules-sur-la-libye_1539111_1496980.html#ens_id=1481986 The head of the Arab League expressed "qualms" about Libya.] In French.<br />
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx3UAWau9T8&%20NR=1 George Galloway talks about Libya war.] Youtube<br />
*[http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/11/the-snake-behind-the-arab-spring/ The Snake Behind the Arab Spring.]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Libya]]<br />
[[category:Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Administration]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]<br />
[[Category:Wars]]<br />
[[Category:Featured articles]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=NATO_war_in_Libya&diff=1066807NATO war in Libya2013-09-16T06:34:49Z<p>Regular: Added better link</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Military conflict<br />
| image =[[File:Bombing Tripoli Libya.jpg|thumb|Bombing Tripoli, Libya.]]<br />
| conflict =Libyan War<br />
| partof =[[Arab Spring]]<br />
| date =February 15, 2011-October 23, 2011<br />
| location =[[Libya]]<br />
| combatant1 =Libyan government<br />
| combatant2 =Libyan opposition (mercenaries)<br>include:<br>[[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]]<br>[[Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb]]<br>[[NATO]]<br />
| commander1 =[[Muammar al-Gaddafi]]<br />
| commander2 =[[Mustafa Abdul Jalil]]<br />
| strength1 =<br />
| strength2 =<br />
| casualties1 =<br />
| casualties2 =<br />
}}<br />
[[File:Gaddafi and Mandela 1.JPG|thumb|right|250px|[[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Nelson Mandela]] greets an old friend and ally, Muammar Gaddafi, who supported the [[ANC]] during their struggle against [[apartheid]]. ''[[Reuters]]'' reports President Obama secretly ordered support for [[al Qaeda]] terrorists seeking Gaddafi's ouster.<ref>www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html</ref>.]]<br />
The '''Libyan War''' started as the '''Benghazi rebellion''', a series of protests in extremist dominated eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011 after the toppling of secular regimes in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. The scale of violence contrasted markedly with the more peaceful and generally popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The [[Islamist]] terror group, the [[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]] with its elements of Ansar al-Shariah, the local branch of [[Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb]] (Al-Qaeda in North Africa), vowed to do everything in its power against the Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]].<ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/24/al-qaeda-in-n-africa-backs-libya-uprising-site.html Al Qaeda in N. Africa backs Libya uprising: SITE] </ref><ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates Libya uprising.] </ref> The same group later murdered the U.S. Ambassador and others and burnt down the U.S. Embassy.<br />
<br />
[[President Obama]] granted U.S. assistance to this same group.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/extremists-among-libya-rebels_n_837894.html Anti-American Extremists Among Libyan Rebels U.S. Has Vowed To Protect], David Wood, ''Huffington Post'', 3/19/11.</ref><br />
== Libya before the 2011 uprising ==<br />
[[File:Libya Irrigation project.jpg|thumb|330px|Satellite view is showing irrigated farming projects at Al Khufrah Oasis in south-east Libya. Part of the "Great Man Made River Project" ($33 billion), where water is drawn from vast underground aquifers. This water is transported about 800 km (500 mi) to the coastal cities of Libya by means of the world's largest underground network of pipes.]]<br />
In 1951 Libya was officially the poorest country in the world, <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864742,00.html]</ref> but by the time of the 2011 uprising, Libyans' living standards were considered the highest in Africa. The [[GDP]] per Capita was more than double that of Egypt, and above that of Russia. All people had access to doctors, hospitals, clinics and medicines, completely free of charge; but more than the advances in housing, agricultural, industry, health care, education, was the advance in direct popular democracy. <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8744/libfacts.htm]</ref> [[Condoleezza Rice]] praised Libya for its "excellent co-operation" in the US-led [[war on terror]]. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4773617.stm] (BBC News)</ref>.<br />
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The living standards of Libyans improved significantly since the 1970s, ranking the country among the highest in Africa. Urbanization, developmental projects, and high oil revenues enabled the Gaddafi regime to elevate the people's living standards. The social and economic status of women and children has particularly improved under the [[secular]] ruler. Various subsidized or free services (health, education, housing, and basic foodstuffs) ensured basic necessities. The low percentage of people without access to safe water (3 percent), health services (0 percent) and sanitation (2 percent), and a relatively high life expectancy (70.2 years) in 1998 indicated improved living standards. Adequate health care and subsidized foodstuffs sharply reduced infant mortality, from 105 per 1,000 live births in 1970 to 20 per 1,000 live births in 1998. The Gaddafi regime also subsidizes education, which was government supported, co-educational and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. The expansion of educational facilities elevated the literacy rate (78.1 in 1998). There now are universities in [[Tripoli]], Benghazi, Marsa el-Brega, Misurata, Sebha, and Tobruk. <ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Libya-POVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html] (SOURCE: Handbook of the Nations; CIA World Factbook.)</ref><br />
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[[Nobel Peace Prize]] recipient [[Nelson Mandela]] warned of the machinations of outside influences in a speech recognizing Gaddafi and his leadership in Africa:<br />
{{Cquote|In a world where the strong may seek to impose upon the more vulnerable; and where particular nations or groups of nations may still seek to decide the fate of the planet - in such a world respect for multilateralism, moderation of public discourse and a patient search for compromise become even more imperative to save the world from debilitating conflict and enduring inequality. When we dismissed criticism of our friendship with yourself, My Brother Leader, and of the relationship between [[South Africa]] and Libya, it was precisely in defence of those values.<ref>http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656?oid=222537&sn=Detail</ref>}}[[File:Benghazi shopping center Libya.JPG|thumb|Benghazi shopping center.]]<br />
By 2011 the Libyan people seemed to be thriving with Gaddafi as leader. A delegation of medical professionals from [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Belarus]] wrote in an appeal to "Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] and Prime Minister [[Putin]] that after becoming acquainted with Libyan life, it was their view that in few nations did people live in such comfort". Libya then was not a highly polarized society divided between extremes of wealth and poverty.<br />
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On February 24, 2011, no threat was seen to Libya’s Seat on top U.N. Human Rights Body. A European Union draft resolution “strongly condemned” human rights violations sparked by opponents to the government, rather than condemning Gaddafi or the regime for committing them. [http://www.cnsnews.com/public/news/article/no-threat-seen-libya-s-seat-top-un-human]<br />
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The "United Nations Development Program (UNDP) confirms that the country had excellent prospects for achieving United Nations development goals by 2015. NATO's war will have already dashed those hopes. A collapse like the one in Iraq now threatens the country. [http://www.newsfrommiddleeast.com/?new=77210]<br />
===Outside assistance to Islamist rebels===<br />
Journalist David Wood reported, <br />
{{Cquote|Eastern Libya has been described by U.S. diplomats as a breeding ground for Islamist [[extremism]]. In diplomatic cables released by [[Wikileaks]], the region’s young men were said to have "nothing to lose" by resorting to violence. Sermons in the local [[mosque]]s are "laced with phraseology urging worshippers to support [[jihad]]," one diplomat reported.<ref>http://91.214.23.156/cablegate/wire.php?id=08TRIPOLI120&search=</ref>}}<br />
Wood added,<br />
{{Cquote|extremist elements make up only a portion of the resistance to Gaddafi and have been present in every popular uprising in the region stretching from the [[Iran]]ian revolution to the [[Egypt]]ian people’s overthrow of [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/extremists-among-libya-rebels_n_837894.html</ref>}}[[File:View to Tripoli Libya.jpg|380px|thumb|right|Tripoli, 2009.]]<br />
Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi, the Libyan rebel leader, has said [[jihad]]ists who fought against American troops in [[Iraq]] served on the front lines. <ref> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links.] </ref> <ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/guantanamo-files-libyan-detainee-now-us-ally-of-sorts.html Libyan, Once a Detainee, Is Now a U.S. Ally of Sorts.]</ref><br />
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An international coalition intervened in what many described as an "illegal war"<ref>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/01/obamas_illegal_war</ref> led by the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), whose own leaders have openly questioned what the value, purpose, and reason for existence of NATO is. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/world/europe/14iht-letter14.html</ref><ref>http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/article_58ebd6cf-0558-5ee2-bd8d-cf27c1af7630.html</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/12/nato-usa</ref><br />
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It was reported on February 24, 2011, that an emergency meeting of the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] (UNHRC) on Libya would take no action, or make no recommendation to the [[UN General Assembly]], to remove Libya from its seat on the UN Human Rights Council, despite alleged [[human rights]] abuses.<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/no-threat-seen-libya-s-seat-top-un-human</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] (UNSC) then voted on March 17, 2011, to pass Security Council resolution 1973 proposed by [[France]], along with its British and Lebanese partners, initiating the use of military force in Libya. [[China]], [[Russia]], [[India]] and [[Brazil]] (the so-called BRIC nations) all abstained from the vote. The [[Obama administration]] called for Gaddafi to step aside, and has provided assistance to the insurgent tribes. US Congressional leaders were not consulted, <ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/262921/boehner-obama-libya-many-other-members-house-representatives-are-troubled-robert-costa</ref> nor did the United States Congress ever authorize any use of force in Libya.<br />
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Military and intelligence experts in France, [[Britain]], and the United States warned about uncertainties, but were overruled by political leaders. The result was a set of decisions focusing on short term considerations and gambling on the outcome. French, British, and US leaders did not fully coordinate, but according to Anthony Cordesman, it became clear,<br />
{{Cquote|they sought and got international cover from the UN by claiming a no fly zone could protect civilians when their real objective was to use force as a catalyst to drive Gaddafi out of power.}}<br />
[[Sarkozy]], [[David Cameron|Cameron]], and [[Obama]] seem to have assumed that a largely unknown, divided, and fractured group of insurgents could win through sheer political momentum, and could then be turned into a successful government. Within the first month it was obvious a "weak, divided, poorly led, and badly equipped and supplied set of rebel tribes can only hang on with the present level of air support" that was provided.<br />
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The assault on Libya set off a frenzy of speculations about the real motive behind the war in the oil-rich country, with many analysts saying that under the guise of protecting civilians, as enshrined in the UNSC Resolution 1973, Washington and its Western allies are basically after the North African country’s vast oil reserves. <ref>[http://2012indyinfo.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/presstv-germany-slams-nato-mission-in-libya/ Germany slams NATO mission in Libya.]</ref><br />
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[[Stephen Lendman]]: Libya assault planned months ahead; See interview: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSlXO_X_fE&feature=related in Youtube.]<br />
===Petrodollars and oil===<br />
According to a Russian article titled ''Bombing of Libya - Punishment for Qaddafi for His Attempt to Refuse US Dollar,'' Gaddafi initiated a movement to refuse the dollar and the [[Euro]] as payment for Libya's oil, and called on [[Arab]] and African nations to use a new currency, the gold dinar. Gaddafi proposed establishing a united African continent, with its 200 million people using this single currency. The initiative was viewed negatively in the United States and the [[European Union]], with French president Nicolas Sarkozy calling Libya a threat to the financial security of mankind. But Gaddafi continued his push for the creation of a united Africa. As early September 9, 1999, the first steps towards the formation of the [[African Union]] were taken by the Heads of State of the Organisation of African Unity.<ref>[http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/au_in_a_nutshell_en.htm The AU in a nutshell]</ref><br />
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In the wake of the global [[financial crisis of 2008]] forcing the United States into [[recession]], both China and Russia called for the dollar’s role in the global financial system to be diluted. Both China and the USSR abstained from UNSCR 1973.<br />
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''Bloomberg News'' reported in September 2010 that China and Russia planned to start trading in each other’s currency as the world’s second-biggest energy consumer and the largest energy supplier seek to diminish the dollar’s role in global trade. Bhanu Baweja commented {{Cquote|Given the risk to the dollar and U.S. assets from their fiscal position they want to reduce their dependence on the dollar as an invoicing currency....It makes sense for two large economies to exclude a third, overly dominant economy from their trading equation.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/china-russia-push-yuan-ruble-trading-to-diminish-dominance-of-u-s-dollar.html</ref>}}<br />
===The African Union===<br />
An observer spelled out one of Gaddafi’s motivations for proposing an African Union:<br />
{{Cquote|It began in 1992, when 45 African nations established RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communication Organization) so that Africa would have its own satellite and slash communication costs in the continent. This was a time when phone calls to and from Africa were the most expensive in the world because of the annual US$500 million fee pocketed by Europe for the use of its satellites like Intelsat for phone conversations, including those within the same country.<br />
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An African satellite only cost a one-time payment of $400 million and the continent no longer had to pay a $500 million annual lease. Which banker wouldn't finance such a project? But the problem remained – how can [[slave]]s, seeking to free themselves from their master’s exploitation ask the master’s help to achieve that freedom? Not surprisingly, the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the USA, Europe only made vague promises for 14 years. Gaddafi put an end to these futile pleas to the western ‘benefactors’ with their exorbitant interest rates. The Libyan guide put $300 million on the table; the African Development Bank added $50 million more and the West African Development Bank a further $27 million – and that’s how Africa got its first communications satellite on 26 December 2007.<ref>http://www.vtcommons.org/blog/2011/04/21/ethan-allen-qaddafi</ref>}}<br />
===Libyan Central Bank===<br />
In an article posted on the Market Oracle, Eric Encina observed:<br />
{{Cquote|One seldom mentioned fact by western politicians and media pundits: the Central Bank of Libya is 100% State Owned.... Currently, the Libyan government creates its own money, the Libyan Dinar, through the facilities of its own central bank. Few can argue that Libya is a [[sovereign]] nation with its own great resources, able to sustain its own economic destiny. One major problem for globalist banking cartels is that in order to do business with Libya, they must go through the Libyan Central Bank and its national currency, a place where they have absolutely zero dominion or power-broking ability. Hence, taking down the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) may not appear in the speeches of Obama, Cameron and Sarkozy but this is certainly at the top of the globalist agenda for absorbing Libya into its hive of compliant nations.<ref>Eric Encina,''[http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article27208.html Globalists Target 100% State Owned Central Bank of Libya,]'' Market Oracle.</ref>}}<br />
Ellen Brown adds,<br />
{{Cquote|Libya not only has oil. According to the IMF, its central bank has nearly 144 tons of gold in its vaults. With that sort of asset base, who needs the BIS (Bank of International Settlements), the IMF and their rules.<ref>Ellen Brown, ''[http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/289-134/5625-libya-all-about-oil-or-all-about-banking Libya: All About Oil, or All About Banking,]'' Reader Supported News, April 15, 2011.</ref>}}<br />
Gaddafi’s proposal to introduce a gold dinar for Africa contravenes IMF rules and is designed to bypass them.<br />
===U.S. State Dept Report on Religious freedom (2009)===<br />
The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 said this of religious freedom's under Gaddafi's regime: <ref>U.S. Department of State, [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/rellibya09.html International Religious Freedom Report 2009,] Released by the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Washington, DC, (October 26, 2009). www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org </ref><br />
{{QuoteBox|a basis for some degree of religious freedom is provided in the Great Green Charter on Human Rights of the Jamahiriya Era, and the Government generally respects the right to observe one's religion freely in practice. The Government tolerates most minority religions but strongly opposes militant forms of Islam, which it views as a security threat... The World Islamic Call Society (WICS) is the official conduit for the state-approved form of Islam....WICS serves as the religious arm of Qadhafi's foreign policy... There were no reports of forced religious conversion...prominent representatives from the Government and society made new efforts to promote religious coexistence and harmony. ...minority religious communities achieved several symbolic milestones within the context of the country's increasing openness to the international community. ...There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.}}<br />
In 2001 Gaddafi's Islamic Call Society provided the [[Anglican Church]] of Christ the King with a church building on the downtown square in Tripoli.<ref>[http://www.arabwestreport.info/year-2001/week-19/8-libyan-government-supports-anglican-church-tripoli The Libyan government supports the Anglican church in Tripoli,] Munir Hanna Anis Armanius, Religious News Service from the Arab World, May 16, 2001. </ref><br />
=== Italian Friendship treaty ===<br />
"We signed a friendship treaty with Libya, that includes a non-aggression clause, but when the counterpart '''no longer exists''' — in this case the Libyan state — the treaty cannot be applied”, said [[Italy]]’s foreign minister, Franco Frattini on February 26, 2011, ten days after the uprising began. <br />
{{Cquote|Italy’s treaty with Libya, signed by Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] in August 2008, calls on Italy to pay Libya $5 billion over 20 years in reparations for its colonial past there. In return, Libya pledged to help block the flow of illegal immigrants to Italy and grant favorable treatment for Italian companies seeking to do business in Libya. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/europe/28military.html]</ref>}}<br />
==French aid to rebels==<br />
A report from Congressman [[Dennis Kucinich]] corroborated the claim of Franco Bechis<ref>''[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:RkUoFsgEwm8J:www.voltairenet.org/article169069.html+French+plans+to+topple+Gaddafi+on+track+since+last+November&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com French plans to topple Gaddafi on track since last November]'', by Franco Bechis, VoltaireNet, March 26, 2011.</ref> in Italy that "plans to spark the Benghazi rebellion were initiated by French intelligence services in November 2010."<ref>http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24347</ref> <br />
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On March 10, 2011, France became the first and only country to recognize the Libyan Transitional National Council “as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.”<ref> “Sarkozy’s Libyan Surprise,” ''The Economist'', March 14, 2011.</ref> "France recognizes states, not parties", said a senior official on March 9th. After a meeting arranged by [[Bernard Henri Levy|Bernard-Henri Lévy]] the next morning, on March 10th, two representatives of the Libyan opposition emerged from President Sarkozys office at the Elysée Palace to announce that "France recognizes the Libyan Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people". <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/africa/02levy.html?_r=2</ref><ref>http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/03/france_and_libya</ref><br />
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On March 19, two days after passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1973,<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=278685</ref> French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] convened an emergency meeting of allied and Arab leaders in [[Paris]] which endorsed the immediate deployment of military aircraft to attack Gaddafi forces defending Benghazi and establish a no-fly zone. Before the end of the meeting, French fighter planes were attacking armored vehicles and tanks outside Benghazi. Some participants at the Paris meeting were critical of the French government, both for insisting on convening the meeting before agreeing to endorse air strikes, and then for launching air strikes before the meeting was over.<ref>Allies Open Air Assault on Qaddafi’s Forces in Libya, ''New York Times'', March 19, 2011.</ref> French officials claim that meeting participants were informed of the operation beforehand. The strikes had clearly been planned and coordinated with the [[United States]] and some other NATO forces.<ref>Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya): Background and Issues for Congress, ''Congressional Research Service'', March 30, 2011, p. 19 pd.</ref><br />
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[[National Public Radio]] (NPR) reported Sarkozy enjoyed a "burst of public support"<ref>http://wap.npr.org/story/134855539</ref> while the ''[[London Guardian]]'' wrote Sarkozy's actions may save him from "electoral humiliation."<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/20/libya-crisis-nicolas-sarkozy-electoral</ref> Several analysts speculate Sarkozy used the crisis to propel France into a Superpower role, usurping the global leadership of the United States abrogated by [[President Obama]].<ref>http://www.businessandpolitics.org/?p=4651</ref> Columnist Jim Hoagland of the ''[[Washington Post]]'' observes, <br />
{{Cquote|France is a country that has a past being involved in world affairs, wanting to count in world affairs, and being willing to pay its way for defense forces and to use those forces abroad. So, France plays a natural role in that. At a time when governments are slashing defense spending and reducing troops, France still wants to occupy an important role in world affairs....the reason you're seeing France taking on such a much larger role is that other countries, including the United States, are not willing to do it anymore. And Sarkozy is trying to fill that vacuum.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june11/france2_04-07.html</ref>}}<br />
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Sarkozy's approval rating stood at 30% prior to the intervention.<br />
===Legality of French actions===<br />
On May 29 two French lawyers, Roland Dumas and Jacques Vergès, announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] for crimes against humanity over the [[NATO]] led campaign in [[Libya]]. Dumas (who also served as a foreign minister under President [[François Mitterrand]]) said that the NATO mission, which was meant to protect civilians, is in fact killing them.<ref>http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=46395</ref> On July 4 a French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, called for investigation of the International Criminal Court on NATO "war crimes". [http://www.lemonde.fr/libye/article/2011/07/04/libye-un-avocat-demande-une-enquete-de-la-cpi-sur-les-crimes-de-guerre-de-l-otan_1544755_1496980.html]<br />
==Security Council Res. 1973 and NATO==<br />
UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 of March 17, 2011 followed on the heels of Gaddafi’s public announcement on March 2 he may throw western oil companies out of Libya, and his invitation on March 14 to Chinese, Russian, and Indian firms to produce Libyan oil in their place.<ref>''[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/7661/Business/Economy/Gaddafi-offers-Libyan-oil-production-to-India,-Rus.aspx Gaddafi offers Libyan oil production to India, Russia, China,] Agence France-Presse, March 14, 2011.</ref> China, Russia, India and Brazil all abstained on UNSC Resolution 1973.<br />
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Despite France taking the lead role in the intervention, the Congressional Research Service reports, "Only the United States and NATO possess the command and control capabilities necessary for coalition operations enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya." France only recently rejoined the NATO alliance, in 2008, after a 40 year absence. The Congressional Research Service, which analyzes information and prepares reports for members of Congress, also states,<br />
{{Cquote|In spite of statements underscoring NATO unity on steps announced to date, the initial planning and operational phases were also marked by significant levels of discord within Europe and [[NATO]] on the aims and future direction of the mission. A key point of contention was reportedly the amount of flexibility that NATO forces would be granted to protect civilians and civilian areas, as called for in paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1973. Reports indicate that French officials insisted on maintaining the ability to strike ground forces that threatened civilian areas, while their [[Turkish]] counterparts vocally opposed any targeting of ground forces. Adding to the strain within NATO, NATO ally [[Germany]] abstained from UNSCR 1973 and, opposed to any potential [[combat]] operation, on March 23, withdrew its naval assets in the [[Mediterranean]] from NATO command. Throughout the first week of operations, other European allies contributing to the mission, including Italy and Norway, expressed increasing frustration with the lack of agreement within NATO, with Norway refusing to deploy its fighter jets unless under they were under NATO command and control.<ref>[http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc99034/ Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya):<br />
Background and Issues for Congress,] ''Congressional Research Service,'' March 30, 2011, p. 20 pdf.</ref>}}<br />
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Of NATO's 28 members, 14 are said to be "actively participating," but only 6 provided military support. By June Norway announced its intention to quit the coalition<ref>http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/norway-quit-libya-operation-august</ref> and French and British leaders expressed concerns over being able to meet the costs of a war they dragged the United States into.<ref>http://hosted2.ap.org/COGRA/2e515285f07040df999bd6b670db791c/Article_2011-06-14-EU-NATO-Libya/id-f6d2287c00ba4816924c082ed9cc12fa</ref> Of the 22-country [[Arab League]], whose appeal prompted the United Nations to vote on intervention, only [[Qatar]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are involved. Of the 192 members of the [[UN General Assembly]], who all have a legal "responsibility to protect" civilians attacked by their own governments, only [[Sweden]] has responded.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref> After the authorization and commitment of NATO and U.S. forces, Secretary Gates announced,<br />
{{Cquote|The mightiest military alliance in history is only 11 weeks into an operation against a poorly armed regime in a sparsely populated country, yet many allies are beginning to run short of munitions, requiring the U.S., once more, to make up the difference.}}<br />
and warned<br />
{{Cquote|The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress—and in the American body politic writ large—to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense.<ref>http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/06/10/robert_gates_nato_defense_secretary_questions_future_of_the_alli.html</ref>}}<br />
===Exceeding UN mandate===<br />
Resolution 1973 authorized strict limitations, according to international law, on NATO as the organization with responsibility for the implementation of the resolution. Particularly, it provides only for a naval blockade enforcing the arms embargo, and enforcement of a no-fly zone. On March 29, 2011, Russian envoy Dmitry Rogozin commented after a meeting with NATO officials in [[Brussels, Belgium]], that Russia expressed deep concern over the interpretation of the Security Council’s resolution, as some countries have effectively turned it into an approval for ground operations.<br />
{{Cquote|[[Moscow]] has many questions about how the UN Security Council’s resolution is being carried out...First of all, there are reports that civilians have been killed in the air strikes. This is odd if you consider the message of the resolution, which says that the foreign forces’ actions should protect civilians. So it’s hard to comprehend how you can protect civilians by killing them....we demanded that the UN Security Council be fully informed about the actions of the alliance in Libya at all times... We have reports of air strikes against convoys far from the front line. This is a far cry from the UN Security Council resolution.<ref>http://rt.com/news/coalition-libya-nato-russian-envoy/</ref>}}<br />
NATO planes and ships have been striking cities and military installations in Libya since mid-March, 2011. Allied military officials have spoken in recent weeks of the need for escalation to help protect Libyan civilians and have called for Gaddafi to step down. Libyan officials have said that NATO is picking sides in a civil war and complained that strikes on Gaddafi’s Tripoli compound are attempts to assassinate the leader of a sovereign country. NATO launched its largest airstrike against Moammar Gaddafi’s regime on May, 24, 2011, with at least 15 massive explosions rocking the Libyan capital. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/french-officials-france-and-britain-to-use-attack-helicopters-in-libya/2011/05/23/AFTF909G_story.html?hpid=z2]<br />
<blockquote><br />
On May 15, two months into the NATO bombing campaign against loyal Gaddafi’s forces, Britain’s top military commander said that the Libyan leader could remain “clinging to power” unless NATO broadened its bombing targets to include the country’s infrastructure. <ref>http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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The French and the British described plans for a wargames exercise for an attack on Libya last November, in the end they used those military assets that had been mobilized for the real thing 3 months ago. We know that NATO doesn’t just go and bomb a country over night, these things are planned far in advance, and in this case there is conclusive evidence that there have been plans for this for many many years. <ref> [https://lizziesliberation.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/letter-from-libya-to-a-close-friend/ Letter from Libya to a close friend] June 4, 2011. </ref><br />
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On Jun 18, Prime minister of Libya Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi accused [[NATO]] of a "new level of aggression" over the past 72 hours in which he said the military alliance intentionally targeted civilian buildings, including a hotel and a university. "It has become clear to us that NATO has moved on to deliberately hitting civilian buildings. ... This is a crime against humanity," he told reporters in the capital. Libya's Health Ministry released new casualty figures that put the number of civilians killed in NATO air strikes through to June 7 at 856. <ref> [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/gaddafi-rages-at-nato-after-bombing-2299509.html Gaddafi rages at NATO after bombing.] </ref><br />
[[File:Women with Gaddafi Libya.jpg|thumb|280px|Lizzie Cocker with mum and two daughters from Sudan who have been living in Libya for 17 years. They had to flee from Misrata to Tripoli following atrocities committed by the rebels against black skinned peoples. They are firmly standing behind their leader Moammar Gadaffi. The sisters have written on the poster, on the left: "King of Kings of Africa" and on the right: "Our souls are for you".]]<br />
=== Italy - Berlusconi ===<br />
[[Italy]] called for a suspension of hostilities in [[Libya]] on June 22 in the latest sign of dissent within [[NATO]] as the civilian death toll mounts and [[Muammar Gaddafi]] shows no signs of quitting power. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110622/ts_afp/libyaconflictnatoitalydiplomacy]<br />
===African response to outside intervention===<br />
NATO's Libyan intervention has proven fractious in black Africa; in March [[Nigeria]]'s Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia commented, "The contradictions between principle and national interest ... have enabled the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Libya ostensibly to protect innocent civilians from slaughter, but to watch seemingly helplessly (in [[Ivory Coast]]) as ...men, women and children are slaughtered in equally, even if less egregious, violence."<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8300-503543_162-503543.html?keyword=ivory+coast</ref><br />
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Amr Moussa, the outgoing head of the Arab League and a front runner to become president of a democratic Egypt, has voiced reservations about NATO's bombing campaign in Libya, calling for a ceasefire and talks on a political settlement while Muammar Gaddafi remains in power. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/21/arab-league-chief-libya-air-strikes]<br />
<br />
The Arab League, which in March asked the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians, condemned the loss of life in bombing incidents.<br />
<br />
"When the Arab League agreed on the idea of having a no-fly zone over Libya it was to protect civilians but when civilians get killed this has to be condemned with the harshest of statements," said Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed Ben Helli.<br />
<br />
The Libyan leader says the Western-led military campaign is an act of colonial aggression designed to steal Libya's oil. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110620/wl_nm/us_libya]<br />
==United States intervention==<br />
[[File:Treaty of Tripoli PD LC.jpg|thumb|Treaty of Tripoli, Libya was one of the first nations to recognize the US in 1796.]]<br />
===Frozen assets===<br />
President Obama moved swiftly to support French plans to frustrate Gaddafi’s proposal for an African Union with his unilateral declaration of a national emergency in order to freeze all of the Bank of Libya’s $30 billion of funds to which America had access. This was reported in the U.S. press as a freeze of the funds of "Colonel Qaddafi, his children and family, and senior members of the Libyan government.<ref>''New York Times'', February 27, 2011.</ref> The second section of Obama’s decree explicitly targeted "All property and interests… of the Government of Libya, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central Bank of Libya.<ref>Executive Order of February 25, 2011, citing International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, seizes all Libyan Govt assets, February 25, 2011, link. The authority granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "may only be exercised to deal with an unusual and extraordinary threat with respect to which a national emergency has been declared for purposes of this chapter and may not be exercised for any other purpose" (50 U.S.C. 1701).</ref> The consequences of the $30-billion freeze for [[Africa]], as well as for Libya, have been spelled out by an African observer:<br />
{{Cquote|The US$30 billion frozen by Mr Obama belong to the Libyan Central Bank and had been earmarked as the Libyan contribution to three key projects which would add the finishing touches to the African federation – the African Investment Bank in Syrte, Libya, the establishment in 2011 of the African Monetary Fund to be based in Yaounde with a US$42 billion capital fund and the Abuja-based African Central Bank in Nigeria which when it starts printing African money will ring the death knell for the CFA franc through which Paris has been able to maintain its hold on some African countries for the last fifty years. It is easy to understand the French wrath against Gaddafi.}}<br />
===War Powers Act===<br />
Under the [[War Powers Act]] of 1973 the U.S President has limited authority to use military force without Congressional authorization when there is an imminent [[national security]] threat, however President Obama made clear that he ordered the use of force for other reasons. Members of Congress of both parties have expressed concern the President may have violated the law in doing so.<ref>http://rooney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3190:rooney-resolution-president-should-obtain-congressional-authorization-or-end-military-campaign-in-libya-&catid=48:2011-press-releases</ref> The War Powers Act specifically states that the President’s power to introduce forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities can only be exercised pursuant to (1) a declaration of war; (2) specific statutory authorization; or (3) a national emergency created by an attack on the United States or its forces. The War Powers Act requires the President in every possible instance to consult with Congress before introducing American Armed Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities unless there has been a declaration of war or other specific Congressional authorization. None of these prerequisites have been met.<br />
<br />
On March 21, 2011, President Obama publicly announced U.S. military forces commenced no fly-zone operations in Libya two days earlier, on March 19, "to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" and cited UN Resolutions as giving him the authority to do so. Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] warned establishment of a no-fly zone meant attacking Libaya.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> Officials as National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough also opposed to attacking Libya; but "[[Hillary Clinton]] won the bureaucratic battle to use DOD resources to achieve what's essentially the State Department's objective... and Obama let it happen". <ref>[http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war How Obama turned on a dime toward war.] </ref> The Charter of the [[United Nations]], in Article 2(4), prohibits the “threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence” of a member state, and many observers have wondered whether the establishment of a no-fly zone would constitute a violation of this prohibition. The Congressional Research Services advised that a no-fly zone imposed against a state that has not carried out an attack on its neighbors may consider the imposition of a no-fly zone an “armed attack.” CRS warned that even if no-fly zone operations in a given state do not constitute an “armed attack",<br />
{{Cquote|that state, and other members of the international community, might consider them a violation of the prohibition of the “threat or use of force,” as well as of the customary duty of non-intervention in the affairs of other sovereign states.}}<br />
<br />
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama publicly admitted to intervention that U.S. intelligence knew of [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements among the Libyan insurgents.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html</ref> <br />
<br />
===Organizing the Libyan Islamic Fighters Group===<br />
A document published by the U.S. [[West Point]] Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center reveals that jihadi rebels, unhappy with the Gaddafi regime, exited Libya to join the [[Operation_Iraqi_Freedom#Insurgency|Islamic insurgency]] in Iraq in numbers greater than any other country. The captured Sinjar documents<ref>[http://www.ctc.usma.edu/harmony/pdf/CTCForeignFighter.19.Dec07.pdf A First Look at the Sinjar Documents]</ref> include background information on foreign jihadists who migrated to Iraq to kill American soldiers,<ref> The Sinjar Documents are a collection of al Qaeda computer data captured by Americans in 2007 in a predawn raid near Sinjar, Iraq, six miles from the Syrian border.</ref> many of those jihadi rebels coming from among the very people Obama pledged to protect in the name of "humanitarianism". David Wood wrote: "Almost one in five foreign fighters arriving in Iraq came from eastern Libya, from the towns of Surt, Misurata and Darnah. On a per capita basis, that’s more than twice as many than came from any other Arabic-speaking country, amounting to what the counter terrorism center called a Libyan 'surge' of young men eager to kill Americans." The report notes 82% of Libyan jihadi rebels volunteered as suicide bombers, well above the 56% of all foreign insurgents in Iraq.<br />
<br />
The report reminded that Benghazi has long been associated with Islamic militancy in Libya, in particular for an uprising by Islamist organizations in the mid‐1990s. One group—the Libyan Fighting Group (''jamaʹah al‐libiyah al‐muqatilah'')—claimed to have [[War on Terror|Afghan]] veterans in its ranks. The Libyan uprisings became extraordinarily violent. The West Point study noted Gaddafi had taken measures to mitigate the threat from rebel jihadi groups, and amnestied some Muslim Brotherhood activists in the hope that they would moderate the views of more violent Islamist activists.<br />
<br />
The Combating Terrorism Center document concludes,<br />
{{Cquote|The [[Syria]]n [ [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] regime] and Libyan [Gaddafi] governments share the United States’ concerns about violent salafi‐jihadi ideology and the violence perpetrated by its adherents. These governments [Syria, Gaddafi, and the US] like others in the Middle East, fear violence inside their borders and would much rather radical elements go to Iraq rather than cause unrest at home. U.S. and Coalition efforts to stem the flow of fighters into Iraq will be enhanced if they address the entire logistical chain that supports the movement of these individuals—beginning in their home countries – rather than just their Syrian entry points.}}<br />
<br />
This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp</ref> Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for what came to be known as [[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]] which included elements of al Qaeda.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref> Direct arms support would violate the arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1970 on February 26, 2011.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref><br />
<br />
Public opinion initially was divided on support for President Obama's actions, within 30 days however, opposition rose 15%<ref>http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/americans-rapidly-turn-against-obama-over-handling-of-libyan-intervention.php</ref> as the reality of the intervention set in.<br />
<br />
====Ambassador Stevens dispatched to give aid====<br />
On Friday March 8, 2011, President Obama told reporters he would appoint an official to maintain contact with the Libyan opposition. The number two official at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, [[Christopher Stevens]]<ref>[http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/us-names-chris-stevens-liaison-to-libyan-opposition.html US Names Chris Stevens Liaison to Libyan Opposition,] ABC News Radio, March 14, 2011. </ref> was tasked with helping to coordinate Obama's assistance to the rebels, whose top military commander, Abdelhakim Belhadj, was the leader of the Al Qaeda affiliate, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG).<ref>[http://counterjihadreport.com/tag/libyan-islamic-fighting-group/ ‘White Out’ on Benghazi: State Dept. Issues Report,] Clare Lopez, December 23, 2012. http://counterjihadreport.com </ref> Hillary Clinton attended a meeting in Paris with Stevens and representatives of the Libyan opposition, as did U.S. Ambassador Gene Cretz, who has also had contacts with the opposition. Clinton discussed what the Obama administration would do to help the jihadis and that they would do more than just provide humanitarian aid.<br />
<br />
===Questions on the legality of U.S. actions===<br />
The ''[[Washington Post]]'' reported on May 20, 2011 President Obama missed the legal deadline set in the 1973 law that required him to obtain Congressional approval for U.S. military operations in Libya. Under the [[Nixon]]-era War Powers Resolution, the president must obtain Congressional authorization of military action within 60 days, or else begin withdrawing forces.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-likely-to-miss-deadline-for-congressional-approval-of-libya-operations/2011/05/19/AFFLKn7G_story.html</ref> Sen. [[Richard Lugar]] of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations warned President Obama, <br />
[[File:NATO strike Libya.jpg|right|220px|NATO strike, Libya.]]<br />
{{Cquote|U.S. military operations in Libya have assumed a different character than you suggested when you announced the decision to initiate them. In your March 21 letter to the Congress, you indicated that these operations would be limited in their nature, duration, and scope, and focused on protecting civilians and civilian populated areas from attack. Two months into these operations, your Administration is unable to specify what limits will apply to the duration of the operations, and the coalition in which we are participating appears to have expanded its objectives to weakening the Gaddafi regime’s hold on power through strikes on leadership targets and, potentially, infrastructure targets.<ref>http://lugar.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=332967&</ref><ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-obama-above-the-law/2011/05/26/AGL5zyCH_story.html</ref>}}<br />
<br />
The evidence is President Obama’s war in Libya is illegal and unconstitutional. Columnist George Will laid out the case in, “Is Obama Above the Law?” The war is a violation of the War Powers Act, which says the president can go to war without Congressional approval only if there is an imminent threat to the U.S. and there is a 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of forces. [http://www.conservativetruth.org/article.php?id=2467]<br />
<br />
The law states that “The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to<br />
<br />
(1) a declaration of war,<br />
<br />
(2) specific statutory authorization, or<br />
<br />
(3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States , its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”<br />
<br />
Since there was no declaration of war or statutory authorization for the Libya action, there has to be a national emergency created by an attack on the U.S. There was none in the Libya case.<ref>http://www.conservativetruth.org/article.php?id=2458 Conservative Truth.</ref> A [[bipartisan]] group of legislators have begun action against what they percieve to be President Obama's unconstitutional misuse of power.<ref>http://thehill.com/homenews/house/166577-kucinich-jones-sue-white-house-over-libya-war</ref><br />
<br />
According to Rep. [[Dennis Kucinich]]:<br />
* '''It is unconstitutional''', violating Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution which gives the power of declaring war to the Congress.<br />
* '''It is illegal''', as the War Powers Resolution was exploited out of context in order to declare war.<br />
* '''American public opinion is against it''', as 6 Americans out of 10 oppose the war.<br />
* It '''distracts''' the President from more immediate concerns, such as the dire state of the economy.<br />
* It '''costs''' funds that should be used for other purposes.<br />
* Although the war was declared by Britain and France, '''America is paying more than other NATO allies'''.<br />
* '''Civilians are being killed''' by the same powers that are supposed to protect them.<br />
* '''The U.N. Resolution that authorized limited military action did not allow for regime change'''<br />
* '''Public support of the war is eroding even in other allied countries.'''<br />
* '''The situation is a stalemate''' that ought to be solved by political, not military means.<br />
<br />
See more at: [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-dennis-kucinich/10-reasons-to-oppose-the_b_881554.html 10 Reasons to Oppose the War in Libya.]<br />
<br />
Kucinich's bill to oppose intervention in Libya was supported by 87 conservative House Republicans.<br />
<br />
Rep. [[Ron Paul]] said "Why did the US intervene in a civil war in a country that has neither attacked us nor poses a threat? We are told this was another humanitarian intervention, like Clinton’s 1999 war against [[Serbia]]. But as civilian victims of the US-led coalition bombing continue to add up, it is getting difficult to determine whether the problem we are creating on the ground is worse than the one we were trying to solve." [http://www.ronpaul.com/2011-03-28/ron-paul-end-the-libyan-war/]<br />
<br />
"Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s Bin Laden unit, explained in a recent article that there is plausible reason to believe the rebels are current or former Islamist mujahedin, eager to engage in jihad. Indeed, Gaddafi has fought against Libyan Islamists for years and is seen by them as a bitter enemy. Astoundingly, it may well be that we are assisting al Qaeda in this new war! [[Ibidem]]"<br />
<br />
==Role of China==<br />
In the first decade of the Twenty-first century China quietly has overtaken the United States to become Africa's largest trading partner, particularly in oil, which accounts for 73 percent of all African exports. According to the Chinese government's first white paper on its economic and trade cooperation with Africa, China's trade with Africa has soared to $114.81 billion in the first 11 months of 2010. China uses about 8 million barrels per day (bpd), a demand that is projected to rise to 11.3 million bpd by 2015 and now receives 28 percent of its oil imports from Africa. China's top oil suppliers are [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Iran]], [[Angola]], Russia, [[Oman]] and [[Sudan]]. Saudi Arabia is China's top oil supplier (1.1 million bpd.) China is also buying oil from [[Chad]], [[Gabon]] and [[Nigeria]] as well. China's top African oil suppliers are [[Angola]], [[Sudan]] and [[Nigeria]]. The [[International Monetary Fund]] reports, oil now accounts for 99 percent of Sudanese exports, with China absorbing for 65 percent of them. Energy is Angola's sole export hard currency earner, with China now accounting for 35 percent of Angolan exports.<ref>http://mammutcapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/upcoming-us-china-struggle-for-african.html</ref><br />
===Competition for resources===<br />
After hostilities began China evacuated over 36,000 of its energy and construction workers and shut down operations of Chinese companies with over $18.8 billion of Chinese investments in Libya.<ref>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1119924/1/.html</ref> China alone is expected to invest on a scale of $50 billion a year in Libya and Africa by 2015, a figure - funded by America’s [[trade deficit]] with China - which the Western powers and NATO cannot match.<ref>Leslie Hook, ''China’s future in Africa, after Libya,'' March 4, 2011. The U.S trade deficit with China in 2010 was $273 billion.</ref> China, Libya's largest Asian oil customer, called for an immediate ceasefire.<br />
<br />
Dr. [[Paul Craig Roberts]], former Assistant Secretary of US Treasury in the [[Reagan administration]] observed the joint French, British, and US coalition's objective is<br />
{{Cquote|to eliminate China from the [[Mediterranean]]. China has extensive energy investments and construction investments in Libya. They are looking to Africa as a future energy source. The US is countering this by organizing the United States African Command (USAC), which Qaddafi refused to join. So that's the second reason for the Americans to want Qaddafi out.}}<br />
Roberts observes <br />
{{Cquote| the protests in Libya are different from the ones in Egypt or [[Yemen]] or [[Bahrain]] or [[Tunisia]] and the difference is that this is an armed rebellion...these protests originated in the eastern part of Libya where the oil is - they did not originate in the capital city. And we have heard from the beginning credible reports that the CIA is involved in the protests, and there have been a large number of press reports that the CIA has sent back to Libya its Libyan asset<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/26/111109/new-rebel-leader-spent-much-of.html</ref> to head up the Libyan rebellion... China has 50 major investment projects in eastern Libya.<ref>http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175076.html</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Whatever Washington’s ulterior motives, there is no doubt that NATO’s military operations in Libya are harming China’s fiscal interests. According to information from China’s Ministry of Trade, by March, when the military operation began, there were 75 major Chinese companies operating in Libya, and they had concluded $18 billion in contracts. Because of the NATO operations in Libya, the Chinese companies are expecting gigantic losses. <ref> [http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ Washington Using NATO For Proxy Conflict With China In Libya.] </ref><br />
== Formation of the National Transitional Council ==<br />
The National Transitional Council of the Libyan Republic announced its official establishment in early March 2011 in the city of Benghazi. The stated goal was to the overthrow of Mu’ammar Gaddafi.<ref>http://ntclibya.org/english/</ref> It has been recognized by France, [[Qatar]], Italy, [[Kuwait]], [[Maldives]] and [[Gambia]]. They have proceeded to form a transitional government for the post-Gaddafi era. Before forming a government, they robbed about $505 million from the Central Bank of Libya in Benghazi.<br />
[[File:Libya Rebels Gaining Momentum.jpg|thumb|Anti-Gaddafi tribal insurgents in March, 2011 (Photo:Reuters).]]<br />
{{Cquote|The top leaders of the “revolutionary” masses in Benghazi are two recent defectors of what the Left dubs Gaddafi’s “murderous regime”, Mustafa Abdul Jalil a former Justice minister (who prosecuted dissenters up to the day before the armed uprising), Mahmoud Jebril a top Gaddafite neo-liberal prominent in inviting multi-nationals to take over the oil fields (FT, March 23, 2011, p. 7) and Ali Aziz al-Eisawa, Gaddafi’s former ambassador to India who jumped ship when it looked like the uprising would succeed. These self-appointed leaders of the “rebels” are staunch backers of Euro-US military intervention just as they previously were long-term backers of Gaddafi’s dictatorship and promoters of MNC takeovers of oil and gas fields. The heads of the “rebels” military council is Omar Hariri and General Abdul Fattah Younis former head of the Ministry of Interior, both with long histories (since 1969) of repressing any democratic movements.<ref>http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/euro-us-war-on-libya-official-lies-and-misconceptions-of-critics/</ref>}}<br />
===Jihadi Death Squads===<br />
Insurgent jihadis created a wanted list and placed suspects under round-the-clock surveillance. Secret militia units raid houses without court warrants and often interrogate suspects for hours. Those released have to sign a document stating their loyalty to the revolution. As many as 30 civilians are being held at various jihadi rebel military bases around Benghazi without due process of law, said human rights activists, judges and prosecutors. In recent weeks, at least seven former members of the internal security police have turned up dead, their bodies riddled with bullets. Although it is not known who killed them, many suspect that they died at the hands of jihadi rebel-affiliated death squads. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/libyan-rebels-accused-of-reprisal-attacks/2011/05/20/AFaeAh8G_story.html?hpid=z4]<br />
<br />
On May, 26, the deputy leader of Libya's rebel administration said it could take up to two years to organize elections, backtracking on promises of a six-month transition to democracy. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110526/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_libya]<br />
<br />
Libyan rebels have also been reported to have committed violence against African migrant workers.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/rebels-settle-scores-in-libyan-capital-2344671.html</ref><ref>http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/08/31/robertson.libya.african.jails.cnn?&hpt=hp_c2</ref> Similar reports have also emerged of violence against black Libyan.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/17/us-libya-displaced-idUSTRE79G2CY20111017</ref><br />
===Misuse of outside humanitarian assistance===<br />
In May, 2011, NATO and Arab countries agreed in Rome to set up a fund to manage donations to help areas controlled by the jihadi rebels; they announced a financial mechanism to assist the opposition in Libya. This would include a partial unfreezing of Libyan assets in banks that would go into a temporary fund managed by the U.N. Sanctions Committee. And it would be intended to help the jihadi rebels with their immediate needs to cover food, medicine and hospital costs;<ref>http://www.npr.org/2011/05/05/136011941/diplomats-discuss-aid-to-libyan-rebels</ref> The insurgents would gain access to a special $3 billion (£1.8 billion) trust fund established by its Western backers to finance the breakaway regions fighting against Gaddafi on the outskirts of Benghazi. Modern urbanization and equipments may be clearly seen there.<br />
[[File:Tripoli NATO bombing Libya.jpg|thumb|280px|Tripoli, NATO bombing.]]<br />
==Outside intervention escalates the conflict==<br />
UN Security Council Resolution 1973, passed in March 2011, does not authorise participating members to support the anti-Gaddafi tribes, to defend armed groups, or to oust Gaddafi. Nor does it authorise a ground invasion or military occupation. Strategic analyst Anthony Cordesman notes the similarities between Libya and Iraq and the loose uncoordinated coalitions "failure to plan for the decisive and lasting use of force, failure to plan for the civil side of military operations and to support stability operations, and focus on short term goals without a realistic plan for a successful strategic and post-conflict outcome." Cordesman notes,<br />
{{Cquote|the lives and futures of some 6.6 million Libyans are at stake. The Franco-Anglo-American gamble now seems far too likely to fail at their expense. Moreover, it seems likely to drag the other nations that support the operation into their failure -- along with part of the reputation of NATO and credibility of the UN.... gambling on Qaddafi caving in has created a far more serious humanitarian crisis for the Libyan people than would ever have occurred if the Coalition had acted decisively from the start ...The humanitarian cost of humanitarian restraint is all too clear: Hundreds of Libyan and foreign workers have been killed...hundreds of thousands lack jobs, security, and safe conditions of life....an enduring war of attrition will turn a minor humanitarian crisis into a major one ...This kind of operation cannot be “surgical’ – if “surgical” now means minimizing bloodshed regardless of whether the patient dies. Hard, and sometimes brutal, choices need to be made between limited civilian casualties and collateral damage during the decisive use of force and an open-ended war of attrition that will produce far higher cumulative civilian casualties and collateral damage.<ref>http://csis.org/publication/libya-will-farce-stay-us-and-france-and-britain</ref>}}<br />
Cordesman notes mission creep and boots on the ground ultimately lead to [[nation building]]:<br />
{{Cquote|France, Britain, and the US now have a special obligation to both finish what they started in military terms, and deal with the aftermath. A post-conflict Libya will need extensive help in building a workable political system, in rebuilding the capability to govern, in both rebuilding the existing economy and correcting for decades of Qaddafi’s reckless and constantly shifting eccentricities.}}<br />
On April 19, 2011, one month after Sarkozy, Cameron, and Obama asked the UN Security Council for authorization for a limited use of force, the UK ''[[Guardian (UK)|Guardian]]'' reported,<br />
{{Cquote|Britain is now publicly doing what it expressly said it would not do when the no-fly intervention began: putting boots on the ground in Libya. France is taking similar action. Given that the rebel tribes have convincingly demonstrated their inability to win on their own, given the sizable negatives for David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy of an open-ended, inconclusive conflict, and given Barack Obama's flat refusal to do any more, the question now is: how many more British and French boots will follow, sooner or later, in the advisers' fateful footsteps?....By encouraging and assisting rebel resistance, as [[George H. W. Bush|George Bush Snr]] did with the [[Shia]]s of southern [[Iraq]] in 1991, Britain and France risk worsening the plight of the Libyan civilians they are primarily pledged to defend. The UN and concerned aid agencies all agree the humanitarian situation is growing steadily worse, the longer the conflict continues. ..<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref>}}<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, in particular, has been scathing about Western intervention in Libya, comparing the Resolution 1973 to “a medieval call to the crusades” and saying “the so-called civilized community, with all its might, pounces on a small country, and ruins infrastructure that has been built over generations.” Mr. Putin returned to the subject of Libya repeatedly, despite acknowledging that foreign policy decisions were not within his portfolio as prime minister. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/world/europe/28russia.html?hp]<br />
<br />
By August the ''New York Times'' reported [[Christian]] churches were openly praying to protect Gaddafi as NATO bombs fell.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/world/africa/07tripoli.html?_r=0 In Libya's Capital, Straight Talk From Christians,] By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, ''The New York Times'', August 6, 2011. </ref><br />
===Manufacturing Consent===<br />
"On how the western media makes the case for war. Our consent has been manufactured by the criminalization of Gaddafi and his government, and the Libyan people cannot believe it when I tell them what is said about him in the west. And if only you could see how they live, they are far more free than us in England in many ways, this does not fit in with the oppressive image of Gaddafi portrayed in the west.<br />
<br />
So for example, I have had Libyans coming up to me asking me about a report in the popular French newspaper Le Figaro that came out about 3 days ago saying 10,000 people have been killed in Tripoli over the past 3 months by government forces. They are astonished, because this is complete and utter lies. " [https://lizziesliberation.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/letter-from-libya-to-a-close-friend/ Letter from Libya to a close friend.]<br />
=== Gaddafi's murder and aftermath ===<br />
Libyan rebel fighting groups with support from NATO airstrikes, overtook the capital of Tripoli and toppled the government of Libya causing Gaddafi to flee into hiding. This victory finally peaked the interests of the liberal media, who remained silent, even as the President violated the War Powers Act. <br />
<br />
October 2011, the last enclave of government/tribal resistance fell in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte. Ghaddafi was captured and brutally and sadistically murdered.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPzeLLL9V-c Leading from behind - a critique of Obama foreign policy]</ref> The jihadis were immediately recognized by the U.S. and the U.N. as the legitimate government. It remains to be seen how much of the billions of dollars held in foreign banks by the former regime will be released to the new government. It will be a year or longer before Libya can resume exporting oil at its pre-war capacity. <br />
<br />
The situation in a post-Gaddafi Libya is uncertain. Fears that the nation will be end up an Islamic state were proven true when Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, announced in late October that [[Sharia]] will be the source for all legislation in Libya and that all laws conflicting with Sharia are null and void.<ref name="Sharia">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8861608/Libya-Al-Qaeda-flag-flown-above-Benghazi-courthouse.html Libya: Al Qaeda flag flown above Benghazi courthouse - Daily Telegraph]</ref> Abdel Rahim al-Kib, the country's interim prime minister, echoed Jalil's words a couple of days later.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail/207953.html New Libyan PM backs Islamic sharia law]</ref> Around the same time these statements were made an Al Qaeda flag was flown above the Benghazi courthouse, and reports were surfacing that the Libyan jihadis imposed Sharia law in some parts of the country even earlier.<ref name="Sharia" /> <br />
<br />
U.S. intelligence says as many as 20,000 advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles are missing and could end up in terror groups' arsenals. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2011/09/27/u-s-intelligence-now-says-up-to-20000-advanced-surface-to-air-missiles-mussing-from-libya/ U.S. Intelligence Now Says Up To 20,000 Advanced Surface-To-Air Missiles Missing From Lib, Weasel Zippers, September 27, 2011]</ref> Already some of those missiles reached the hands of [[Hamas]] in the Gaza Strip.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/hamas-boosting-anti-aircraft-arsenal-with-looted-libyan-missiles-1.392186 Hamas boosting anti-aircraft arsenal with looted Libyan missiles - Haaretz]</ref> [[Al Qaeda]] is very active in the region and the conflict. No one is sure how to rid the country of this terrorist element.<br />
<br />
===Ambassador Stevens murdered===<br />
:{{main|Benghazi Attack}}<br />
A March 29, 2011 article in the ''Washington Post'' included these paragraphs:<br />
{{Cquote|"It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html</ref>}}<br />
With several U.S.embassies besieged on the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] declared authorities had no reason to believe the attack on the sovereign territory of the United States consulate in Benghazi less than two months before the [[2012 Presidential election]], was a terrorist attack. Ambassador [[Christopher Stevens]] was brutally and hideously murdered,<ref>[http://www.aina.org/news/20120913165253.htm Ambassador Stevens Was Raped Before His Murder, Reports Claim,] Assyrian International News Agency, 9-13-2012.</ref> as were several other Americans. Stevens was appointed by Obama as the chief liaison to give money and aid for Stevens own killers.<br />
{{Cquote|The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive,}}<br />
became the official White House line. President Obama went on the ''Comedy Channel'' to say the deaths of Americans was "not optimal".<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/18/Obama-Benghazi-murders-not-optimal Interview with Jon Stweart of the ''Daily Show''].</ref> When pressed by reporters, who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was a terrorist attack, Press Secretary Carney argued “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”<br />
<br />
On September 16, 2012 Ambassador Susan Rice showed up on all five major Sunday morning talk shows to push the administration's spin linking the Benghazi murders and a satirical video. Rice told longtime Democratic partisan [[George Stephanopoulos]] of ABC’s ''This Week,'' the attack was “a spontaneous – not a premeditated – response to what had transpired in Cairo” – referring to a demonstration in which a mob breached the embassy compound wall and tore down an American flag. Rice repeated the false claims throughout her morning talk-show appearances on all networks.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/18/171933/obama-administration-officials.html</ref><br />
<br />
Around a week after the attack Obama finally ordered an investigation. The leading suspected jihadis in the murders and terrorist attack were the local Benghazi branch of Ansar al-Shariah, known to have ties to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).<ref>http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/10/19/when-an-obama-adviser-called-benghazi-an-al-qaeda-hotbed/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway</ref> A commander of the terrorist group boasted jovially over drinks with reporters for the ''[[New York Times]]'' in Benghazi<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/election-year-stakes-overshadow-nuances-of-benghazi-investigation.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world</ref> as President Obama's investigators failed to interview him.<ref>http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/frappe-libya-attack/</ref><br />
<br />
===Barack Hussein Obama's "Mission Accomplished"===<br />
Obama launched the war in Libya giving the reason for the need to avoid a "humanitarian" catastrophe. Not that Gaddafi's gone, lawlessness, brutality, and [[religious]] [[intolerance]] has increased. "Thousands of people, including women and [[children]], are being illegally detained by rebel [[militia]]s in Libya," and "up to 7,000 new "enemies of the state", "disappeared" in a dysfunctional system, without recourse to [[law]]. [http://spectator.org/blog/2011/11/24/about-barack-obamas-grand-adve] A church bombing by the end of 2012 left two dead,<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/us-libya-bomb-church-idUSBRE8BT09S20121230 Attack on Libyan church building kills two,] ''Reuthers,'' Dec 30, 2012.</ref> and in February 2013 four foreign nationals were arrested for distributing Bible pamphlets. They may face the death penalty. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries Libya arrests foreign 'missionaries' Four foreign nationals accused of distributing Christian literature, a charge that could carry the death penalty], Chris Stephen guardian.co.uk, Sunday 17 February 2013.</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
We all thought [[Libya]] had moved on – it has, but into lawlessness and ruin. Libya has plunged unnoticed into its worst political and economic crisis since the defeat of [[Gaddafi]]. (Thanks to Obama and Hillary). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/special-report-we-all-thought-libya-had-moved-on--it-has-but-into-lawlessness-and-ruin-8797041.html] <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
===Al Qaeda in the Maghreb===<br />
:''Main article:'' [[Al Qaeda in the Maghreb]]<br />
Two more Americans were killed, along with 35 others, after being taken hostage by rebel jihadists in Mali shortly after the Libyan upheaval.<ref>[http://world.time.com/2013/01/21/algeria-37-foreigner-hostages-killed-in-attack/ Algeria: 37 Foreigner Hostages Killed in Attack], Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2013. ''TIME'' magazine.</ref><br />
<br />
Hillary Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the wake of the Benghazi murders that occurred under her stewardship, that weapons and fighters equipped by the Obama administration made their way into [[Mali]] and [[Algeria]]:<br />
{{cquote|There is no doubt that the Algerian terrorists had weapons from Libya. There is no doubt that the Malian remnants of AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] have weapons from Libya.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-says-militants-used-weapons-libya-algeria-attack-154222664.html Clinton says militants used weapons from Libya in Algeria attack,] Reuters, Jan 23, 2013.]</ref>}}<br />
<br />
President [[Vladimir Putin]] of Russia observed, "Upheaval in Libya, accompanied by the uncontrolled proliferation of arms, contributed to the deterioration of the situation in Mali. Terrorist attacks in Algeria that took away the lives of innocent people – including those from foreign countries – became the consequences of such tragic developments."<ref>[http://rt.com/news/putin-libya-mali-algeria-704/ Putin links Algeria attack, Mali unrest to Libyan upheaval], January 25, 2013. rt.com</ref><br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/in-arming-libyan-rebels-the-us-would-follow-an-old-dark-path/73019/ In Arming Libyan Rebels, the U.S. Would Follow an Old, Dark Path.]<br />
*[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels.] ''The Independent'', UK.<br />
*[http://www.sott.net/articles/show/225613-Operation-Libya-The-US-NATO-Attempted-Coup-d-Etat-in-Libya-and-the-Battle-for-Oil "Operation Libya": The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya and the Battle for Oil.]<br />
*[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2055251,00.html Why Libya's Uprising Is Bad for the World Economy.]<br />
*[http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions False pretense for war in Libya?]<br />
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-nato-civil-war-cameron These humanitarians come to Libya with missiles, and an agenda.] by [[Simon Jenkins]].<br />
*[http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=24188 The West's War Against Gaddafi. Yet another long-lasting, tragic crime against humanity.]<br />
*[http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obama%E2%80%99s-war-in-libya-is-illegal-and-unconstitutional/ Obama’s War in Libya is Illegal and Unconstitutional.] by Cliff Kincaid.<br />
*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/30/us-libya-school-idUSTRE73T24620110430 Libya disabled children school hit in NATO strike.] Reuters.<br />
*[http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2011/06/08/natos-alternate-universe-in-libya.html NATO's "Alternate Universe" in Libya.]<br />
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reese-schonfeld/are-the-lessons-of-kosovo_b_868281.html Are The Lessons of Kosovo Spreading to Libya?]<br />
*[http://www.lemonde.fr/libye/article/2011/06/22/le-patron-de-la-ligue-arabe-fait-part-de-scrupules-sur-la-libye_1539111_1496980.html#ens_id=1481986 The head of the Arab League expressed "qualms" about Libya.] In French.<br />
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx3UAWau9T8&%20NR=1 George Galloway talks about Libya war.] Youtube<br />
*[http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2011/11/the-snake-behind-the-arab-spring/ The Snake Behind the Arab Spring.]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:Libya]]<br />
[[category:Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Administration]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]<br />
[[Category:Wars]]<br />
[[Category:Featured articles]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1066806Hinduism2013-09-16T06:24:28Z<p>Regular: Third.</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the third largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
As per the book named "Manusmriti" of Hindus, which is regarded as the law book of hindus, is apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admires includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1066805Hinduism2013-09-16T06:22:12Z<p>Regular: More of "issues"</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the fourth largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Issues==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
As per the book named "Manusmriti" of Hindus, which is regarded as the law book of hindus, is apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admires includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1066804Hinduism2013-09-16T06:21:39Z<p>Regular: Added more</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the fourth largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Criticisms==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
As per the book named "Manusmriti" of Hindus, which is regarded as the law book of hindus, is apart from religion, but closer to practical life. The texts contains system "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes, to this day.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref> Despite this has been large amount appreciation towards the caste system, especially because it differed from the racial system such as ''casta'' of Spain, admires includes the notable personalities such as Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti."<ref>Friedrich Nietzsche, ''The Will to Power,'' vol. 1.</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Hinduism&diff=1066803Hinduism2013-09-16T06:13:51Z<p>Regular: /* Sati */ Made the text better.</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Hinduism.jpg|left|Hinduism]]<br />
'''Hinduism''' is the fourth largest religion in the world and is the oldest among major religions.<ref>The largest being [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and Hinduism, in that order[http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]</ref> Historians believe that it originated more than 5000 years ago.<ref>[http://hinduism.about.com/od/hinduism101/a/origin.htm Origin of Hinduism] (About.com)</ref> Hinduism is the first [[Dharmic religion]]. It is often referred to as "the religion of India;" about 800 million of the world's billion Hindus live in [[India]], so about 80 percent of Hindus are Indians.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Brief_analysis.pdf Census of India, religion data, brief analysis (PDF)]; "At the national level, of 1028 million population, 828 million (80.5 percent) have returned their religion as Hindus followed by 138 million (13.4 percent) as Muslims and 24 millions (2.3 percent) Christians. 19 million (1.9 percent) persons follow Sikh religion; 8 million (0.8 percent) are Buddhists and 4.2 million (0.4 percent) are Jains as per the 2001 Census. In addition to these, 6.6 million belong to ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ including tribal religions which are not part of the six main religions stated above. About seven lakh (or 0.7 million) persons have not stated their religion."</ref><br />
According to a recent American survey, Hindus are the best educated and among the richest religious groups in the [[United States]].<ref>Hanerjee, Neela, [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?ei=5124&en=1f44cce06fd2c02a&ex=1361682000&adxnnl=1&partner=digg&exprod=digg&adxnnlx=1204020358-3HkVoV4zxeYh9vTOw6Tydw Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds], New York Times, 25th February, 2008.</ref><br />
[[Image:Hinduism..jpg|240px|right|Shiva the Cosmic Dancer]]<br />
Hindus believe in [[reincarnation]] and eventual communion with [[Brahman]] (God) as well as respect for all life forms. Their holy writings are known as the [[Vedas]]. Hindus outline the four goals of various humans (purusharthas) as: dharma (righteousness), artha (material success), kama (love/pleasure), and moksha (release from reincarnation/reunification with Brahman); above all four of these, in certain Hindu schools, is the goal of pure Love of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Definition by law==<br />
<br />
In 1966, the Supreme Court of [[India]] defined what Hinduism is for legal purposes: <br />
<br />
1. Belief in the authority of the Vedas (an ancient collection of hymns to the gods, written in Sanskrit). The oldest collection of hymns in the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which was written between 1800 and 1300 B.C. The greatest Veda hymn is the “Bhagavat Gita,” a section in the Mahabharata concerning life’s never-ending spiritual journey towards perfection. Bhagavat Geeta is rendered as a dialogue between Shri [[Krishna]] (incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) and Arjuna (the great archer) in the middle of the battlefield.<br />
<br />
2. Spirit of tolerance and willingness to understand and respect an opponent’s view. <br />
<br />
3. Belief in world rhythms: long periods of creation, maintenance and dissolution follow each other in endless succession. <br />
<br />
4. Belief in reincarnation (rebirth) and preexistence. <br />
<br />
5. Belief that there are many ways to salvation. <br />
<br />
6. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism is not defined by a specific set of philosophical concepts. <br />
<br />
7. Belief in one god. Contrary to popular belief, Hinduism is not a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. The Vedas, the primary Hindu holy scriptures states that there is only one [[God]] but can manifest in many forms. This is the reason why there are many deities. A common example used to explain this is that an individual can be called different names depending on the relationship has with another. A man can be a son to his parents, a nephew to his uncle, a father to his son, and a husband to his wife all at the same time. None of these different relationships suggest multiple people but rather different aspects of one person. The same is applied to God in Hinduism, which has no form and is infinite. Hindus may call God, Paratman (Supreme Soul), Brahmana (Eternal Spirit), or Ishvara (Supreme Lord). Deities have various names but represent aspects of God that manifest in the world. For example [[Agni]] (fire, Divine spark), Vayu (wind, or breath which could mean life force, [[Indra]] (in mythology king of gods but also refers to the senses such as vision, hearing, touch, taste), and [[Lakshmi]] (fortune).<br />
<br />
8. Secular multiplicity and accommodating flexibility in spiritual practices.<br />
<br />
Relations between Hinduism and Christianity have also been shaped by unequal balances of political power and cultural influence. Although communities of Christians have lived in South India since the middle of the 1st millennium, the great expansion of Indian Christianity followed the efforts of missionaries working under the protection of the British colonial government. <ref> [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261549/Hinduism Hinduism and Christianity] Encyclopædia Britannica. </ref><br />
<br />
Some state governments such as Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh have passed anti-conversion laws, attempting to prevent Hindus from being forced or coerced into converting to other religions such as [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24470.htm India: International Religious Freedom Report 2003] (U.S. Department of State)</ref><br />
<br />
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].<br />
<br />
==Believer?==<br />
In Hinduism, according to one classification, believers are categorized into four distinct categories, acording to their beliefs.<br />
* Advaita Astika: Believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Advaita Nastika: Believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Astika: Non-believer of God & Believer of Scripture<br />
* Dvaita Nastika: Non-believer of God & Non-believer of Scripture<br />
<br />
==Criticisms==<br />
===Sati===<br />
Sati is an old practice, it's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures in Kali Yuga, the present age.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hinduism.iskcon.org/lifestyle/903.htm |title= Heart of Hinduism Other Social Issues |date= |accessdate=2013-09-13}}</ref> In this practice the widow was immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre, allthough the practice was made as per the agreement of the widow. However during the islamic invasion of Indian subcontinent, this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were normally carried out by Islamic invaders.<ref>"A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism" by Prema Kurien, p. 171</ref><ref>"The Danger of Gender: Caste, Class and Gender in Contemporary Indian Women's Writing" by Clara Nubile, p.9</ref> To this day, the practice remains illegal in India.<br />
<br />
===Caste system===<br />
Hinduism also has a "caste by profession" or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four castes:<br />
*''Brahmin'' (the highest caste in Hinduism)<br />
*''Kshatriya'' (the warrior or ruling class)<br />
*''Vaishya'' (merchants)<br />
*''Shudra'' (unskilled laborers and servants)<br />
<br />
In ancient times, caste was determined by profession, and could be changed by changing career. As time passed on, both Caste and Profession became defined by birth. <ref>[http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]</ref><br />
<br />
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main castes, there was a new addition in the modern distortion of the caste system, as the lowest caste and without any rights, called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables).<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref> Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher castes. Even today there are many reports of discrimination against ''dalits''.<ref>[http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1954/44/ Dalits face discrimination in southern Tamil Nadu] ''All India Christian Council''</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm India: ‘Hidden Apartheid’ of Discrimination Against Dalits] ''[[Human Rights Watch]]''</ref><br />
<br />
==See Also==<br />
* [[Dharma]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Hinduism-Hindu.htm Hindu Religion]<br />
* [http://western-hindu.org/2008/01/27/the-caste-system/ The Caste System]<br />
* [http://ethics.wikia.com/wiki/Param_Atma Parmatma]<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* Johnson, W. J. ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Hinduism-W-J-Johnson/dp/0198610254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Knott, Kim. ''Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction'' (2000) [http://www.questia.com/read/62971675?title=Hinduism%3a%20A%20Very%20Short%20Introduction online edition]<br />
* Shattuck, Cybelle. ''Hinduism'' (1999) [http://www.questia.com/read/103395975?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
* Sullivan, Bruce M. ''Historical Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997)<br />
* Werner, Karel. ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Popular-Dictionary-Hinduism-Dictionaries-Religion/dp/0700710493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238980666&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]<br />
* Zaehner, R. C. ''Hinduism'' (1966) [http://www.questia.com/read/23180604?title=Hinduism online edition]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hinduism| ]]<br />
[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]<br />
[[Category:India]]<br />
[[category:Indian History]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Barack_Hussein_Obama&diff=986207Talk:Barack Hussein Obama2012-06-14T15:10:29Z<p>Regular: /* Last Change */ new section</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Brainreboot20110429.jpg|400px|thumb|]]<br />
<br />
{{articletalkheader|prefix=archive}}<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
==Rense==<br />
Jeff Rense may not be a such a good source. The Anti-Defamation League accuses him of promoting anti-Semitic views and 9/11 Conspiracy theories. OTOH, what is wrong with a Pravda article written in the post Soviet-censorship era when democratic Russia hungars to exercise a free press, open discussion and discernment of facts? [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 22:39, 23 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:See my talk page, Rob. I never noticed who added the Pravda cite, so if you say so, it is of course fine with me, and please add it back if you haven't already! I now suspect it was yet another vandal site troll stirring the pot, so feel free to deal with him as well. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 17:02, 24 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
<br />
== Terror Attacks ==<br />
I have an issue with a claim made in the second paragraph. ''Since abandoning the "War on Terror" in Obama's first year, the United States has suffered more terrorist attacks with deadly intent on American soil than in the previous eight years combined.'' Since Obama replaced the 'Global War on Terror' with 'Overseas Contingency Operation', there have been only four domestic terrorist attacks, a far cry from the 19 that took place under Bush's tenure. This sentence should be reworded or removed in its entirety; it only makes the article look embarrassing. --[[User:MichaelJB|MichaelJB]] 15:46, 25 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:More [[liberal]] poppycock, Michael? Even the New York Times counts more, excluding 9/11, under Obama. Perhaps you should consider sources other than the Kos? --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 19:29, 25 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::A short time ago you gave me grief for making assumptions, yet here you are doing the same. I didn't get any information from Kos, it all came from legitimate news sources. Do you really believe that more terror attacks occurred on US soil from March 2009 to January 2010 than in the eight years of the Bush administration? I would really like to see all your references for making such a bold claim. And why would you want to exclude the WTC/Pentagon attacks?<br />
::Some people have been making some really stupid claims lately about domestic terror. Dana Perino and Rudy Guiliani both claimed there was not a terror attack on the US when Bush was in office. The fact that these people could make such stupidly partisan claims is incredible. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kpfhGxJbLc] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tYoMoJHNDs] The claim made in this article reeks of the same idiocy of Perino and Guiliani, why not delete the sentence or at least make it factual? --[[User:MichaelJB|MichaelJB]] 20:23, 25 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::The facts are undeniable that America was totally unprepared to protect itself from terrorist homeland attacks as Bush entered office, due to the total lack of focus of the Clinton Administration and Congress on the issue. Bush can in no way be blamed for the 9/11 attacks with any real credibility. <br />
<br />
:::As I have stated many times before, as Mr. Schlafly has stated many times before, as several other Admins have as well, coming here to argue-without-end against our conservative point of view in all articles you come across, is silly. If you and others cannot bring yourselves to accept alternative points of view, so be it. If you want a place to argue against conservatism in general, make your own site or try the Kos or HuffPo; but CP isn't a debate forum, it is a conservative encyclopedia ''project''. Article talk pages are for suggesting ways to improve articles from a conservative point of view, not a liberal one. Is that a clear enough statement? --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 21:29, 25 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::::TK: The change you made is completely unacceptable from a moral and ethical standpoint because instead of correcting an error, you are now highlighting a lie. Three terror attacks occurred during Pres. Bush's last year in office. I sent you links to all three events but you are willing to over look such trivial matters as the truth. It's funny that a liberal who has been blocked twice for pointing out errors and outright falsehoods is vilified as a trouble-maker while the conservatives that knowingly mislead and lie are in charge of an alleged 'trustworthy encyclopedia'. <br />
::::I'm trying to make these changes because I don't want Americans to look stupid, even the conservative ones. It's an uphill battle. <br />
<br />
::::Gunman killed two people in a church. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-29-church-shooting_N.htm]<br />
::::Suicide bomber attacked a Georgia law firm. [http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ga_law_firm_explodes_causing_multiple_injuries/]<br />
::::Two police officers were killed by a bomb placed in a bank. [http://www.odmp.org/officer/19697-captain-thomas-paul-tennant]<br />
::::--[[User:MichaelJB|MichaelJB]] 01:25, 29 January 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
MichaelJB you cannot tell the difference between Muslim terrorists and someone with an ax to grind? Godspeed! --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 06:36, 29 January 2010 (EST)v<br />
:So Michael's point is that progressive liberal leftwing commie socialist (or whatever the flavor of the week) Prof. [[Amy Bishop]] conducted a domestic overseas contingency operation attack. It's beginning to make sense. How would we classify the guy who crashed the plane into the IRS building in Houston, a tax protester who railed against corporations. Dang, this is a tuff one.... [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 08:13, 12 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
== Middle name in article title? ==<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
::::<big>'''Unless you have some brilliant new argument to add to this section, further discussion is unneeded.</big>'''<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
It strikes to me odd that the title of the article is Barach Hussein Obama. While there is nothing wrong with that by itself, looking at the [[President_of_the_United_States_of_America#Presidents_list|list of all the U.S. presidents]], it seems that all the other presidents' articles are titled either without their middle name, or just a middle initial. Wouldn't it make sense to rename the article to either Barack Obama or Barack H. Obama to follow suit? [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 18:19, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:There is a big difference between Walker or Jefferson and Hussein. My two cents. [[User:JacobB|JacobB]] 18:22, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::What about [[Ronald Wilson Reagan]]? [[User:DMorris|DMorris]] 18:26, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::This topic had been discussed before. He decided to be inaugurated with his middle name after not using it during the campaign. He is not ashamed of it and we are not ashamed to include it.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 18:29, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::Ah, I see. Looking at some lists though ([http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/] and [http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/past-presidents-of-usa.html]), it seems that many presidents were also inaugurated in a similar fashion. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 18:33, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
::: I think that, as all encyclopedias and scholarly works try to do, we should try to decide on a particular set of rules and always follow it. In this case, these are the options:<br />
:::1) Always cite the full name in the title, so "Barack Hussein Obama", "George Herbert Walker Bush" and "Ronald Wilson Reagan";<br />
:::2) Always use initials for middle names, so "Barack H. Obama", "George H.W. Bush" and "Ronald W. Reagan";<br />
:::3) Use the names in the way they most commonly used, using middle name initials only where they are necessary to distinguish one particular individual from another, therefore "Barack Obama", "George H.W. Bush" and "Ronald Reagan".<br />
<br />
::: We are talking about titles of articles; the full name should always be cited in the body of the article. Personally, I would vote for solution n.3. --[[User:Maquissar|Maquissar]] 18:34, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I like the idea. Either 2 or 3 seem best in my opinion; full names seem a bit to long for article titles. The name that the president was inaugurated with isn't bad either, but it would seem less formal, as some have middle names and others don't. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 18:38, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::: I thought about that solution, but then I thought that we should better set very general rules; by this I mean that we should decide how to title page names referring to INDIVIDUALS, not to US PRESIDENTS. Deciding that "the name that the president was inaugurated with" is a rule that, naturally, can only be applied to presidents. --[[User:Maquissar|Maquissar]] 18:41, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:::: Another good rule would be to use the name that is mostly used to refer to that individual; this has the disadvantage of not being objective, but it is also the most effective. So "Barack Obama", "George H.W. Bush" (to distinguish him from his son), "Ronald Reagan", "Eminem" instead of "Marshall Mathers", "O.J. Simpson" instead of "Orenthal J. Simpson"... --[[User:Maquissar|Maquissar]] 18:56, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
There isn't any vote here, nor was one asked for. Since Obama tries to soft-pedal his Muslim roots and associations, our editorial policy is to call attention to that ''fact''. In addition you should note the [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] article, where well before anyone had an inkling Obama would run for President, Conservapedia used his full name, ''Ronald Wilson Reagan'' which Reagan himself preferred for formal use. So I submit President Obama isn't being singled out, contrary to the insistence of silly-minded liberals. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 19:06, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:But why call attention to that ''fact'' in the title of the article? The ''fact'' is never going to be denied. The introduction sentence would still say "Barack Hussein Obama". Italicize his middle name in the introduction or change the font color to bring out the ''fact'' if you wish. What I am trying to point at is, why should his middle name be used in the article title? Reagan may have preferred it for formal use, but does Mr. Obama say that same? He is commonly known as Barack Obama; I haven't seen it used in any other way (except Obama, of course). If he is commonly known as that, it would make sense to title the article like that, as should every article on people. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 21:05, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Richard Milhous Nixon was commonly refered to as [[Milhous]] by his detracters. Indeed, googling milhouse brings up hundreds of thousands of hits on Nixon that dwarf most all other uses of the name. Now, googling [[Hussein]] presents a host of other problems. The [[Heshamite Dynasty]] of [[Hussein bin Ali]] had been the Islamic Keeper of the Holy places for 700 years until Western British Imperialist interests unseated them and installed the Saudi ruling clan thier place (visualize Islamists dethroning the Pope and installing thier own choice as successor). How does it look when Hussein bin Ali's namesake bows to tne Saudi puppet? Why not focus on how Obama ''is'' bringing real change to the whole planet, rather than argue about how things have traditionally been done? [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:14, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
Drop it. Further discussion is last-wordism. [[User:JacobB|JacobB]] 21:14, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:On the question of "''all the other presidents' articles are titled either without their middle name, or just a middle initial. Wouldn't it make sense ...to follow suit? ''"<br />
:You will recall Barack Hussein Obama is the transformational president of change. Wouldn't it make sense to begin change right here, with his name? (assuming that is his name). [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:54, 26 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
<nowiki>:</nowiki>D<br /><br />
--<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 01:58, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
Pretty slick conservative trap there TK. despite the fact that you neglected to answer some massive holes in the arguments above, you declare the debate "ended" (even though its not) then decry anything else as last wordism to stifle any further debate. well done--[[User:DerikJ|DerikJ]] 11:58, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:What holes? We're implementing change. Let's find common ground and compromise. We've done just that. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 12:35, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::I like your comment on change, Rob, it made me laugh :) Anyway, I don't see how an argument that Obama's slogan being "change" is any reason to title his article to what he is less commonly known as/less traditional. It's pushing it, in a sense. Besides, being a conservative, I would think that you wouldn't want to follow Obama's way of thinking ;) [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 13:40, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::Conservatives are for change, both economic and social. They want to change tax law and abortion rulings, for example. Above all, change public education. Being anti-change is just a vulgar stereotype held by closeminded and intolerant people. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 14:09, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::I can agree with that. But ''why'' "change" how Obama's article is titled when others are titled either without their middle name or with their middle name if they are commonly known and identified by the name, in some cases. Simply changing something doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing, there has to be reason, and the reason has to be, well, reasonable. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 14:44, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
:::::Call it the price of progress. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 15:17, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::::::In that case, would changing the titles of all the other peoples' articles to include their middle names sound all right to you? It would be progress, after all. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 17:29, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
I have always wondered why the Obamabots get so upset with the name Obama's parents chose. Pretty silly. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 16:40, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:I actually like the name, it has a nice ring to it. It's more of just keeping a solid style of titling pages, a format if you want to call it that. [[User:Kayvan|Kayvan]] 17:29, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
::Which brings us to the question of Barry Soetero. If Obama went by this name, then he may have lied to the Illinois Supreme Court when asked to provide former names, according to this Attorney’s Registration Record. [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2061988/posts] I'm not the sure what the resolution of this issue ever was, and we don't have a word about it in this article. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 17:49, 27 February 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
I know I am new here but there really needs to be a consensus amongst all Presidential and Vice President articles, actually this should probably extend to all US politicians. I know there is a specified conservative bias, however the lack organization and consensus has nothing to do with liberal or conservative bias, it has to do with disorganization and lazyiness by the admins.<br />
<br />
If you want to leave the middle, that is fine, however, there would need to be a quick modification of all or the majority of the US Politian article so as not to look so disorganized.[[User:Solarguy17|Solarguy17]] 01:01, 10 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:You hit the nail on the head. You are new here. Don't come in criticizing and such off the bat. [[User:JacobB|JacobB]] 01:12, 10 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
My criticization is to help the article(s) to be better as a whole. None of the above discussion explains the reasoning for leaving it as is. Just people saying he used it in his inauguration so we use it here, however, almost every pres does this so why not have it that way for everyone????[[User:Solarguy17|Solarguy17]] 01:15, 10 March 2010 (EST)<br />
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<br />
Not really discussion just more of a question. I just recently found this site and was looking through the religious articles and for the most part they seemed pretty good. However, when I come to the political articles, some of them seem a little crazy. I know it is to call more attention to the things that are being overlooked by the media. But I have ask about the middle name thing. <br />
<br />
I read all of the information above and I still am not sure why it was decided to leave it as is. Can someone clarify this? <br />
Please don't ban me, I noticed that basically everyone with discussion in this thread that isn't an admin now has banned accounts. I personally don't care, I am just confused. [[User:StevenS|StevenS]] 01:12, 12 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
: As it says up at the top of this section, "Unless you have some brilliant new argument to add to this section, further discussion is unneeded." If you do have one, let's have it. But it sure seems like everyone who signs up to this site and immediately starts complaining has nothing new to say at all. Why don't you spend some time reading here with an open mind first, and complain later? [[User:DanielPulido|DanielPulido]] 01:20, 12 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
Now, why would a single individual come here under several different user names all in an effort to get the word "Hussein" removed from the title of this article? It makes no sense at all unless that individual has a personal agenda to perform. The article title stays as it is. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 01:42, 12 March 2010 (EST)<br />
<br />
:My only concern is that the title seems to exist in its current state for no purpose other than to further a bias. The arguments that "well he asked for it" seem to suggest that accuracy and fairness are non-valuable in this wiki. I sincerely hope this is not the case and that I may not be banned and able to start a fun future in helping this wiki grow in the impressive way it has so far. [[User:Vidihawk|Vidihawk]] 07:47, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
::'''"Unless you have some brilliant new argument to add to this section, further discussion is unneeded."'''<br />
I guess you missed the bold title at the top of this section? Also, see [[Ronald Wilson Reagan]] to see how silly your argument is. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 08:16, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
:I guess it wasn't as bright an idea as I had hoped. Heh... It still comes off as somewhat purposeful, though. Okie, I'll back away! - [[User:Vidihawk|Vidihawk]] 08:24, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
::Purposeful, as in done with the same horribly malevolent intent as ''my'' adding Reagan's middle name several years ago? You are giving away your intent in advance, good sir, by refusing to admit your already formed assumptions about us are wrong. I hope you prove me wrong, and turn out to be that rare U.K. denizen that turns out to be open-minded and as fair to us as you wish us to be to you. There have been precious few. And please do check out our editors guide and all of that. We differ quite a bit from Wikipedia. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 08:33, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
:::::I think we should keep the current title of the article. Furthermore, I think we should replace the top picture, which is currently a picture of Obama, with a picture of an oil drenched pelican (and a new caption) as a tribute to Obama's indifference, sloth and incompetence. [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 20:36, 16 June 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== I moved the material dealing with the present to the top ==<br />
<br />
I moved the material dealing with the present to the top as I thought readers would be more interested in how Obama is screwing up the present. For example, I think Americans right now are very concerned about how Obama is screwing up the economy. Of course, he is also doing a poor job in other areas presently as well such as holding terrorists court cases in civilian courts, etc. etc. [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 04:30, 15 March 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:That makes sense to me. I do appreciate letting me try the other timeline structure. However, I didn't really take into consideration the fact that because he is a high profile individual it may benefit readers to see more recent info before his earlier biography facts. At least while he's fulfilling his one failed term as president, your structure makes sense to me. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:42, 15 March 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
::As the ==Maoism== section is being being built, we may eventually be able to free up space from the sections on the Ayers/Dohrn relationship by moving some of that material to Ayers own page, and/or creating a new separate page documenting Obama's rise with communist and terrorist assistance. An acceptable title for that page would be needed. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:23, 15 March 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Citation==<br />
<br />
"Any orders he gives to the American military are subject to being refused. Orders that Obama gives to America’s Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military can be refused." --http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/19-01-2009/106972-Barry_Soetoro-0<br />
<br />
Do we really want to cite an article that makes this claim? Do any of us really support this opinion, or if we do, do we support the use of opinion articles as sources in addition to factual ones? --[[User:BenjaminS|Ben]] <sub>[[User Talk:BenjaminS|Talk]]</sub> 08:42, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:Is the opinion piece backed by valid and factual citations from the United States Code, Ben, as opposed to a unsupported rant? --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 08:47, 6 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== pronunciation of "Pakistan" ==<br />
<br />
This is really considered evidence of anything? I've heard [[Mark Levin]] use the Spanish-inflected pronunciation of Sonia Sotomayor's name (''so tow my OR'' rather than ''so tow MY er''), but nobody would claim that proves he's Catholic or Hispanic. [[User:Golgaronok|Golgaronok]] 23:55, 9 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
:Pronunciation shows an enormous amount about someone's views and history. Obama doesn't use the American pronunciation, and this is telling, since ''no one else in the public sphere'' pronounces it in the muslim way ''but'' Obama. [[User:DouglasA|DouglasA]] 00:15, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
[[David Petraeus]] does [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtCLp7siY7I]. [[User:Golgaronok|Golgaronok]] 00:50, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
And [http://www.forvo.com/word/pakistan/ numerous other languages] use a pronunciation closer to the native form. [[User:Golgaronok|Golgaronok]] 00:57, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
::"Golgaronok" (if that is your name), your quibbles with the entry have already been argued ad nauseum, [http://www.conservapedia.com/Talk:Barack_Hussein_Obama/archive4#.22Pokiston.22.3F.3F.3F.3F.3F here], for instance. If you've only come to argue on talk pages, you're wasting your own time. Try making substantive contributions to the project; excessive talk is disfavored here. [[User:DanielPulido|DanielPulido]] 01:04, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
I don't see any responses to the points I raised. But it's y'all's funeral. [[User:Golgaronok|Golgaronok]] 01:13, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
:::Kind of interesting that Davis Petraeus was mentioned here. When that general was ordered to command US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, the liberal elites decided that his name should be pronounced "BETRAY US". [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 01:29, 10 April 2010 (EDT)<br />
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==Barry Soetoro = birth name?==<br />
This may have already been discussed, so forgive me if this has been settled. I noticed that the article says ''"Barack Hussein Obama II (birth name Barry Soetoro..."'', however the articles cited do not support the idea that "Barry Soetoro" is Obama's birth name, in fact quite the opposite. My understanding, from reading the Newsweek article, is that "Barack" is his birth name, although he went by "Barry" when he was younger. His father's name, as I understand it, is Barack Hussein Obama, and he was named after his father. "Seotoro", if I remember right, was his stepfather's last name, so it is unlikely that it would have been part of Obama's birth name. To be clear, I do realize that he spent his younger years being known as "Barry Soetoro", and I think that should be included in the article, I just don't think it was actually his birth name. <br><br />
Please understand that I am not as knowledgeable in this kind of thing as many other contributors here, so I may have gotten it all wrong - that's why I didn't attempt to edit the article. Please correct me if I have gotten it wrong - I won't be offended and I am curious as to the truth of the matter. [[User:Hsmom|Hsmom]] 18:11, 1 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
According to the citation that shows the birth certificate, the birth name is, in fact, Barack Hussein Obama II, NOT Barry Soetoro. Also, because there is an actual document, i.e. physical, demonstrable proof, the word "allegedly" should be removed.<br />
<br />
== Remove name repetition? ==<br />
<br />
Would anyone mind if I removed some of the repetition of Obama's name in certain portions of the article? For example, in this paragraph:<br />
{{cquote|<br />
[[Barack Obama and uncharitableness|Barack Obama's recent pattern of charitable giving]] and [[Barack Obama and liberal elitism|Barack Obama's liberal elitism]] is consistent with Obama being a [[Narcissism|narcissist]] which is a charge that has often been made against Barack Obama. However, it is also true that Barack Obama is an [[evolution|evolutionist]]. Barack Obama told the ''York Daily Record'' that "I believe in [[evolution]]...". Barack Obama's recent pattern of charitable giving and liberal elitism is also in accordance with someone who has a certain degree of [[Social Darwinism|social darwinistic]] thinking. In addition to [[Liberals and uncharitableness|American liberals giving less to charity]], it is also true that [[Theory of evolution and liberalism|American liberals are also more likely to believe in evolution]].<br />
}}<br />
<br />
I think I could alter it to make it more readable with "Obama's recent pattern of charitable giving and liberal elitism is consistent with that of a narcissist, a charge that has often been made against him."<br />
<br />
And so forth. In my linguistics class, we talked about semantic satiation, and I believe that paragraphs like these, along with the fact that it never seems to use pronouns, somewhat diminish the readability of the article. If I were to make this change, I would preserve every wikilink, reference, etc, but I believe it would become more readable. In Christ, [[User:Tzoran|Tyler Zoran]] <sup>[[User talk:Tzoran|Talk]]</sup> 09:09, 6 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Insults? ==<br />
<br />
Does the entire beginning of the article have to be so laden with insults? Couldnt it simply say what the article will be about, and THEN express views? As it is it appears very unprofessional. 19:11, 6 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
:We believe in the truth here, and the fact that [[liberals]] like yourself feign offense at the display of it speaks volumes about you. If you insist on closing your mind, at least take ownership of your [[deceit]]! Sign your comments with <nowiki> ~~~~ </nowiki> next time. Godspeed! [[User:Tzoran|Tyler Zoran]] <sup>[[User talk:Tzoran|Talk]]</sup> 19:58, 6 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== "The first president who is biracial" ==<br />
<br />
There have been other presidents of more than one race. Bush Jr. is has some German and English ancestry. [[User:NP|NP]]<br />
<br />
:George W is German and English, is that two races according to our census? I think the readers will understand what biracial refers to.<br />
<br />
::English and German are '''''not''''' races, and neither is Hispanic. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 22:16, 17 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Reorganizing ==<br />
<br />
I'm glad to see the edit feature is enabled here once more. I think this page needs a revamp to structure information better. I've reorganized everything into a better structure, let me know what you think. I am trying to put a summary of the presidency at the top, information about his life/career next, and then a political summary. This should really improve the page's appearance, as it appears too disorganized right now. --[[User:Jzyehoshua|Jzyehoshua]] 15:56, 20 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
:What you're doing is burying important information so fewer users will find it. That's unacceptable. [[User:DouglasA|DouglasA]] 15:57, 20 May 2010 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Obama is a Muslim theory and the alleged claim of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit ==<br />
<br />
Here is what the American Thinker reported: "The American President told me in confidence that he is a Muslim." That was the claim of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as reported in the May 2010 issue of Israel Today. According to journalist Avi Lipkin, Gheit appeared on Nile TV's "Round Table Show" in January, on which he said that "he had had a one-on-one meeting with Obama who swore to him that he was a Moslem, the son of a Moslem father and step-son of Moslem step-father, that his half-brothers in Kenya were Moslems, and that he was loyal to the Moslem agenda."[http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/report_obama_said_i_am_a_musli.html] Here is what Hot Air says: http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/06/14/obama-is-a-muslim-take-two/ <br />
<br />
Personally, I am beginning to think Obama is: not a Muslim, not a Christian, and not an atheist. I think Obama is a narcissist who worships himself. I can also see him telling one person he is a Christian and then later telling someone else he is a Muslim. There are many examples of Obama being insincere such as all the substantive healthcare discussions were going to be on C-Span, etc. etc. [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 15:53, 16 June 2010 (EDT)<br />
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== 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ==<br />
<br />
I find it strange that there is not a single mention of the president being awarded the Nobel peace prize in this article. Considering that other prominent award winners have it at least mentioned in their respective articles. The [[Mother Teresa]] article, for instance, prominently states her award in the introduction to the article, and even political figures like [[Al Gore]] and [[Henry Kissinger]] (both of whom won the peace prize) have their award at least mentioned in the article.<br />
--[[User:DenisTR|DenisTR]] 16:04, 19 August 2010 (EDT)<br />
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:I agree with you, Denis. It was there, once-upon-a-time, but apparently it was removed in the constant editing turmoil. CP does mention this in the [[Nobel Prize]] article. I will add it here, as it should be. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 16:24, 19 August 2010 (EDT)<br />
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==Faulty Logic==<br />
I have a suspicion that Andy Schlafly is secretly a Muslim. Will you deny that, Andy? If you do deny it, then I accuse you of being a Muslim under the concept of Taqiyya.<br />
It's like a terrible flow chart that always ends with "You're a Muslim." I realize that you're kind of scraping the barrel with this whole "Obama is a Muslim" thing, but c'mon. [[User:Pete5383|Paul]] 18:57, 19 August 2010 (EDT)<br />
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: Paul, you seem to think all claims or facts are relative. They aren't. Truth is supported by logic and evidence.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:00, 19 August 2010 (EDT)<br />
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:: President Obama clearly has an Islamic background. As an adult, he joined a church and says he's a Christian. I'd say he's as much Muslim as I am Jewish; by Jewish law, my having a Jewish mother makes me Jewish by birth, but I became a Christian by choice as a teenager. Go figure. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 14:04, 3 September 2010 (EDT)<br />
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:::Whether President Obama is Muslim or not is one question; however it is undeniable Obama misspoke or was deceptive while ramping up his ambitions back in 2005 when he told the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', "I am rooted in the Christian tradition." Nowhere on his maternal side, grandma, gramps, or his natural father, or his stepfather, can any Christian rooting be found. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 14:37, 4 September 2010 (EDT)<br />
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==Days in office==<br />
[[Barack Obama]] was inaugurated {{days since|2009|1|20}} days ago and will finish his term in {{#expr: -{{days since|2013|1|20}} }} days. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 14:00, 3 September 2010 (EDT)<br />
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==Apparent sourcing errors==<br />
<br />
While looking over this article, I noticed a number of problems - mostly unsourced claims or claims for which the source is no longer available. Since my suggestions will almost certainly be controversial, I will not actually make any further changes to this page.<br />
<br />
*The quote "Rather than being a unifier, Mr. Obama has divided America on the basis of race, class and partisanship" under the heading "Presidency" is unattributed.<br />
<br />
*The claim that Obama represented ACORN in ''Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Fed. Sav. Bank'' is unsupported. While court documents do list Obama among the Plaintiff's Attorneys, they do not reference ACORN in any way. [http://www.clearinghouse.net/detail.php?id=10112] This claim seems to have been added by bloggers after the fact. Similarly, the cited reference contains no source for the claim that Obama had anything to do with the CRA, only a completely unsourced allegation that was reprinted almost verbatim here. As far as I can tell, Obama represented ACORN exactly once, on a case involving motor voter laws. [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/oct/17/john-mccain/he-represented-them-in-one-case-/]<br />
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*The statement "Obama website Fight The Smears has confirmed that Obama was once a Kenyan citizen until 1982" under the subheading "Birth Certificate Controversy" is unsourced and ambiguous.<br />
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*Much of the content under the subheading "Engineers defeat of Centrist Democrats" is dubious. Two of the cites [http://articles.latimes.com/1992-03-18/news/mn-3844_1_gus-savage][http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Carol_Moseley_Braun#Political_career] are about Carol Moseley Braun and don't mention Obama at all. There is no indication in any of the sources that Obama was connected to the Braun campaign, so these cites are meaningless. Additionally, the section attributes an anti-Dixon intent to Obama (referring to Obama as "subverting" Dixon's reelection, defined by Conservapedia's own article as "lending of aid, comfort, and moral support to individuals, groups, or organizations that advocate the overthrow of incumbent governments by force and violence"). What he did was increase voter turnout among the black community, a far cry from what the text implies.<br />
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*<s>The statement "President Obama falsely claimed that the senior citizen group AARP endorsed his administration's health care plan when they never made such an endorsement" under the subheading "Obama Administration Health Care Plan and Its Advocacy Methods" is sourced to a YouTube video that no longer exists. Additionally, it appears that AARP has been supporting health care reform since at least August 2009. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/17/eveningnews/main5247916.shtml][http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/19/aarp-ama-announce-support_n_506060.html]</s><br />
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*Similarly, several cites link to YouTube videos that have been removed. Multiple cites under the subheading "Obama Administration Health Care Plan and Liberal Elitism" link to deleted videos, as does the cite for the statement "Barack Obama's "Disinformation Czar" (whose supposed job was to correct disinformation that others are spreading about the Obama administration's health care plan) was caught spreading misleading information." The cite for the statement "Senior citizens are key Democratic party constituents that could kill Obama's socialistic health care plan" links to a private video.<br />
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--[[User:DrewJ|DrewJ]] 15:50, 29 September 2010 (EDT)<br />
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:Sorry, Drew, but one glaring misrepresentation really sticks out, and explains why liberals are often accused of playing fast and loose with the truth: While AARP has long advocated health care reform, it specifically repudiated Obama's distortion of the truth, saying they were not endorsing any specific plan, at that time. See how easy it is to distort fact, by omission, and make obviously good-intentioned souls like you doubt the real truth?<br />
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:You are obviously an editor here, and I would urge you, before making posts such as this one, to try and find substitute sources that back up what is in the story. At the very least, as is the case with the AARP, at least check the facts before stating something is incorrect. It was a very big story at the time, Obama's misstatement, and not at all hard to find....so easy and well-known in fact that some people might be tempted to accuse you of inserting a deliberate [[Red Herring]]. --<big>[[User:TK|'''ṬK''']]</big><sub>/Admin</sub><sup>[[User_Talk:TK|/Talk]]</sup> 17:29, 29 September 2010 (EDT)<br />
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Sources don't count if they are liberal sources. Those are worse than no source at all. Find a reliable source like Cato Institute or Fox News and we can add those. [[User:JoeSmithson117|JoeSmithson117]] 18:44, 4 December 2011 (EST)<br />
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== Typo ==<br />
The first sentence here has a typo: it presumably is meant to read "...said to have '''been''' born in..." I'd fix it myself, but the page is so informative (and therefore long) that my poor old computer can't load it to edit. --[[User:LanceS|LanceS]] 21:49, 11 November 2010 (EST)<br />
:Thanks, JPatt got it. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] <sup>[[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]]</sup> 22:29, 11 November 2010 (EST)<br />
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== Bryan Fischer: Obama wants to give America back to the Indians ==<br />
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Is [http://www.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147501360 this site] some kind of liberal parody? Otherwise, this is so serious that is should be included. American Family Association would seem to me as a pretty trustworthy organization, and this Bryan Fischer is writing for them. Any thoughts? &ndash; [[User:Dstone|dstone]] 16:42, 1 January 2011 (EST)<br />
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==Fact vs Opinion==<br />
Okay...I thought maybe this article would be a good place to start. I was introduced to Conservapedia recently, and have been waffling about joining and bcoming an editor, but can no longer refrain. So, I'm extraordinarily new...and I fully expect the welcoming and flame-free arms of this community, as I support the overall efforts of what Conservapedia is trying to accomplish. The road to becoming a "Trustworthy Encyclopedia" is long, and this site is just starting to make baby steps in that direction. That being said, I will try to keep this short. <br />
<br />
FACT: Opinions are not fact. Even expert opinions are not fact. They're just plain old opinions. Despite being in the Commandments, and otherwise stated over and over again, folks seem to have trouble making this distinction.<br />
OPINION: If you are unable to make cited references, or present the conservative viewpoint in a reasoned and intelligent manner, I would heavily suggest that you leave the site to those who can. Your "help" is often unhelpful. Especially in an article as...contentious...as this - and I imagine many others, I'll be looking shortly - the talk page is the place to present your opinions. If you cannot site material, find sources that intelligently argue your viewpoint, or just want a second or third pair of eyes and ears, it would be addressed here. Also, if haven't actually read the article that you are citing...do that first, before posting anything at all...<br />
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There are several on this page, the most innocuous of which: President Obama authorized offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico[28]. The moratorium lapsed in 2008. It says it right in the article, paragraph 4. This statement is spruious and vague and will be reworded to say something like: Then-Senator Obama voted to re-authorize oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This is just a small and harmless example, but, either research the issue before posting, or don't post. If you wish to engage in historical revisionism, or just bottom-barrel opinion mongering, please roll on over to Wikipedia, and leave us be. [[User:RyanDav|RyanDav]] 2 January 2011<br />
:I moved this from the top of the page to its current location, to maintain threading. [[User:Tzoran|Tyler Zoran]] <sup>[[User talk:Tzoran|Talk]]</sup> 13:35, 2 January 2011 (EST)<br />
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== Oil Drilling Moratorium, redux ==<br />
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I did not realize that this would be as contentious as it was. The statement is simply poorly worded, I assume unintentionally, and appears to place the blame squarely on one person's shoulders. This is just factually innacurate, nothing more, nothing less. We accept credit where credit is due, and take blame where blame is appropriate - and the blame belongs to the vast majority of the 110th Congress, both the liberal reps and ours - and to deny that is some kind of revisionism, which will not be tolerated. I'm certainly more than willing to be corrected on this, but you can either site sources that support your viewpoint, or you cannot - it really is that easy. In that case, the article would read something like, "then-Senator Obama lobbied heavily for the moratorium to lapse, and led a congressional coalition consisting of Senators Blah, Blah and Blah and Congressmen Such-and-such and So-and-so to further that end, etc..." accompanied by supporting references. I am afraid, however, that a "nuh-uh," or, "because I said so," is simply Not Good Enough. We're counteracting liberal bias, here, not populating the internet with more unfounded claptrap. [[User:RyanDav|RyanDav]] 19:26, 3 January 2011 (EST)<br />
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:If you please, write here your proposal for how this should be written, including the source links. If Obama lobbied heavily for the moritorium to lapse, then the source evidence will say it; if he was a part of a coalition of people, then again the evidence will support that. Since this article is about Obama, it should lean on what he has done while in office. But as far as what the 110th Congress did or didn't do, oh yes, I am in total agreement with you...and so were the vast majority of voters back in November. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 20:00, 3 January 2011 (EST)<br />
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::He didn't, as far as I know, or have ever read. I don't think any articles arguing that he soley was responsible, or even more responsible than any other rep, exist. The text is already up there. Pretty vanilla. Mentions him by name, but also says, "hey, don't forget about all the other chair-jockeys, too!" But the article is about him, so he gets a name drop for focus. The article is about him as whole, so his Presidential and Senatorial terms would be seperate sections of the same article, so as not to confuse. The 110th was the last Bush-era Congress. In November, we voted out the 111th. We are now in the 112th Congress. <br />
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::Oh, I also replaced someone's citation from an OpEd piece in the NYTimes with an actual news reference that supported the same point (about the Obama administration's poor response to the Oil Spill). If I didn't know better (and I probably don't), I would suspect that some of the citations here are purposefully planted just to make us look like simpletons. [[User:RyanDav|RyanDav]] 21:39, 3 January 2011 (EST)<br />
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== Birth Controversy ==<br />
Could someone please explain to me something I've never quite followed: why does it matter where Obama was born? As far as I can tell, no one is claiming his mother was not a US Citizen, which makes him a "natural born" US citizen even if he was born in Kenya, Moscow, or Riyadh. If the issue is "without a birth certificate we can't be certain his mother is really his mother" then I get it, but this side of things seems to be ignored in favor of controversy over the actual location of the birth. If we interpret "natural born citizen" as "born within the US", then that would exclude the children of Armed Forces personnel stationed overseas with their families at the time their children were born from the presidency, which seems like something liberals would love to do. [[User:Ptorquemada|Ptorquemada]] 12:09, 5 April 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Well, John McCain whose father was an Admiral was born to two American parents in Panama Canal Zone. The media questioned his "natural born" citizen status and it seemingly was determined that since both his parents were American citizens who were living out of State because of the Admiral's duties that John McCain's birth status would be considered "natural born. The question concerning Barack Obama is that his father was not a US citizen but was in fact a British subject as Kenya was under British rule at the time. Some suggest that the original conception of "natural born" was that both parents are US citizens at the time of the birth of a child. So there is a question as to his "natural born" status even if he was, in fact, born in Hawaii. The fact that Obama has spent a couple of million dollars fighting any requests for proof of an original long form birth certificate and school records makes some people more convinced that a. he wasn't actually born in Hawaii and that his birth was only registered there or b. because his father was a British subject he had duel citizenship status which would make it doubtful that he would be considered a natural born citizen. There are many questions concerning Obama's "natural born" status because he also appears to have been a citizenship of Indonesia and is supposed to have traveled on an Indonesian passport as an adult. Of course, a lot of questions would be removed if the president just released the original birth certificate. The fact that he hasn't just adds fuel to the fire. [[User:Dwain|Dwain]] 12:09, 8 April 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Birth Certificate Removal? ==<br />
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Now that Obama has finally released his birth certificate, all this about Kenya and Barry Soetoro seems a bit silly. Should we remove it? [[User:JimAB|JimAB]] 11:24, 27 April 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Has the question of Mr. Obama traveling to Pakistan on an Indonesian passport under the name Barry Soetero in 1981 been resolved yet? As well as the statements regarding his application to join the Illinois State Bar Association wherein he answered no to the question of ever using any aliases? [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 18:12, 28 April 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Shortening the article length ==<br />
<br />
I think we need to work on splitting this article; I recently revert a vandal's (mostly) blanking of the page, and my browser would freeze up when I tried to save the page (actually I'm currently trying to save it - and over and over again I'm having no luck). Currently this appears at the top of the edit screen:<br />
:'''WARNING: This page is 144 kilobytes long; some browsers may have problems editing pages approaching or longer than 32kb. Please consider breaking the page into smaller sections or removing irrelevant information.'''<br />
Thoughts?--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 00:34, 30 April 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== First Socialist??? ==<br />
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Obama is clearly a socialist, but is he the first to be president as the lead of the article states? The New deal democrats who created social security come to mind.[[User:BenDylan|BenD]] 09:03, 1 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:That certainly may be true. But we are talking about one man who occupies the office of president, not underlings and appopintees. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 09:23, 1 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
::But couldn't the Presidents who hired them be considered socialists? I still don't know about saying he's the FIRST. [[User:KingHanksley|KingHanksley]] 12:31, 4 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Obama the Socialist ==<br />
I am counting all the capitalists that have hired self-proclaimed communists. I come up with zero. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 12:43, 2 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Update of the article ==<br />
<br />
See [[Talk:Barack Hussein Obama/update]] if you'd like to contribute to an update of this article - we'll be keeping a lot of the information that's good, throwing out some information that's a little old, and adding new information - all while hopefully downsizing! All help is appreciated!--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 19:55, 2 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
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== Bin Laden ==<br />
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Should we at least mention the Bin Laden capture? I feel that in fairness we should give him his one or two accomplishments. We should definitely mention that George W. Bush's policies played a big hand but still Obama could have gone entirely bleeding heart on us and we wouldn't have gotten OBL [[User:KingHanksley|KingHanksley]] 11:24, 4 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
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But being fair and giving credit to a liberal muslim socialist for making the world even a little safer would undermine the integrity of a conservative encyclopedia. Now had he screwed up the capture then that would be worthy of mentioning because it would show how he endangered the country. We should only be fair and give credit where credit is due if Obama was a Christian conservative who shared our beliefs. ([[User:Bluebank|Bluebank]] 12:58, 7 July 2011 (EDT))<br />
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I agree, it would only be worth mentioning if he had screwed up the capture because then we could hold his feet to the fire. ([[User:Jvclark2|Jvclark2]] 13:00, 7 July 2011 (EDT))<br />
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:::''"giving credit to a liberal muslim socialist for making the world even a little safer would undermine the integrity of a conservative encyclopedia."'' Well that's not a biased statement or anything. It should fall under the article Obama presidency but because of its significance, put it on the BHO page. Rarely, but we have given Obama credit in the past. The rescue of a Captain from Somali pirates is a good example of the proper choice the Progressive fake Christian Marxist had made. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:58, 7 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::::I just don't see where ordering bin Laden's killing is a big accomplishment. What purpose did it serve other than a failed effort to turn around Obama's falling poll ratings while destroying the most important relationship the United States had in the war on terror. After Obama declared the war on terror over two years ago, dismantling the delicate relationship with the Pakistani ISS seems like phase two. Undermining Pakistan's secular regime, the way Obama did, only works to the advantage of Islamic extremists. <br />
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:::::Did killing bin Laden bring back the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks? No. Does making the war's in Iraq & Afghanistan about retribution rather than prevention, further American foreign policy interests or make the United States more secure? Hardly. <br />
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:::::Does creating the false sense among the American electorate that the objectives of the war in Afghanistan have now been accomplished, and we can abandon the fight? The height of folly -- and a repeat of what happened when the U.S. abandoned Afghanistan to the terrorists after 1991. <br />
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:::::Did killing bin Laden make America safe from reprisals? Or rather doies killing bin Laden expose innocent men, women, and children to the never ending threat of sudden, sensesless, and violent death?<br />
:::::The cynical manipulation of American security and foreign policy interests for short term popularity and selfish career interests is appalling. I just don't agree this a "success" to boast of. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:15, 7 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::::While I think it's laughable to say that taking down the number one most wanted man in the world isn't an accomplishment, I think it's a decision that ''anyone'' would have made, therefore, it isn't special or particular that Obama happened to be the one to make it. [[User:BradB|BradB]] 23:57, 7 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::::::No. We've learned from our mistakes. In 1967 the the number one most wanted man in the world - Che Guevara - was similiarly hunted and executed, only to be resurrected by liberals, hate-mongers, and other assorted sociopaths and pro-mass murder advocates, made the mascot of the hate-America crowd, and sold to American college students as somethiong larger than life and a cult hero to be worshiped. It is not laughable at all. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:55, 8 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::::::The angst from the left goes back to Bush hatred. We shouldn't have interfered in Iraq and should have focused on OBL. Leftist sheep knew better than Bush. We knew all along that it is not one man but a movement, confront them there instead of here. At least we are no longer creating and recruiting terrorists, thanks to a Muslim-named president and his policies of peace in the Middle East.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:08, 8 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::::::::You will recall Senator [[Patty Murray]], who now heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee charged with candidate recruitment and doling out funds, praised bin Laden for his work with children buidling day care centers. He probably supported the Family-Leave Act and opposed No Child Left Behind, too. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 15:26, 8 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::::::::''" I just don't agree this a "success" to boast of. "'' Two points, 1) stating a fact is not boasting, it is just stating a fact. We list domestic policy, popular bills, economic plan, gulf oil spill, DADT... It's just another thing to list. 2) Had Bush done it I'm pretty sure it would be on his page.([[User:Jvclark2|Jvclark2]] 21:09, 8 July 2011 (EDT))<br />
:::::::::::That is the point. Stating the fact that Obama's unnecessarily destroyed the most vital relationship the United States has in the War on Terror to score short term approval ratings. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 12:38, 9 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
Jvclark - bin Laden's death is mentioned on this page. In the lead. What more do you want?--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 11:46, 9 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
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==From the update - discussion==<br />
===Structuring===<br />
This is what I feel should be the general sectioning of the article - I think with an article that we have this much information on, what we mostly need to do is use "See also:" pages rather than go into major details.<br />
{| style="width:100%"<br />
|valign="top"|<br />
*Early life<br />
*U.S. Senate career (with a note on opposition to the Iraq War - which should be followed up on in the presidential primary race)<br />
*U.S. Senate career<br />
**Radical endorsements, support, and get out the vote efforts (better language?)<br />
**'''Use of filibuster and obstructionism'''<br />
**'''Voted agaist debt ceiling increase'''<br />
<br />
*Presidential election (things to cover: experience question, jeremiah wright, PUMA)<br />
**Primary race<br />
**National election<br />
|valign="top"|<br />
*Presidency<br />
**Domestic policy<br />
***Popular Bills (Zadroga, lilly ledbetter fair pay act)<br />
***Economic plan<br />
****Stimulus plan<br />
***Health care<br />
***The Gulf oil spill<br />
**Foreign policy<br />
***Commander-in-Chief<br />
****Iraq<br />
****Afghanistan<br />
****Libya/The Obama Doctine<br />
****Don't Ask Don't Tell<br />
|valign="top"|<br />
<br />
*Ideology (mentioning pro-abortion stance, other things not mentioned above)<br />
*References<br />
*See also<br />
*External links<br />
|}<br />
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Rob I've bolded two section that I wonder if they should be sections alone; I do 100% agree that they should be mentioned in the text; are you set on them being sections? If so I'll yield--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 00:58, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Leave bold for now & let's see what develops; '''Recovery''' is ambiguous; while total output (GDP growth) has recovered, we've seen several polls just over the past week where 60-70% of respondents ''still'' think the US is in recession (despite the fact GDP growth has recovered over the past year and half). Likewise, it certainly has not been a "jobs recovery". I'd suggest this needs a better name. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 01:15, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
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::I very much agree - that's a misleading section title - I think what I meant was "Proposed Recovery" - or "Recovery Plan". The latter sounds a little better to my ears. I made a few edits below - I'm gonna hold off on doing anything else till you get a chance to take a look and add things.--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small>01:22, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::I've replaced Recovery with Stimulus, perhaps "Stimulus and budget". Also, Don't Ask Don't Tell seems a little wierd under "Wartime"; is it there solely cause it's a military subject? It could just as easily fit under Idealogy as well (I' not just trying to be argumentative....) [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 01:40, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::Hmm. Very true. No I think it's definitely a legitimate question. I HAD been thinking that Ideology would just cover what wasn't addressed in the prior sections (since certainly we'd discuss his economic ideology in the "Economic plan" section) - so, yes, I had just placed it under wartime solely because its a military subject. But it is probably more apropos to homosexual rights. I am worried that Ideology will become a bucket of worms, so to speak, only in that it'd be weird to just have a section for DADT under it, so then we'd have to have a super-section for "Homosexual policy", and then super-sections for everything else, making the article very long. I leave it up to you.--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 01:45, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::::Alternatively, we can just leave it as is for now. I'm updating the [[Obama administration]] article right now, too. That one is structured , "Economic policy", "Foreign policy", etc. Wartime leader is something new. Perhaps, Commander-in-Chief? that would encompass DADT as well as ongoing military operations. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 02:08, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::::I like that. It's broader and works well. Nice.--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 02:29, 3 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
I took a look at the Wikipedia page on Obama - and I actually like how they organize his presidency - into Domestic policy and foreign policy. I'm going to make some changes to reflect that. I think in the long run it'll actually limit the number of sections we need--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 18:15, 4 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Congratulations! ==<br />
To the people who worked updating this article. It looks much better now.--[[User:AlejandroH|AlejandroH]] 00:43, 10 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Speculation ==<br />
<br />
In the spirit of accuracy, I think that all articles should refrain from speculative language (I thought this would be good article to start with). I understand that this is a conservative encyclopedia, but one should not overrule the other. We can still present the conservative view point that other encyclopedias overlook without veering off the path of facts. I think that President Obama has done enough to harm himself without adding inflammatory and opinion statements. This language degrades the reliability of the site. [[User:McTone|McTone]] 10:59, 23 May 2011 (EDT)McTone<br />
:You're actually not making encyclopedic edits - for example how you're adding titles ("''President'' Obama"), which is traditionally not done. As you've now been reverted twice I think you should refrain from editing this article.--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 11:35, 23 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:: That is encyclopaedic, as it is proper to use a person's title in reference material. However, that's not ththe only edits I've made. Most of them being removing speculative speech. Basically we should follow the rule of "if you can't cite it, don't say it."[[User:McTone|McTone]] 13:01, 23 May 2011 (EDT)McTone<br />
:::No it's generally not. See his Wikipedia page if you don't believe. We also don't say "Mr." or "Ms."--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 12:02, 23 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::Are we not better than Wikipedia? In any case, this is deferring the point I was making with this heading.[[User:McTone|McTone]] 13:01, 23 May 2011 (EDT)McTone<br />
<br />
== Perhaps ==<br />
<br />
I have read two cases of the word perhaps in the opening section of this article. Shouldn't assumptions like these not belong in an encyclopedia like article, especially in the opening section?- AlexMason<br />
:The first one is arguably a wording error ... I'll consider that - the second one is more appropriate; since the event just happened we're not sure what the consequences will be, but if a potential consequence is notable enough it's probably worth stating--<small>[[User:Iduan|<span style="color: #FFCCCC; background: #660000">I]][[User_talk:Iduan|<span style="color:#CCCCFF; background:#000033">Duan]]</span></span></small> 16:30, 23 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
::I'm an underwriter at Fox News and I see stuff like this all the time. I think AlexMason is correct here (as well as the poster in the previous topic). Is this a web encyclopedia or is this an opinion site? Speculating on the outcome of events is tantamount to gossip (highly frowned upon and in fact forbidden by the standards of Conservapedia as I have read the rules and commandments). I really think this should be fixed. I noticed some edits in the history of this page and I've got to stick with Andy's last revision (reverting some of the edits of the previous editor) which kept to the less speculative nature of the article.[[User:PapaBear|PapaBear]] 21:32, 28 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Obama Muslim Evidence? ==<br />
<br />
I was going to make a post on this talk page suggesting we move the long list of evidence that Obama may be a Muslim to its own article (or an article dealing with the Obama/Islam controversy) but when I got here I saw that section had been removed, as had any mention of the words "Islam" or "Muslim". (I did a search on my browser). I could not find a reason for this on the talk page. Could someone explain why this was made? [[User:Gregkochuconn|Gregkochuconn]] 22:13, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:I rescued the content from an old revision and put it here: [[Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage]] [[User:AndyJ|AndyJ]] 22:18, 21 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Obama as President ==<br />
With the long-standing controversy about Hussein's birth certificate and the recent evidence that the one that was released is forged, I feel that there is ample evidence to conclude that Obama was born in Kenya. Because of that, I propose that we list the current holder of the office of [[President]] as [[Joe Biden]], as he would take the office if Obama were found to be unable or ineligible to serve. --[[User:AndyJ|AndyJ]] 22:29, 21 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:You may be misreading the story; the "Obama was born in Kenya" conspiracy theory was promoted by the White House to hide the fact that, Barack Hussein Obama's father was a [[natural born citizen]] of Kenya, and not the United States. That is the constitutional question, being that a case can be made that the Constitutional framers defined "natural born citizen" as being a citizen of the country of ''your fathers'' birth. The birth certificate, or the location of Obama Jr. birth, that is to say, the birther conspircacy the White House promoted, never had anything to do with the constitutional issue in question. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 16:27, 22 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::And two things, firstly, there is not ample evidence. Just conspiracy theories. Even assuming that the certificate/s released are forgeries, that alone isn't enough to prove he wasn't born in the US, it would just raise concerning questions. Secondly, Obama would remain the President. The Constitution doesn't mention what would happen if someone who was ineligible to be President became President. Hence, until impeachment or the 25th Amendment is invoked, Obama would remain President. (Presumably the 25th would be invoked, as impeachment would take a lot longer, and would require proving that Obama knew, which could be a little difficult.) - [[User:JamesCA|JamesCA]] 07:57, 18 October 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Why is the birth certificate things still going? ==<br />
<br />
I read a while ago (and posted in the article) an article from the National Review where even they concede that Obama was probably born in the US. [[User:CaptainSwing|CaptainSwing]] 23:43, 7 November 2011 (EST)<br />
<br />
:Well as soon as it's verified than we can move past. Until then, we'll just pretend everything is a ok. For me, I'd still like to see every executive order, every law signed, every supreme court nominee from Obama overturned. It took three years the release of the long form certificate. I can wait another three years if need be for the proof.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 00:11, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
::I don't understand, the National Review, a magazine that I admit is quite conservative, viewed the birth certificate and said it was most likely valid. I'm not sure what you're waiting for, as I don't think anyone is going to prove that Obama wasn't born in the country. [[User:CaptainSwing|CaptainSwing]] 09:59, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
:::Because what they viewed was a Photoshoped work. Until the American public sees for itself exactly what is - or is not - on file in Hawaii, there will always be this unanswered question. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 11:22, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
::::But it wasn't photo-shopped, that was the whole point the National Review was making: [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/265767/pdf-layers-obamas-birth-certificate-nathan-goulding]. And honestly it makes sense, why on Earth would they go to the trouble of planting so much evidence that even the Mccain campaign declined to pursue it further, only to bungle the job on an elementary error in photoshop that any reasonable graphics designer would never make. [[User:CaptainSwing|CaptainSwing]] 12:03, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
:::::It was Photoshopped, and downloading the original White House copy of it reveals all of the layers when it's run under Photoshop. Try reading all of these [http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98546] by different reporters rather than a single National Review piece that's harping the beliefs of the "Yes We Can" crowd. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 12:21, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
::::::So wait, you're saying that because they agree with Obama we can dismiss them? Isn't that circular reasoning? The author of the national review article posted a guide of how the mistakes could have easily come up and has no reason to lie about it. And again, let's think about this logically, they have authentic birth announcements from the relevant papers, good enough to fool the Mccain campaign, why would they botch a photoshop job? [[User:CaptainSwing|CaptainSwing]] 12:27, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
:::::::And one of those mistakes that appeared on the Obama "certificate" was a sequence number that interfered with the numbers issued to a pair of twins; one of those mistakes was the "signature" of an individual which happens to be close enough to the name of a very small Hawaiian guitar; one of those mistakes is a smiley face attached to another signature; the list goes on. And until we see the real, bona-fide birth certificate, this issue is not going to go away, and we will continue to publish the current evidence as the fraud that it is. So don't worry too much about it, okay? [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 12:44, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
::::::::Does that mean to say that it should be considered a fraud until such a time as every US citizen has held and viewed the physical document? [[User:MaxFletcher|MaxFletcher]] 16:49, 8 November 2011 (EST)<br />
<br />
<br />
==Promises kept==<br />
I can count how many promises Obama kept on one hand.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 13:47, 19 December 2011 (EST)<br />
<br />
== Poverty comment in paragraph 2 of intro ==<br />
<br />
The poverty comment isn't supported by the link at all. The link looks at from the 1950s to 2009. Obama began office in 2009, so the 14.3 percent marked at the end of the graph is a measure of the poverty at some point during 2009, and may have been taken in Bush's last month in office. It is unreasonable to conclude from the graph that poverty increased under Obama's presidency. I'll also note that the increase in poverty began, according to the graph, whilst Bush was in office. - [[User:JamesCA|JamesCA]] 00:08, 20 March 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Better, More Objective Article at CreationWiki.org ==<br />
<br />
There's now a better-sourced, more objective article at CreationWiki.org:<br />
<br />
http://creationwiki.org/Barack_Obama<br />
<br />
This article mentions virtually no biographic detail about Obama, or major controversies, including the Born Alive issue or his Chicago Politics. And the sourcing looks haphazard here. --[[User:Jzy|Jzy]] 09:52, 29 May 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
Still, you guys have a 1-sentence mention of the Born Alive controversy even though it was brought up by Obama's last 4 political opponents, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, and Alan Keyes. And Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum both brought it up a few months ago as well. There's a whole article on this subject alone over at CreationWiki:<br />
<br />
http://creationwiki.org/Obama_born_alive_controversy<br />
<br />
You're missing the boat on the biggest controversy surrounding Obama, one that hasn't been debunked and is going to cause him a WHOLE lot of trouble. I told you guys this 2 years ago.<br />
--[[User:Jzy|Jzy]] 10:14, 29 May 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:Thanks for the comments Jyz, the current article has been in the top 10 for nearly four years now. Most Americans are quite aware that Obama is the most pro-abortion president ever. Feel free to add to our wiki with the born-alive controversy page. In addition, you were not registered here two years ago so no wonder we didn't heed your warning.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 12:52, 29 May 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
::Well, if this were just another abortion issue Obama wouldn't have a thing to worry about. This is an entirely different subject because it involves aborting children who aren't inside the mother's body but are outside the body and capable of surviving if given medical attention. We passed the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act in 2002 making it illegal to let premature, newborn babies who survive late-term abortions get left to die without medical attention. We also passed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act outlawing the late-term Dilation & Extraction (D&E) abortions that resulted in these live births. Nurses Jill Stanek and Allison Baker (of Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL) testified before Congress in 2001 that newborn babies were being born prematurely after botched abortions in their home state of Illinois and being thrown in wastebaskets or soiled utility rooms. Stanek's moving testimony about how she held a little baby in her arms after one of these abortions and the physician refused to help keep it alive so that it died in her arms, proved especially influential.<br />
<br />
::The entire U.S. Senate passed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act unanimously, because as Obama would put it, it was "the bill everybody supported". The Partial-Birth Abortion Act twice refers to the practice in federal law as "infanticide". It's a legal, technical term referring to what U.S. law now considers murder of newborn children. Stanek also testified before the Illinois Senate at the time, where Obama was leading a Planned Parenthood movement to vote down numerous Born Alive bills and cover up this fact from Illinois citizens using "present votes". Normally pro-choice Democrats like Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Ted Kennedy all voted for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act. Hillary Clinton herself brought up Obama's voting record on this in 2008 to criticize him over. So like I said, if this were just a Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice issue it wouldn't be controversial. I'm not talking about abortion here. I'm talking about infanticide, and opposition to medical care for newborn infants. I'm talking about Obama's opposition to a bill that had over 90% public support, unlike typical Pro-Life bills. --[[User:Jzy|Jzy]] 02:18, 4 June 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Last Change ==<br />
<br />
The protests weren't peaceful, but they were really violent, to date there's no proof that Muammar Gaddafi had took any violent action against civilians, but there are proof and reports from Amnesty International, Human rights watch, Russian intelligence which denies any of the rumors and falsely alleged crime.<br />
<br />
Here's one source where US defense secretary Robert Gates and Navy Admiral Michael Mullen tells about whole thing, :-<br />
<br />
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1110/S00144/un-silent-despite-no-basis-for-natos-illegal-war-on-libya.htm<br />
<br />
Thanks. [[User:Regular|Regular]] 11:10, 14 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Barack_Hussein_Obama&diff=986199Barack Hussein Obama2012-06-14T14:58:58Z<p>Regular: /* Libya */ On mobile right now so unable to add more, but describing in talks.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Officeholder<br />
|name=Barack Hussein Obama<br />
|image=President Barack Obama.jpg<br />
|party=[[Democratic Party]]<br />
|spouse=[[Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama]]<br />
|religion= probably [[Muslim]]<ref>[[Obama's Religion]].</ref><br />
|offices=<br />
{{Officeholder/president<br />
|country=the United States<br />
|number=44th<br />
|terms=January 20, 2009-Present<br />
|vp=[[Joe Biden]]<br />
|preceded=[[George W. Bush]]<br />
|former=n<br />
|succeeded=<br />
}}<br />
{{Officeholder/senator<br />
|state=Illinois<br />
|terms=January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008<br />
|preceded=Peter Fitzgerald<br />
|former=y<br />
|succeeded=[[Roland Burris]]<br />
}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Barack Hussein Obama II''', also known by the alias '''Barry Soetoro''' during his time in [[Indonesia]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQPXVJuT2vY Barry Soetoro the muslim - YouTube]</ref> (born August 4, 1961, in [[Hawaii]]) was elected the 44th President. Promoted heavily by [[liberals]], as demonstrated by his unjustified receipt of the 2009 [[Nobel Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]], Obama won the presidency despite a short and unremarkable political career by campaigning on promises of "hope" and "change" against his listless opponent [[John McCain]] in 2008. In effect, that change has been an embrace of [[socialism]] and [[liberal]] policies. Barack Obama has been widely criticized by the American [[business]] community and others for his anti-business policies that are killing American jobs during a period of high unemployment.<ref> <br />
*[http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/16/obamas-anti-business-policies-are-our-economic-katrina Obama's Anti-business Policies are our Economic Katrina]<br />
*[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/619dvjlm.asp An Anti-Business President]<br />
*[http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/small-businesses-are-not-hiring-why.html Small Businesses are not hiring. Why should they?]<br />
*[http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/dear_mr_president_why_we_are_n.html Dear Mr. President: Why we are not hiring]<br />
</ref> Former [[Democrat]] Presidential candidate [[Joe Lieberman]] endorsed Obama's opponent in 2008 and has declined to endorse [[Obama]] for the [[Presidential Election 2012]].<ref>http://thehill.com/video/campaign/222929-lieberman-declines-to-endorse-in-presidential-race</ref><br />
<br />
Under President Obama's mismanagement of the economy, the United States Government's credit rating has, for the first time in its history, been downgraded from AAA to AA+, and [[poverty]]<ref>http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf</ref> has increased markedly. By and large his policies to combat the recession, unemployment, slow growth, the deficit, and expanding [[national debt]], have failed.<ref>"The vast majority (73%) of respondents reported the fiscal stimulus enacted in February 2009 has had no impact on employment to date. While 68% also believe a jobs bill, such as the one recently enacted into law, will have no impact on payrolls, 30% do believe it will boost payrolls moderately". ''Industry Survey'', National Association for Business Economics, April 2010, [http://www.nabe.com/press/ind1004.pdf p. 2 pdf].</ref> Also on the domestic front, Obama passed an expensive [[health care]] bill in 2009 with no [[bipartisan]] support and 34 Democrats dissenting. <br />
<br />
Fatalities in Afghanistan have more than doubled under Obama's leadership then in the preceding eight years combined, according to the Congressional Research Service <ref>[http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf (pg. 3 pdf)]</ref>. Against his own Defense Secretary's advice, Obama [[Libyan uprising 2011|attacked Libya]] - a possible violation of the [[War Powers Act]]. After he announced the killing of [[September 11th]] mastermind and terrorist [[Osama bin Laden]], the [[U.S. State Department]] warned of the increased risk to the lives and safety of Americans around the world.<ref>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8273909</ref> Bin Laden's death had negligible long term impact on Obama's approval ratings, as seen in Gallup's daily poll.<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx</ref><br />
<br />
Obama's bizarre gaffes are frequent and embarrassing, but typically unreported by the [[liberal media]]. Obama offended [[Poland]] by referring to the [[Nazi]] death camps there as "Polish death camps."<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/europe/230419-obama-letter-says-he-regrets-polish-death-camp-gaffe</ref> Later Obama apologized. When Obama visited [[England]] in 2011, he signed his name and added the date of "2008" -- the last time he won an election. He never explaned that one. When Obama read a speech from a teleprompter, as he almost always does, he repeatedly mispronounced the familiar military term of "corpsman" by sounding out the "p".<br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
:''Main article : [[Early life and career of Barack Hussein Obama]]''<br />
:''See also : [[Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage]]''<br />
Obama [[Barack Obama's past dog meat eating and 2012 election campaign|ate dog meat]] as a child. From an early age, Obama flirted with many radical organization, such as the [[American Nazi Party]].<ref>[http://obamaisliterallyhitler.tumblr.com/]</ref> Later on, he would claim that Nazism played a significant part in forming his political ideology.<ref>[http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/President/US/Barack_Obama/]</ref><br />
<br />
Obama claims to have been born in Hawaii to Stanley Ann Dunham and [[Barack Obama Sr.]] - who had married just six months prior - on August 4, 1961 in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]. This story is likely a complete fabrication. After many leading conservatives including the leadership of this site and brilliant business man [[Donald Trump]] AKA "The Donald" called for Obama to release his birth certificate he did on April 27. However most experts have determined to be a fake and no legal body has determined its authenticity. Another [[American Hero]] Sheriff [[Joe Arpaio]] of Phoenix, AZ conducted a criminal investigation of the Obama's eligibility which found that the "birth certificate" was a fake. This means Obama is not actually president.<ref>[http://usa.gov/]</ref><br />
The couple divorced in 1964. Barack Obama Sr. was not a [[Natural born citizen|citizen of the United States]]. Dunham remarried Lolo Soetoro, an [[Indonesia]]n student. When Obama was six, Soetoro returned to Indonesia, and Dunham and Obama followed.<ref name="db mother">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-03/a-singular-woman-by-janny-scott-review-by-stacy-schiff/#|work=The Daily Beast|format=HTML|language=English|title=Dreams of His Mother|author=Stacy Schiff}}</ref> He spent four years in Indonesia,<ref>[http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=obama%20ate%20dog&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nypost.com%2Fp%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fromney_aides_point_out_obama_ate_pCetn9EcM0lOYNiJFl1zgI&ei=hAqaT86sMbOr2AXHoYj6Dg&usg=AFQjCNENy7Tz2DPv2_sO0EH6TGZ23rJtxA&cad=rja]</ref> before returning to Hawaii to be raised by his grandparents, Madelyn and WW2 veteran Stanley Armour Dunham. He would later attend Occidental College, [[Columbia University]] and then [[Harvard University]] for law school, where he would become the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.<br />
<br />
==Illinois State Senate career==<br />
[[File:O-2002-antiwar-rally-davidson.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Obama speaking at the October 2002 rally in Chicago organized by [[Carl Davidson]].<ref>Davidson is a longtime [[Mao]]ist and champion of the ''Thought of Mao Tse Tung.'' Davidson's anti-Trotskyite polemic, [http://www.wengewang.org/read.php?tid=10925 ''Left in Form, Right in Essence''] defends Maoist doctrine.<br> Retrieved from 对当代托洛茨基主义的批判：英文论集百花齐放 - 中国文革研究网, March 15, 2010.</ref> ''"[H]e is a brutal man who butchers his own people,"'' nevertheless Obama opposed ''"dumb wars".'']]<br />
<br />
In 1995 Obama openly sought and obtained the endorsement of the [[Marxist]] [[New Party]] in his quest to be elected to the Illinois State Senate.<ref>[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7434 NEW PARTY (NP)], discoverthenetwork.org.</ref><ref>Rick Moran. [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obamas_alliance_with_marxists.html Obama's Alliance with Marxists], ''American Thinker'', June 03, 2008.</ref> He became the [[Democrat]] nominee and ran unopposed to win the election. Obama entered the Illinois Senate promising change to a corrupt system. He mixed often radical votes with more pragmatic agreements. Possibly one of his most radical votes was against requiring medical care for aborted children who survive [[abortion|the procedure]] - in fact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council ascribed him a 100% rating for his consistently pro-choice votes.<ref name="cbs illinois">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml|title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine For Critics|work=CBS|format=HTML|language=English|last=Clark|first=Amy S.|date=Jan. 17, 2007}}</ref> He was criticized for using the statehouse as a stepping stone for a more illustrious career: Steven J. Rauschenberger, a [[Republican]], said prior to Obama's election as president: “He is a very bright but very ambitious person who has always had his eyes on the prize, and it wasn’t Springfield. If he deserves to be president, it is not because he was a great legislator.”<ref name="nyt illinois">{{cite web|work=The New York Times|title=In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd|last=Scott|first=Janny|format=HTML|language=English|date=July 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html}}</ref><br />
<br />
The statehouse was majority Republican, so the Senator was sometimes forced to compromise. He formed allegiances across party lines to pass [[campaign finance]] reform that banned most gifts by lobbyists, prohibited spending campaign money for legislators’ personal use and required electronic filing of campaign disclosure reports.<ref name="nyt illinois"/> Obama also helped pass a so-called “driving-while-black bill”, which required the police to collect data on the race of drivers they stopped as a way to monitor [[racial profiling]].<ref name="nyt illinois"/><br />
<br />
Obama established himself as a chief spokesperson in opposition to the [[War on Terror]] during an October 2002 rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago<ref>The rally was organized by Chicagoans Against War in Iraq (CAWI) later renamed Chicagoans Against War and Injustice. [http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?page_id=2 About CAWI] by Carl Davidson, Nov 02 2006. Retrieved from Chicagoans Against War and Injustice, March 15, 2010.</ref> [[community organizing|organized]] by veteran [[Mao]]ist and webmaster of [[Progressives for Obama]],<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/carldavidson Carl Davidson,] LinkedIn.com, retrieved March 13, 2010.</ref> [[Carl Davidson]]. <br />
<br />
===Radical foundation and connection to William Ayers===<br />
{{main article|Radical roots of Barack Hussein Obama}}<br />
In 1995 a cadre of like minded individuals gathered in the home of [[Weather Underground]] (WUO) [[terrorist]]s [[Bernardine Dohrn]] and [[William Ayers|William "Bill" Ayers]]. Dohrn,<ref>Georgie Anne Geyer and Keyes Beach "Cuba: School for U.S. Radicals", ''Chicago Daily News/Chicago Sun-Times'' five part series October 1970, excerpted in [http://foia.fbi.gov/filelink.html?file=/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground Organization (Weatherman),] Part 1c pp. 5-7 pdf (113-115 in original). [http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/clandestine-agents-of-the-cuban-government-ayers-dohrn-myers/]</ref> along with Carl Davidson, are veterans of [[guerrilla warfare]] training in [[Cuba]] prior 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. Ayers and Dohrn have taken credit for, and never denied, bombing the [[U.S. Capitol]], the [[Pentagon]] and the [[State Department]]. <br />
<br />
Ayers and Dohrn used their celebrity status among [[leftist]]s to launch Obama's career. Ayers, Dohrn and [[Jeff Jones]]<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=106653 ''Obama's 'green jobs czar' worked with terror founder] Van Jones served on board of activist group where ex-Weatherman serves as top director'', By Aaron Klein, [[WorldNetDaily]], August 13, 2009.</ref> are authors of ''[[Bill_Ayers#Prairie_Fire_Organizing_Committee_and_Maoist_thought|Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism]],'' the title taken from ''The Sayings of Mao Zedong.''<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/]</ref> The book declares "we are [[communist]] men and women."<ref>Harvey Klehr, ''Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today'' (Transaction Books, New Brunswick, 1988), 109.</ref> Ayers later jokingly, publicly admitted to ghostwriting Obama's book, ''Dreams From My Father''<ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/ayers_affirms_he_wrote_dreams.html</ref> and Obama was to appoint several openly avowed Maoists to prominent White House and Executive Branch positions.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574487431322664964.html</ref><br />
<br />
==U.S. Senate career==<br />
:''See also: [[Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Hussein_Obama#U.S._Senate_.282004-2008.29|Barack Obama:U.S. Senate (2004-2008)]]''<br />
[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|left|Senator Barack Obama]]<br />
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Following a failed campaign for the U. S. House of Representatives, Obama ran for the open Senate seat from Illinois in 2004 against Republican candidate Jack Ryan. He won the seat after Chicago media outlets The Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago ABC affiliate WLS-TV; together with candidate Jack Ryan's Republican Primary opponents, sought and obtained the release of the confidential and personally embarrassing records in his California divorce from actress Jeri Ryan, forcing him to end his campaign. Ryan was replaced by the out-of-state candidate [[Alan Keyes]]. Obama won over Keyes 70% to 27% in the general election. Obama spent very little time in the Senate - "frustrated by his lack of influence and what he called the 'glacial pace' ... [he began] running for president even as he was still getting lost in the Capitol’s corridors."<ref name="nyt senate">{{cite web|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times, Inc.|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obama in Senate: Star Power, Minor Role|author=Kate Zernike and Jeff Zelleny|date=March 9, 2008|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/politics/09obama.html}}</ref><br />
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Obama frequently used the [[filibuster]] to obstruct the operations of government,<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303801_pf.html</ref> voted against the [[minimum wage]]<ref>[http://uspolitics.about.com/od/legislatio1/a/HR2206.htm HR 2206 - Emergency Appropriations], Kathy Gill, Your Guide to U.S. Politics: Current Events. May 26 2007.</ref><ref>[http://more.gov.mtopgroup.com/2007/05/votes-hr-2206-iraq-supplemental.html Votes - H.R. 2206: Iraq Supplemental], May 28, 2007. Retrieved from Deeper Inside the Mountain, June 4, 2007.</ref> and debt ceiling increases,<ref>http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/obama-once-opposed-debt-ceiling-hike/237129/</ref> and recieved more than $126,000 in campaign contributions from [[Fannie Mae]]. The ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked him the most liberal senator in 2007.<ref name="ranked">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-3775451-502163.html|title=National Journal: Obama Most Liberal Senator In 2007|author=Brian Montopoli|date=January 31, 2008|work=CBS}}</ref><br />
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==Presidential Election==<br />
{{main article|Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign}}<br />
Democrats began calling for an Obama candidacy after liberals lauded his 2004 [[Democratic National Convention]] speech.<br />
===Campaign to be the Democratic nominee===<br />
The race for the Democratic ticket originally seemed [[Hillary Clinton]]'s to lose, but was ultimately a close race between Clinton and Obama. Clinton would take a slim advantage in the popular vote, while Obama would carry significantly more states and territories. Obama's advantage with super-delegates over Clinton was about 2-to-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Superdelegate endorsements for Friday 6/6|work=Democratic Convention Watch|url=http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/superdelegate-endorsements-for-friday.html}}</ref> Obama was able to attract the support of [[liberals]] by pointing out that he had come out against the [[Iraq War]] "from the beginning" whereas Clinton had voted in favor of the war in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-31-democrats-debate_N.htm|title=Obama, Clinton stress differences on Iraq, issues|author=David Jackson|work=USA Today|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref><br />
===Campaign for the Presidency===<br />
Obama campaigned against Senator [[John McCain]] in the general election. To the chagrin of Clinton supporters, he selected Senator [[Joe Biden]] to be his running mate, whereas McCain selected [[Governor]] of [[Alaska]] [[Sarah Palin]]. The Obama and Biden ticket would win the election, and Obama would become the nation's first [[African American]] president.<br />
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====Jeremiah Wright====<br />
:''See also: [[Barack Obama and Liberation Theology]]''<br />
One major dilemma that arose for Obama during his campaign was his connection to his preacher [[Jeremiah Wright]]. Obama and his wife (raised a Baptist) were members of the Trinity [[United Church of Christ]]<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776246/posts</ref> in Chicago, a chruch that embraced [[black liberation theology]] and its emphasis on empowering so-called "oppressed groups" against "establishment forces". This denomination was the first in America to ordain gays as ministers.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html, Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines, March 20, 2008</ref> Church pastor Jeremiah Wright had been making inflammatory comments and posting his sermons online for sale. These include the statement "G-d damn America," and in describing the September 11th attacks, "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 Obama's Pastor: G-d Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11]</ref> In addition, Rev. Wright blamed America saying "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being [[anti-Semitic]]."<br />
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In April 2008, after 20 years in the church, candidate Obama made public statements poised to set him at odds with the man who conducted his wedding and baptized his children. With the negative publicity persisting, a month later Obama ended the friendship, left Wright's church, and blamed the media.<ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/31/obama-resigns-church-membership-in-chicago/], Obama Drops Church Membership in Chicago, May 31, 2008</ref> Obama claimed “It’s not fair to the other members of the church who seek to worship in peace...", and distanced himself from Wright's sermons as "a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in the truth."<ref>USA TODAY, ''Obama breaks with former pastor, Candidate cites rants on U.S. role in terror, AIDS'', by Kathy Kiely and David Jackson [http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080430/1a_offlede30_dom.art.htm]</ref><ref>''Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants"''[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080430.htm]</ref><br />
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==Presidential career==<br />
{{main article|Obama administration}}<br />
[[File:Obama and George H. W. Bush.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Barack Obama meets with former President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office, Feb. 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).]]<br />
Under Obama's stewardship the United States has suffered the largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10708/11-06-mbr.htm</ref><ref>http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf</ref> in history and a credit downgrade from the rating agency Standard & Poor. However, during the Obama Administration the national deficit has increased at a much lower rate than during the Bush Administration. Most observers attribute the deficits to increasing benefits and welfare paid out on account of the Recession he inherited and has failed to end along with decreasing tax receipts. Standard & Poor decided to downgrade U.S. government deby after the debt ceiling debate debacle, where Congressional leaders refused to pass a bill authorizing borrowing to pay for the budget they had passed with much debate and controversy earlier in the year. Cynics have argued that rhetoric directed at the rating agencies about the issuance of AAA ratings to junk real estate bonds spurred the downgrade as a form of retribution. Ironically, the investor scare led to the flocking of investors to the safe haven of the Treasury bonds which had been downgraded, resulting in lower interest rates. As there are very few AAA bond markets, investors will likely continue to buy U.S. government debt for the foreseeable future. <ref>http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/04/18/the-sp-outlook-and-obama/</ref> When his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted unemployment rose and stagnated in the 10% range, <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref> leaving tens of millions without [[hope]] of finding a job.<ref>[http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 United States Department of Labor], Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref> <br />
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Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen, writing in the [[Wall Street Journal]], noted, "Rather than being a unifier, Mr. Obama has divided America on the basis of race, class and partisanship." The commentators also note Obama's approach to governance has encouraged radical leftists to pursue a similar strategy on his behalf. Mary Frances Berry, former head of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, acknowledged that the [[Obama administration]] has taken to polarizing America around the issue of race as a means of diverting attention from other issues, saying, "Having one's opponent [[race card|rebut charges of racism]] is far better than discussing [[Unemployment|joblessness]]."<ref>http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Mary_Frances_Berry_91E3D9D5-C40D-440C-9D48-1C50CBC60C87.html</ref> Caddell and Schoen, who worked for President Carter and Clinton, respectively, further stated, "Mr. Obama has also cynically [[class warfare|divided the country on class lines]]. He has taken to playing the populist card time and time again. He bashes Wall Street and insurance companies whenever convenient to advance his programs, yet he has been eager to accept campaign contributions and negotiate with these very same banks and [[corporation]]s behind closed doors in order to advance his political agenda... President Obama's divisive approach to governance has weakened us as a people and paralyzed our political culture."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703700904575391553798363586.html</ref><br />
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===Domestic policy===<br />
====Popular bills====<br />
Obama's first act of office was to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - effectively nullifying the [[Supreme Court]] case ''Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'', which ruled that Ledbetter had to have filed a pay [[discrimination]] suit within 180 days of the first time Ledbetter was payed less than her male peers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html|work=The New York Times|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref> the law made corporations subject to suit within 180 days of each time the employee was unfairly paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20090213.html?=features|work=FindLaw|author=Joanna L. Grossman|date=Feb. 13, 2009|format=HTML|language=English|title=The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009}}</ref><br />
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On January 2, 2011, Obama signed the James Zadroga [[9/11]] Healthcare and Compensation Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/jan/02/obama-signs-zadroga-act-law/|publisher=New York Public Radio|title=Obama Signs Zadroga Act into Law|author=Fred Mogul|date=January 02, 2011|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> The act, which afforded 9/11 first responders who were sickened by the dust from the collapse of the [[World Trade Center]] health care and compensation, passed [[Congress]] after its sponsored agreed to scale down the pricing from 7.4 to 4.2 billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2010/dec/22/zadroga-911-bill-passes-senate/|publisher=New York Public Radio|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Congress Approves 9/11 Health Bill|date=December 22, 2010}}</ref><br />
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====Economic policy====<br />
[[File:Keynes.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Barack Obama]] advocates the use of [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economic concepts]] despite the fact that [[John Maynard Keynes]] was incompetent and a fraud.<ref><br />
*[http://centurean2.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/fabian-john-maynard-keynes-the-stealthy-enemy-of-human-freedom/ John Maynard Keynes the stealthy enemy of human freedom]<br />
*[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-02-22/deathbed-of-keynesian-economics-will-be-in-u-k-matthew-lynn.html Deathbed of Keynesian Economics will be in the UK]<br />
*[http://www.iwf.org/inkwell/show/23102.html Will the G8 Repudiate the Philosophy of Living Beyond Our Means?]<br />
*[http://www.keynesatharvard.org/book/KeynesatHarvard-ch09.html KEYNES AT HARVARD Economic Deception as a Political Credo BY ZYGMUND DOBBS]<br />
</ref> ]]<br />
{{see also|Obamunism|American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009}}<br />
Critics of the Obama administration have coined the word "[[Obamunism]]" to describe Barack Obama's [[socialism|socialistic]] and "[[fascism]] light" [[economic planning]] policies.<ref>[[Benito Mussolini]] defined fascism as the wedding of state and corporate powers. Accordingly, trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] labels [[Obama administration corporate bailouts|Obama's corporate bailouts]] as being "fascism light" in nature.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/daily-intel/2009/07/20/obamunism-inc|work=The Big Money|publisher=WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obamunism, Inc.|author=David Sessions|date=July 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-interviews/gerald-celente-6944|author=Jim Blasingame|title=Is the government creating a bailout bubble?}}</ref> Obamunism can also refer to Obama's [[Obama administration fiscal policy|ruinous fiscal policies]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|reckless monetary policies]].<ref name="gerard">{{cite web|url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/120883-monetary-policynot-obama-s-stimulusis-what-needs-watching|title=Monetary Policy-Not Obama's Stimulus-Is What Needs Watching|author=Gerard Jackson|date=February 16, 2009|work=Seeking Alpha}}</ref><ref name="bam">{{cite web|work=New York Post|date=May 17, 2009|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05172009/postopinion/editorials/bams_wise_words_169731.htm|title=BAM'S WISE WORDS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/|title=Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures|work=The Foundry|publisher=The Heritage Foundation|author=Conn Carroll|date=March 24th, 2009}}</ref> As seen in his own actions, Barack Obama instructed his advisors to find loopholes that would enable the president to act as a [[dictator]] by pushing through legislation and increases in spending without congressional authority.<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/executive-dictatorship-obama-instructs-advisers-to-push-through-stimulus-projects-without-pesky-congressional-authorization/</ref> <br />
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[[Wall Street]] firms and banks that were bailed out were among Obama's biggest campaign supporters.<ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638</ref> Therefore, the Obama administration bailouts of corrupt, unproductive, and reckless Wall Street firms was hardly surprising, and many argue that it was not helpful in making the United States economy more productive and prosperous by encouraging more risk taking through letting banks off with a slap on the wrist. Others argue that bailing out the banks kept credit flowing and prevented a much deeper recession and a total collapse of the financial system. The government will recoup some though not all of its capital infusions over time. A 2005 study found that government corporate bailouts are often done for mere political considerations and the economic resources allocated exhibit significantly worse economic performance than resources allocated using purely business considerations.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=676905</ref> Proponents of [[free market]] capitalism said Bernanke should not have bailed out failing firms and instead should have allowed free market capitalism to quickly recover as it did in the depression of 1920 without government intervention (free market capitalists assert that government intervention drags out economic recessions and depressions).<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czcUmnsprQI</ref> <br />
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Top trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] predicts that the corrupt economic policies of the Obama administration will lead to a second [[Great Depression|great depression]] (Celente predicted the 1987 US stock market crash, the dot.com crash, the US 2008/2009 recession, and the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s) and may lead to a "second [[American Revolution]]" (Celente predicted the [[Tea Party Movement|tax protests]] that are now occurring in America).<ref name="celente1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MMX3SKzrfU&feature=channel_page</ref><ref name="celente2">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9bfw1ebgw&feature=response_watch</ref> Celente also asserts that the costly and inefficient temporary short term methods that the Obama administration is using to alleviate economic problems in the short term (which is causing massive increases in [[Obama administration deficit spending]]) is only making matters worse and will not prevent the worse economic depression in United States history from occurring.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C8K7rWkGGw</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LBffdIW0XA&feature=response_watch</ref> <br />
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The Obama administration has been sharply criticized for [[Obama administration deficit spending|its massive deficit spending]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|its reckless monetary policy]] via vast increases in the [[money supply]], although inflation under Bernanke has been below the historic mean.<ref name="gerard"/><ref name="bam"/><ref>http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/</ref> Celente predicts that if a "second American Revolution" occurs in a peaceful and productive manner, it may include a [[Third Party System|third party movement]] of governance that will advocate a more [[free market]] [[capitalism]] approach to the American economy and a more strict interpretation of the [[United States Constitution|United States constitution]] as far as the authors' [[original intent]].<ref name="celente1"/><ref name="celente2"/><br />
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During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]],has been found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html</ref> by several judges and constitutional by others, and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html</ref><ref>http://www.thestreet.com/story/10703361/cramer-obamacare-will-topple-the-market.html</ref> <br />
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His 2012 Budget plan has been roundly criticized in the mainstream and liberal press as not a serious effort to deal with the nation's economic crisis.<ref>[http://republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=blogs.view&blog_id=1551d6f5-2ac9-4b8d-97ab-74def354024e Newspapers Call Out White House: ‘What Would That Path Be, Mr. President?’]</ref><br />
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[[Jeffrey Tucker]] wrote, "President Obama's economic policy has been catastrophic for liberty, enterprise, and the American dream—the very archetype of what not to do to end recession." [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118186176/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=anncoulter-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118186176]<br />
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=====Healthcare=====<br />
{{main article|Obamacare}}<br />
On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The act had originated in the House of Representatives and passed September 17, 2009. The act was amended and passed the Senate prior to [[Democrat]] [[Ted Kennedy]]'s passing along party lines - just a filibuster-proof majority at 60-39. In what can be construed as a de facto rejection of the bill, [[Massachusetts]] voters elected a [[Republican]] candidate, [[Scott Brown]], who promised to vote against the bill,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/scott-brown-wins-massachusetts-senate-race.html|work=The Washington Post|author=Chris Cillizza|date=January 19, 2010|title=Scott Brown wins Massachusetts Senate special election race|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> but another Senate vote would not occur. Scott Brown was also an excellent campaigner and judged to be a better candidate than his rival, Martha Coakley. He has since achieved one of the most moderate senate voting records, likely to avoid the anger of his mostly liberal constituency. After Obama made a promise to issue an [[executive order]] that would ultimately prohibit the use of taxpayer subsidies to pay for [[abortion]] services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/22/nation/la-na-healthcare-passage22-2010mar22/3|work=The Los Angeles Times|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes historic healthcare overhaul|date=March 22, 2010|author=Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook}}</ref> the [[House of Representatives]] would pass the bill as it left the Senate 219-212, with 34 Democrats and all other parties dissenting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-21/politics/health.care.main_1_health-care-entire-house-democratic-caucus-pre-existing-conditions?_s=PM:POLITICS|date=March 21, 2010|author=Alan Silverleib|work=CNN|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote}}</ref><br />
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Amongst other things, the act mandates that the population purchase health care coverage or face punitive tax measures, and on this basis has been constitutionally challenged in the federal courts, with mixed results (three courts have upheld the act, two have declared it unconstitutional); thus, the Act is likely destined for [[Supreme Court]] reviewal. Plans originally proposed involved instituting a universal public insurance program, that is, extending Medicare to everyone. The universal mandate included in the act was originally a conservative idea that was enacted in Massachusetts under Republican Mitt Romney. Its supporters note that having health insurance results in reduced costs in paying for treatment of uninsured and forcing people to take responsibility for their healthcare. Due to ethical constraints, doctors cannot deny care to poor patients, resulting in the hospital and the healthcare system at large bearing the cost.<br />
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====Gulf oil spill====<br />
{{main article|Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster}}<br />
President Obama authorized offshore oil drilling in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0430/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-imperils-Obama-s-offshore-drilling-plan Gulf of Mexico oil spill imperils Obama's offshore drilling plan,] By Mark Clayton, ''Christian Science Monitor'', April 30, 2010.</ref> stating, "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills"<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref> and was widely criticized for his mishandling of the "[[Gulf oil spill disaster|worst environmental disaster]] in US history."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-33986-Political-Spin-Examiner~y2010m4d29-Worst-environmental-disaster-in-US-history-Oil-slick-in-Gulf-of-Mexico-is-set-on-fire Worst environmental disaster in US history,] Maryann Tobin, ''Examiner'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/?src=twt&twt=NytimesKrugman Conscience of a Liberal: The Oil Spill Is Obama’s Fault,] Paul Krugman, ''New York Times'', April 30, 2010.</ref><br />
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====Don't Ask Don't Tell====<br />
{{main article|Don't Ask Don't Tell}}<br />
Candidate Obama promised to repeal a policy that originated in the Clinton era that prohibited inquiries into military personnel's [[sexual orientation]] while also barring "out" [[homosexuals]] from serving in the military. [[Liberals]] expressed anger when time passed and no effort to repeal the law was seen;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/|work=The Washington Times|format=HTML|title=Obama to delay ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal|language=English|author=Rowan Scarborough|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> in fact, Obama's [[justice department]], as part of their duty to defend all laws passed by any administration, filed a brief arguing against the [[Supreme Court]] granting a [[writ of certiorari]] to a gay soldier challenging the law (the writ was not granted). In response, the soldier, James Pietrangelo II, a former Army infantryman and lawyer, said, “[Obama's] a coward, a bigot and a pathological liar. This is a guy who spent more time picking out his dog, Bo, and playing with him on the White House lawn than he has working for equality for gay people."<ref>{{cite web|work=Time Magazine|publisher=Time Inc.|format=HTML|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903545,00.html?imw=Y|title=Dismay Over Obama's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Turnabout|author=Mark Thompson|date=Jun. 09, 2009}}</ref><br />
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On December 15th, 2010, a bill was introduced in the [[House of Representatives]] to repeal the law - it passed a day later by a vote of 250-175;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll638.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 638|format=HTML|work=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref> it passed the Senate three days later 65-31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|work=The U.S. Senate|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 on December 22nd.<ref name="g dadt">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/obama-repeals-dont-ask-dont-tell|work=The Guardian|format=HTML|language=English|title='Don't ask, don't tell' repealed as Obama signs landmark law|date=22 December 2010}}</ref><br />
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The [[Pentagon]] itself could not immediately implement the repeal and questioned whether it would hurt combat readiness.<ref name="g dadt"/> Senator [[John McCain]], the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, opposed the bill, saying "It may be premature to make such a change at this time and in this manner, without further consideration of this report and further study of the issue by Congress – for of all the people we serve, one of our highest responsibilities is to the men and women of our armed services, especially those risking their lives in combat.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/mccain-on-dont-ask-dont-tell-dont-rush/|title=McCain on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: Don’t Rush|date=December 2nd, 2010|format=HTML|author=David M. Herszenhorn|language=English|work=The New York Times}}</ref><br />
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===Foreign policy===<br />
[[File:Western Wall Obama.jpg|thumb|left|320px|At [[Western Wall]], Jerusalem, 2008.]]<br />
As Senator, Obama was highly critical of President Bush and promised change. As President, Obama has tripled down in Afghanistan, widened the war into Pakistan, multiplied drone attacks, bombed Yemen and Somalia, and started an undeclared NATO war in Libya. On presidential war powers, surveillance questions, Guantanamo, detention policy and habeas corpus, Obama has similarly stayed the course, or expanded Bush's precedents. In a speech on May 19, 2011 Obama fully embraced the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-news-in-obamas-speech/2011/05/19/AF4dFN7G_story.html</ref><br />
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<blockquote><br />
The New America Foundation, which tracks the strikes, has listed 23 raids since the beginning of April, 2011, all but one in Pakistan’s tribal regions of North and South Waziristan. A June 20 attack was reported in Kurram, an area north of North Waziristan along the Afghanistan border.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><br />
The drone program has become increasingly controversial as the Obama administration has expanded its use beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Lethal missiles have been launched from unmanned aircraft in at least five countries in addition to Pakistan: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and, most recently, Somalia. The military’s Joint Special Operations Command used a drone last June to attack what officials said were two senior members of the Al Shabab militant group on the Somali coast. <ref> [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/07/04/cia_halts_drone_launches_from_pakistan_base/] </ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Obama is commendable when he says he wants to avoid war. His policies, however, favor war by destabilizing the Middle East making it extremely hostile and favoring radical Islam over America’s ally, Israel, and American interests in the region... The president has chosen a very dangerous path for every American and one that promises great difficulty for Israel. <ref> [http://www.thejerusalemconnection.us/blog/2012/03/14/obamas-words-disguise-his-israel-foreign-policy-actions.html Obama's words disguise his Israel foreign policy actions.] </ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
====Commander-in-chief====<br />
By Obama's third year as Commander-in-Chief, over 1200 American troops died in Iraq and Afghanistan - significantly more than the number who died during President [[George W. Bush]]'s term of office. And growing numbers of civilian contractors also have fallen. In the first half of 2010, 250 contractors reportedly died in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than the 235 military personnel who fell during the same period.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/24/114662/what-price-war.html#ixzz1Nz07pg5O</ref><br />
<br />
=====National Defense=====<br />
President Obama signed into U.S. law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), only after his administration successfully lobbied to remove language from the bill that would have protected American citizens from being detained indefinitely without trial.<ref>Aaron Dykes. [http://www.infowars.com/president-obamas-ndaa-signing-statement-i-have-the-power-to-detain-americans-but-i-wont/ Obama’s Signing Statement on NDAA: I have the power to detain Americans… but I won’t], Infowars.com, January 1, 2012. </ref> After the legislation cleared Congress, the ACLU commented that if President Obama signed the bill it "will damage both his legacy and American’s reputation for upholding the rule of law," while executive director of the ''Human Rights Watch'' blasted the President for being ‘on the wrong side of history,’ noting that "Obama will go down in history as the president who enshrined indefinite detention without trial in US law."<ref>President Decides to Sign Ill-Conceived National Defense Authorization Act. [http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/12/14/us-refusal-veto-detainee-bill-historic-tragedy-rights US: Refusal to Veto Detainee Bill A Historic Tragedy for Rights], ''Human Rights Watch'', December 14, 2011. </ref><ref>[http://www.aclu.org/national-security/white-house-backs-away-defense-bill-veto-threat White House Backs Away from Defense Bill Veto Threat], ''[[ACLU]]'', December 14, 2011.</ref> <br />
<br />
Section 1031 of the NDAA bill, which itself defines the entirety of the United States as a “battlefield,” allows American citizens to be snatched from the streets, carted off to a foreign detention camp and held indefinitely without trial. As reported by Infowars.com, the bill states that “any person who has committed a belligerent act” faces indefinite detention, but no trial or evidence has to be presented, the White House merely needs to make the accusation.<ref>Paul Joseph Watson. [http://www.infowars.com/obama-administration-demanded-power-to-indefinitely-detain-u-s-citizens/ Obama Administration Demanded Power To Indefinitely Detain U.S. Citizens], Infowars.com, December 12, 2011.</ref><ref>S.1867 [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c112:2:./temp/~c1122VN0Iv:e548990: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Engrossed in Senate [Passed Senate] - ES)], ''The Library of Congress'' THOMAS, 112th Congress (2011-2011), Accessed January 25, 2012.</ref><ref>Text of S.1867 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. [http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s1867/text?version=es&nid=t0:es:281 Sec. 1031. Affirmation of authority of the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.], [[U.S. Congress]], ''OpenCongress.org'', (Accessed January 25, 2012).</ref><br />
<br />
=====Afghanistan=====<br />
{{main article|Afghanistan War}}<br />
Obama escalated troop strength<ref name="pbs">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/themes/strategy.html#ixzz1LhWNImZp|title=Obama's New Strategy (March '09)|author=George Packer, Seth Jones, David Kilcullen, Rory Stewart, Andrew Exum, Col. Andrew Bacevich (Ret.)|work=PBS|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> and defense costs in Afghanistan from $43.5 billion in George Bush's last year to $113.7 billion for 2011.<ref>Congressional Research Service, quoted in Gregory Anthony, ''What price war?''</ref> Adviser to General [[Stanley McChrystal]] David Kilcullen wrote, "One of the big strategic shifts is the use of language now which talks about Pakistan and Afghanistan as the same theater. Now we talked about Af-Pak long before the Obama administration came about, but the public use of that term, and the description of it as the Afghanistan-Pakistan campaign, sends a new message to people about how the administration is going to think about Afghanistan and Pakistan."<ref name="pbs"/> This became evident when, under the orders of Obama, a military SEALs team killed September 11th mastermind [[Osama bin Laden]] in Abottabad, Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/05/commander-in-chief.html|title=Commander in Chief|author=Daniel Romano and Daniel Klaidman|date=May 05, 2011|work=Newsweek|publisher=The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref><br />
<br />
=====Guantanamo Bay=====<br />
{{main article|Guantanamo Bay}}<br />
One of Obama's campaign promises was that he would close the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba - detainees would be flown to other countries while the ones awaiting trial would enter the American court system. Two days after taking office he signed an order directing the military to do so.<ref name="salon">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/25/obama_guantanamo_rhetoric|work=Salon|title=The Obama/Gitmo timeline|author=Natasha Lennard|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> But, in November 2009 Obama admitted that his self imposed deadline of January 2010 would be missed, and in March 2011 the president went back on his campaign promise, signing an executive order to create a formal system of indefinite detention for the prisoners.<ref name="salon"/><br />
<br />
=====Mexico=====<br />
<br />
In May 2012, President Obama promised Mexican President [[Felipe Calderon]] that his administration would assist Mexico in curbing drug cartel violence, which has led to 30,000 deaths in Mexico. "President Calderon and I . . . stand together against the drug cartels that have unleashed horrific violence in so many communities," Obama said on May 19. "Mexico can count on the United States as a full partner in this effort. <br />
<br />
The ''[[Washington Post]]'' has reported however that White House officials stopped a requirement for gun dealers to report bulk sales of high-powered semiautomatic rifles commonly used by illegal drug cartels. [[Justice Department]] officials had asked for White House approval to require thousands of gun dealers along the border to report the purchases to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives. ATF investigators expected to get leads on suspected arms traffickers. Senior law enforcement sources said the proposal from the ATF was held up by then White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]].<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html</ref> Gun dealers have been required for decades to report the sales of multiple handguns to the ATF.<br />
<br />
=====Libya=====<br />
{{main article|Libyan uprising 2011}}<br />
In February 2011, the political unrest that had spread through the Arab world showed up as protests in Libya. Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi - leader of Libya for 41 years - responded to the violent activism<ref>http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28376.htm</ref> with legible steps.<ref name="nyt libya">{{cite web|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Inc.|format=HTML|language=English|title=Libya — Protests and Revolt (2011)}}</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] voted unanimously to impose [[sanctions]], and later authorized all members to take action to protect civilians. Obama, acting without approval from Congress and at the beckoning of the [[United Nations]], directed American forces to take out Libya's air defense system.<ref name="nyt libya"/> Obama later said, "[I]f we waited one more day Benghazi, a city nearly the size of Charlotte, could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world."<ref>{{cite web|author=Barack Obama|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134935452/obamas-speech-on-libya-a-responsibility-to-act|title=Obama's Speech On Libya: 'A Responsibility To Act'|date=March 28, 2011|publisher=National Public Radio ([[NPR]])|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> [[Alan J. Kuperman]] - writing an editorial for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' - suggested this statement was false, writing, "[I]ntervention did not prevent genocide, because no such bloodbath was in the offing. To the contrary, by emboldening rebellion, US interference has prolonged Libya’s civil war and the resultant suffering of innocents."<ref name="kuperman">{{cite web|author=Alan J. Kuperman|work=The Boston Globe|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions|title=False pretense for war in Libya?|date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> Kuperman, a professor of public affairs at the University of Texas who authored a book called ''The Limits of Humanitarian Intervention'', further stated that the rebels had tricked the world into thinking a bloodbath was at hand and that Obama had lied to the American people in order to act on this theory.<ref name="kuperman"/><br />
<blockquote><br />
Gaddafi [never] threaten civilian massacre in Benghazi, as Obama alleged. The “no mercy’’ warning, of March 17, targeted rebels only, as reported by The New York Times, which noted that Libya’s leader promised amnesty for those “who throw their weapons away.’’ Khadafy even offered the rebels an escape route and open border to Egypt, to avoid a fight “to the bitter end.’’ <ref> [http://politicalcartel.org/2011/04/17/libya-and-the-obama-doctrine/ Libya and the “Obama Doctrine”.] </ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
However Gaddafi wrote to Obama:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Gaddafi said he bore no ill will toward Obama. "We have been hurt more morally than physically because of what had happened against us in both deeds and words by you," he wrote. "Despite all this you will always remain our son whatever happened. We still pray that you continue to be president of the USA. We endeavour and hope that you will gain victory in the new election campaign." The letter, dated 5 April 2011 in Tripoli, is signed "Mu'aumer Qaddaffi, Leader of the Revolution".<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/gaddafi-obama-nato-libya?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487]</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
Critics point out the only thing worse than starting a "stupid, unnecessary war" against a madman is losing it.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/271847/war-libya-dumb-and-dumber-victor-davis-hanson</ref><br />
<br />
=====Iraq=====<br />
{{main article|Operation Iraqi Freedom}}<br />
Obama campaigned on a promise to carry out [[George W. Bush]]'s timetable to end the War in Iraq, which has been completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-17/middleeast/world_meast_iraq-troops-leave_1_1st-cavalry-division-camp-adder-troop-movements?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST|work=CNN|title=Obama: Last U.S. troops leave Iraq|date=December 17, 2011|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
<br />
*[[Political positions of Barack Obama]]<br />
*[[Barack Obama and uncharitableness]]<br />
*[[Barack Obama and abortion]]<br />
*[[Essay:Born Outside the U.S.A.!]] <br />
*[[Essay: The Special Interests Candidate]]<br />
*[[Jobsgate]] <br />
*[[Recovery Summer]] <br />
*[[Lobbyists ties to the Obama administration]] <br />
*[[New Party]] <br />
*[[ObamaCare]] <br />
*[[Obama doublespeak]] <br />
*[[Obama inauguration]] <br />
*[[Religion of Barack Hussein Obama]] <br />
*[[The Honorable James David Manning]] <br />
*[[Young Communist League]]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.antiobama.net/ Anti Obama.net]<br />
*[http://www.dontvoteobama.net/ Don’t Vote For Obama.net]<br />
*[http://nobamanetwork.com/ Nobama Network]<br />
*[http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/ Audacity Of Hypocrisy]<br />
*[http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/ The Real Barack Obama]<br />
*[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6130/ The New Cult of Personality]<br />
*[http://www.survivingobamunism.com/index.html Surviving Obamunism T-shirts]<br />
*[http://www.barackobamaantichrist.blogspot.com/ Barack Obama the Anti-Christ ?]<br />
*[http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/23/che-obama-and-the-revolutionary-agenda/ Che, Obama, and the Revolutionary Agenda]<br />
*[http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/fashion-shows/ Obama Laundry List of Lies]<br />
*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/09/americas-first-muslim-president/ GAFFNEY: America's first Muslim president?] Washington Times<br />
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-l-esposito/barack-obama-and-islam_b_212519.html Barack Obama and Islam.] by [[John L. Esposito]].<br />
*[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78931 Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth.]<br />
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/barack_obama.htm Barack Obama on the issues.]<br />
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etWLwrvT2vo Obama = Kosher Puppet.] video on You Tube.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
<br />
{{USPresidents}}<br />
{{2008 presidential candidates}}<br />
[[Category: Barack Hussein Obama]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]<br />
[[Category:Obama Administration]]<br />
[[category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]<br />
[[Category:2012 Presidential Candidates]]<br />
[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]<br />
[[Category:Muslims]]<br />
[[Category:Socialism]]<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack Hussein}}</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=List_of_dictators&diff=986008List of dictators2012-06-13T06:08:15Z<p>Regular: /* Africa */ Putin's link don't work, i tried finding, found none, and we are not making these list on people' opinion, so removed.</p>
<hr />
<div>: ''For a list of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] dictators, see [[Roman dictator#Roman dictators|Roman dictator]].''<br />
: ''See also the [[#See also|related lists]] at the end of this article.''<br />
<br />
<br />
The following is a list of national leaders ([[Head of state|heads of state]] and/or [[Head of government|heads of government]]) commonly regarded as modern [[dictator]]s. This usage usually carries a pejorative sense and refers to a ruler who: <br />
<br />
* Rules by decree, via an [[Enabling Act]] or similar laws passed by a legislature allowing him to do so;<br />
* is an [[absolute ruler]] of a [[state|sovereign state]], usually appointed, but without hereditary ascension;<br />
* governs outside the otherwise accepted [[rule of law]];<br />
* commonly (but not necessarily) gaining power through [[fraud]], a [[coup d'état]], resorting to either again to continue in power;<br />
* may develop a [[cult of personality]];<br />
* may be autocratic, oppressive, despotic or tyrannical.<br />
<br />
Some so-called "[[Dictator#"The benevolent dictator"|benevolent dictators]]" may be viewed as beneficial and their leadership seen as a "necessary evil".<br />
The modern usage of the term 'dictator' developed largely in response to instances of autocratic rule in [[republic]]s, so traditional [[monarch]]s are not usually described as dictators in historical commentary. Also excluded from this list are those who held [[absolute power]] during national [[State of emergency|emergencies]], but restored the rule of law soon thereafter. Otherwise those included have been widely cited by historians or described by the [[Mass media|media]] as dictators. Any controversy surrounding such characterisation is mentioned in the notes.<br />
<br />
The list is sorted according to when each dictator began their years in power. This refers to any years in office as a head of state, government or the like before their dictatorship was established. Any years of elected and judicial rule may be indicated parenthetically.<br />
<br />
==Africa==<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] ||align=center| [[Egypt]] ||align=center| 1954–1970 || <small>Prime Minister of Egypt 1954-1962; President of Egypt 1956-1970. Part of a group of officers in control of Egypt after the coup against British supported [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk]] in 1952; In February 1954, Nasser forced {{fact}} President [[Muhammad Naguib]] to appoint him prime minister and give up most practical power to him; later in that year Naguib resigned and Nasser became president by self-appointment; elected by popular vote (as only candidate) in 1956, and subsequently. Many personalistic elements to Nasser's rule, but nominal parliamentary system under Nasser's 1956-1970 presidency {{fact}}, until his death in 1970.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ahmed Sékou Touré]] ||align=center| [[Guinea]] ||align=center| 1958–1984 || <small>President of Guinea. Widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/DIAINS.html], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_jazz.shtml]) with estimates of up to 50,000 extra-judicial killings during his rule (see [http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat6.htm]) and 250,000 Guineans fleeing his rule ([http://www.africanet.com/africanet/country/guinea/history.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[David Dacko]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1960–1966<br>1979–1981 || <small>President of the Central African Republic. Banned opposition (see [http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad36]); Gained power by coup in 1979, though subsequently stood for election (see [http://www.african-geopolitics.org/show.aspx?ArticleId=3638]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Modibo Keita]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1960–1968 || <small>Schoolteacher and first president of Mali. Forced socialization and extensive protectionism severely harmed the economy and continued the country's dependence on aid donors. Discontent with these policies led Keita to implement his own "Cultural Revolution" and establish a network of people's militias to inform on and punish dissent. In the last few years of his presidency, full powers were vested in an extralegal "National Committee for Defense of the Revolution". He was deposed in a military coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[François (Ngarta) Tombalbaye|François Tombalbaye]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| 1960–1975 || <small>Head of State 1960-1962; President of Chad 1962-1975. Never fought a contested election; imprisoned opposition leaders. Launched a "Cultural Revolution" in the early 1970s encouraging ''[[authenticité]]''.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]] ||align=center| [[Côte d'Ivoire]] ||align=center| 1960–1993 || <small>President of Côte d'Ivoire. Ruled until 1990 with all opposition banned, but not considered particularly repressive. Relocated the official capital to his home village of [[Yamoussoukro]] and constructed the [[Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro]], the largest religious structure in Africa.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Milton Obote]] ||align=center| [[Uganda]] ||align=center| 1962–1972<br>1980–1985 || <small>Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966; President of Uganda 1966-1971 and 1980-1985. Suspended the constitution and declared himself President and Prime Minister in 1966.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hastings Kamuzu Banda]] ||align=center| [[Malawi]] ||align=center| 1963–1994 || <small>Prime Minister of Malawi 1963-1966; President of Malawi 1966-1994. Banned all opposition in 1966; declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1971; exiled and killed opposition leaders. Ordered that a letter bomb be sent to exiled opposition leader [[Attati Mpakati]]; suspected of being involved in the car crash deaths of senior Congress Party leaders; violently crushed an attempted rebellion. Aged 98, he allowed and lost a free election in 1994.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Kenneth Kaunda]] ||align=center| [[Zambia]] ||align=center| 1964–1991 || <small>President of the Republic of Zambia 1964-1991.Elected 1964, banned all political parties in Zambia, viewed himself as "WAMUYAYA" (eternal President).Accused of torturing political opponents.Defeated by Frederick Chiluba in 1991.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Houari Boumediene]] ||align=center| [[Algeria]] ||align=center| 1965–1978 || <small><br />
President of Algeria from June 19, 1965 to his death, (December 27, 1978); Chairman of the Revolutionary Council until December 12, 1976). <br /> In June 1965, Boumédienne seized power in a bloodless coup. Initially lacking a personal power base, he was seen as a weak ruler. But after a botched coup attempt against him by military officers in 1967 he tightened his rule, and then remained Algeria's undisputed ruler until his death in 1978.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Modibo Keita]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1960–1968 || <small>Schoolteacher and first president of Mali. Forced socialization and extensive protectionism severely harmed the economy and continued the country's dependence on aid donors. Discontent with these policies led Keita to implement his own "Cultural Revolution" and establish a network of people's militias to inform on and punish dissent. In the last few years of his presidency, full powers were vested in an extralegal "National Committee for Defense of the Revolution". He was deposed in a military coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jean-Bédel Bokassa]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1966–1979 || <small>President of the Central African Republic 1966-1976; Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire 1976-1979. Bokassa overthrew the autocratic Dacko in a swift coup d'état and assumed power as president of the Republic and head of the sole political party, the Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique Noire (MESAN). Bokassa abolished the constitution of 1959 on January 4 and began to rule by decree. He proclaimed himself emperor in 1976 (see [http://www.african-geopolitics.org/show.aspx?ArticleId=3638]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]] ||align=center| [[Togo]] ||align=center| 1967–2005 || <small>President of Togo. Gained power in a coup; never fought a contested election until 1998; banned, tortured and killed opposition. Fostered a cult of personality that was reinforced after he was the sole survivor of an airplane crash in 1974. In late 1991, troops loyal to Eyadéma closed a constitutional conference that had shifted most executive power to a new transitional government and banned Eyadéma's RPT party. January 1993 saw a mass exodus of residents to neighboring states after security forces fired on pro-democracy demonstrators. Further repression followed a purported 1994 coup attempt (see[http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/data/togoewechro.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Omar Bongo]] ||align=center| [[Gabon]] ||align=center| 1967–2009 || <small>As vice president, he acceded to the presidency following the death of President [[Léon M'ba]]. In 1968, Bongo decreed a one-party state under his [[Gabonese Democratic Party]] and was thrice elected unopposed in the 1970s and 1980s. He became very wealthy during the country's oil boom.<!--Sources?: Gabon saw less naked repression during his rule then most African dictatorships, partly because Bongo was a skilled manipulator able to co-opt much of his opposition.--> Open elections were held in 1990 and Bongo was re-elected in 1993, 1998 and 2005. Observers have criticized the elections as unfair and corruption watchdogs have accused the president of [[nepotism]]. Riots resulting from the mysterious death in 1990 of prominent dissident [[Joseph Rendjambe]] in a government hotel room were put down by French troops.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Moussa Traoré]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1968–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Military National Liberation Committee 1968-1969; Head of State 1969-1979; President of Mali 1979-1991. Seized power in a coup; banned all opposition; installed a police state; established one-party state in 1979.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Francisco Macías Nguema]] ||align=center| [[Equatorial Guinea]] ||align=center| 1968–1979 || <small>President of Equatorial Guinea 1968-1979. Elected in 1968 but declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1972; "extreme personality cult"; over a third of population fled his regime. Banned fishing and sanctioned the deaths of most of his pre-independence political rivals, including ex-prime minister [[Bonifacio Ondó Edu]] and foreign minister [[Atanasio Ndongo Miyone]]. Declared an atheist state by Spanish dictator [[Francisco Franco]]. As many as 50,000 civilians were killed, in particular those of the [[Bubi]] ethnic [[minority]] on [[Bioko]] associated with relative wealth and [[intellectual]]ism.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gaafar Nimeiry]] ||align=center| [[Sudan]] ||align=center| 1969–1985 || <small>Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council 1969-1971; President of Sudan 1971-1985. Gained power in a military coup, banned opposition, dissolved southern Sudanese government, imposed sharia law. Executed several leading communists (the most prominent being [[Abdel Khaliq Mahjub]] and [[Joseph Garang]]) after a botched 1971 coup attempt.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mohamed Siad Barre]] ||align=center| [[Somalia]] ||align=center| 1969–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council 1969-1976; President of Somalia 1976-1991. In 1969, during the power vacuum following the assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, the military staged a coup and took over. Barre was to rule for the next twenty-two years. He attempted to develop a personality cult; large posters of him were common in the capital Mogadishu during his reign, many of which can still be seen today. He dreamed of a "[[Greater Somalia]]" and tried unsuccessfully to annex the [[Ogaden]]—legally Ethiopian territory—in 1977 to realize this end (see [[Ogaden War]]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Anwar Sadat]] || align=center|[[Egypt]] || align=center|1970-1981 || <small>President of Egypt 1970-1981. Unelected, suppressed opposition in what was termed "The Corrective Revolution". Assassinated.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Idi Amin]] ||align=center| [[Uganda]] ||align=center| 1971–1979 || <small>[[President of Uganda]], later (1976) declared as [[President for Life|for Life]]. Deposed in 1979 after declaring war on [[Tanzania]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mengistu Haile Mariam]] ||align=center| [[Ethiopia]] ||align=center| 1974–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council ([[Derg]]) in 1974 and 1977-1987; President of Ethiopia 1987-1991. One-party state; repression of opposition; tens of thousands of extra-judicial killings.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Olusegun Obasanjo]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1976-1979 || <small>Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria between 1976 and 1979. Elected President of Nigeria in 1999. Chairman of the [[African Union]] 2004-2006.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jean-Baptiste Bagaza]] ||align=center| [[Burundi]] ||align=center| 1976–1987 || <small>President of Burundi. Widely described as a military dictator (see [http://www.africanews.com/article265.html], [http://www.electionworld.org/history/burundi.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Albert René]] ||align=center| [[Seychelles]] ||align=center| 1977–2004 || <small>President of Seychelles. Deposed the elected president Sir [[James Mancham]] and promulgated a one-party constitution after a period of rule by decree. Created the [[National Youth Service]] (NYS), a compulsory educational institution that included traditional curricula interlaced with political indoctrination and paramilitary training.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Daniel arap Moi]] ||align=center| [[Kenya]] ||align=center| 1978–2002 || <small>President of Kenya. Changed constitution to establish a ''de jure'' one-party state; resorted to repressive rule, including torture and imprisonment without trial.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]] ||align=center| [[Equatorial Guinea]] ||align=center| '''1979–present''' || <small>Chairman of the Supreme Military Council 1979-1982; President of Equatorial Guinea 1982-present. Deposed his uncle in a violent coup; opposition is banned in all but name.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[José Eduardo dos Santos]] ||align=center| [[Angola]] ||align=center| '''1979–present''' || <small>President of Angola. One-party state; did not stand for election until 1992 (see [http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2000/Angola_Marques_00/Angola_Marques_00.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[João Bernardo Vieira]] ||align=center| [[Guinea-Bissau]] ||align=center| 1980-1984 and '''2005-present''' || <small>become president by a coup. killing and exiled opposition. faoumes for the [[Guinea-Bissau Civil War]].<small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Samuel K. Doe]] ||align=center| [[Liberia]] ||align=center| 1980–1990 || <small>Chairman of the People's Redemption Council 1980-1984; President of Liberia 1984-1990. Gained power in a military coup that killed President [[William R. Tolbert, Jr.]], a [[Reform movement|reformer]]. Promoted [[Krahn]] chauvinism and "died a multi-millionaire and proud owner of mansions and estates" (see[http://www.theperspective.org/2004/oct/bookpeople.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Robert Mugabe]] ||align=center| [[Zimbabwe]] ||align=center| '''1980–present''' || <br />
<small>Gained power through election, and repeatedly re-elected, but criticized for steps used to maintain power. From 1999 on, used police and militant groups like the War Veterans Association and [[Border Gezi Youth]] to enforce [[ZANU-PF]] policies and to prevent opponents from voting; called "king" by his aides.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1709488.stm] Arrested and tortured opponents and human rights activists; gave amnesty to murderers of his political opponents in 2000; ignores court rulings.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,410850,00.html]</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jerry Rawlings]] ||align=center| [[Ghana]] ||align=center| 1981-1992 || <small>Gained power in a military coup during 1979 but handed it over. Re-took power in another coup of 1981. Elected President in 1992 and again in 1996 before standing aside as per the constitution.</small> <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[André Kolingba]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1981–1993 || <small>Chairman of the Military Committee of National Recovery 1981-1985; President of the Central African Republic 1985-1993. Gained power in a coup; persecuted opposition; allowed (and lost) free elections in 1993. Attempted second coup in 2001.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hosni Mubarak]] || align=center|[[Egypt]] || align=center|'''1981-2011''' || <small>Former President of Egypt. Did not stand in a contested election until 2005, when a highly-restricted democratic process was allowed. Was forced from power after a series of mass protests.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Paul Biya]] ||align=center| [[Cameroon]] ||align=center| '''1982–present''' || <small>He served under President Ahmadou Ahidjo and became Prime Minister in 1975. Ahidjo resigned on November 6, 1982 and Biya became president. After years of totalitarian rule, he allowed the creation of opposition parties in 1990 but his re-elections have been marked by widespread fraud and intimidation.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hissène Habré]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| 1982–1990 || <small>Chairman of the Council of State 1982; President of Chad 1982-1990. Gained power in a coup; abolished post of Prime Minister; executed opposition leaders.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Thomas Sankara]] ||align=center| [[Burkina Faso]] ||align=center| 1983-1987 || <small>President of Upper Volta 1983-1984; President of Burkina Faso 1984-1987. Gained power in coup. Lead millitary regime. Overthrown and killed in coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]] ||align=center| [[Mauritania]] ||align=center| 1984–2005 || <small>Deposed the military head of state, [[Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla]], on December 1984 and declared himself Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation. Deposed by [[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]] in a bloodless coup d'état. </small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ibrahim Babangida]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1985-1993 || <small> Annulled the most free and fair presidential election in the history of Nigeria, leading to the death of the presidenstial candidate [[Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] ||align=center| [[Tunisia]] ||align=center| '''1987–2011''' || <small>President of Tunisia. Although he announced [[Pluralism#Plualism in politics|political pluralism]] in 1992, his Democratic Constitutional Rally (formerly Neo-Destour party) continues to dominate the national politics and there is no genuine open political debate. In 1999, although two unknown alternative candidates were permitted for the first time to stand in the presidential elections, Ben Ali was re-elected with 99.66% of the vote. A controversial constitutional referendum in 2002 allowed him to seek re-election and contemplate the possibility of remaining in office until 2014. On October 24, 2004, he was again re-elected, officially taking 94.48% of the vote. Certain books, periodicals and internet sites are banned or blocked. The [http://www.tunisiatv.com National Television] frequently show his actions during a week, but often the President only appears in passing on television. In 2011 he was forced from power after mass protests.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir]] ||align=center| [[Sudan]] ||align=center| '''1989–present''' || <small>President of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation 1989-1993; President of Sudan 1993-present. Took power in a military coup and increasingly centralized power into himself. Widely believed to be implicated in the [[Darfur]] [[Janjaweed]] [[pogrom]]s.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Idriss Déby]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| '''1990–present''' || <small>Head of State 1990-1991; President of Chad 1991 to date. Gained power in a coup; continues to suppress opposition and press (see [http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/tcd-summary-eng]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Sani Abacha]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1993–1998 || <small>Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council 1993-1998. Seized power in a coup; persecuted opposition; never stood for election. Jailed Chief [[Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]], the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election; presided over execution of activist [[Ken Saro-Wiwa]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Paul Kagame]] || align=center|[[Rwanda]] || align=center|'''1994-present''' || <small>Vice-President of Rwanda 1994-2000; President 2000-Present. Brouhgt to power by a guerilla movement which plunged the country into bloodshed and led to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. Responsible of the the killings of innocent civilians, women and children in Kibeho refugee camp. Responsible of the killings of 4 millions congolese. Responsible of the killings of Priests and Archbishops in Kabgayi.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Yahya Jammeh]] ||align=center| [[The Gambia]] ||align=center| '''1994-Present''' || <small>President of The Gambia. Gained power in coup d'état. Right to the press and free speech supressed. Stood for three elections (1996, 2001, and 2006); last election deemed unfair by opposition.<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] ||align=center| [[Congo-Kinshasa]] ||align=center| 1997–2001 || <small>President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Overthrew [[Mobutu Sese Seko]] in coup. No elections held during ongoing, interstate [[First Congo War|First]] and [[Second Congo War]]s.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Charles G. Taylor]] ||align=center| [[Liberia]] ||align=center| 1997–2003 || <small>President of Liberia 1997-2003. Elected, but widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sierra/article/0,2763,221878,00.html], [http://www.cij.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewNews&newsID=9], [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/127/48.0.html]). Linked to "[[blood diamonds]]" and illegal arms trading. Believed to have interfered frequently in the internal affairs of neighboring states while a [[warlord]], before his election to the presidency.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[François Bozizé]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| '''2003–present''' || <small>President of the Central African Republic 2003 to date. Gained power in a coup and suspended the constitution, though he has restored some democracy (see [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/28/1456242]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]] ||align=center| [[Mauritania]] ||align=center| 2005-2007 || <small>Chairman of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy. Gained power via a military coup. Though he has said to relinquish power to an elected government in 2007.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==The Americas==<br />
===North America===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Agustín de Iturbide]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1822 - 1823<br> || <small>Shortly after the Mexican War of Independence, he was declared Emperor of Mexico in 1822. Repressive, cracked down on free speech and any opposition. Desposed when popular opposition forced him to abdicate.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Antonio López de Santa Anna]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1833 - 1855<br>(intermittent) || <small>President or Provisional President of Mexico 1833-1837, then 1841 to February 1844, June to December 1844, March to September 1847 and finally 1853-1855. When [[Anastasio Bustamante]] led a coup overthrowing and killing President [[Vicente Guerrero]], Santa Anna seized power and then was elected President in 1833. At first he gave a free hand to his vice-president [[Valentín Gómez Farías]], a liberal reformer. Later he dismissed Gómez Farías, declared the Constitution suspended, disbanded the Congress and worked to concentrate power in the central government. He was overthrown and restored to power several times before his final overthrow in 1855.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Porfirio Díaz]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1879 - 1910 || <small>Interim president 1876-1877; President of Mexico 1877-1880, 1884-1911. ''De facto'' ruler 1880-1884. Gained power in a coup, after his Revolution of Tuxtepac overthrew his predecessor, Lerdo. He did not run for reelection after his first term in order to keep his one-term promises that he made during his revolution. However, he retook the presidency a few years later and did not leave from power until the [[Mexican Revolution|Revolution of 1910]] kicked him from the Presidency. His rule saw the rapid modernization of Mexico, progress mainly caused by Diaz's encouragement of foreign investment in the country's infrastructure. However, the poor became quite miserable during this time. Political opposition was squelched and rebellions were put down by the ''rurals'', Diaz's personal guard. He was eventually overthrown by the [[Mexican Revolution|Revolution]] which lasted 10 years.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Victoriano Huerta]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1913 - 1914<br> || <small>Appointed president, established a military dictatorship for about a year, and then was forced to resign.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Central America===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Carrera]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1844–1848<br> 1851–1865 ||<small> President of Guatemala. Gained power in a coup; styled himself [[President for Life]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[William Walker]] ||align=center| [[Nicaragua]] ||align=center| 1856-1857 || <small>An american fillibuster takes over and proclaims himself President of Nicaragua. Tried to conquer several central american countries. Eventually executed.<small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Justo Rufino Barrios]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1873–1885 || <small>President of Guatemala. Gained power in a bloody coup, but introduced reforms.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Estrada Cabrera]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1898–1920 || <small>President of Guatemala. Never elected; subverted constitution; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9033093], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558775/Estrada_Cabrera_Manuel.html]). Constructed numerous large [[Ancient Greece|Hellenic]]-style temples as monuments to his rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Maximiliano Hernández Martínez]] || align=center|[[El Salvador]] || align=center|1931–1934<br>1935–1944 || <small>Acting President 1931-1934; President of El Salvador 1935-1944. Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; oversaw massacre of between ten and forty thousand suspected opponents. Presided over ''[[1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising|La Matanza]]'' in 1932, a massacre (genocide) of communists, suspected communists, [[campesinos]] and [[Pipil]] Indians (see [http://countrystudies.us/el-salvador/7.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jorge Ubico]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1931–1944 || <small>President of Guatemala. Elected, but suppressed opposition and "assumed dictatorial powers".<!--Source?--></small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Tiburcio Carías Andino]] || align=center|[[Honduras]] || align=center|1933–1949 || <small>President of Honduras. Banned opposition and set up a [[Rubberstamp (politics)|rubber-stamp]] congress; suppressed unions (see[http://countrystudies.us/honduras/19.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Anastasio Somoza García]] || align=center|[[Nicaragua]] || align=center|1937–1956 || <small>Somoza used his position as head of the [[National Guard (Nicaragua)|National Guard]] to overthrow President [[Juan Bautista Sacasa]]; centralized constitutional authority under his control; alternately rigged elections for himself or installed relatives in his place; kleptocrat.[http://www.immigrantinfo.org/kin/nicaragua.htm][http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9212.html].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Castillo Armas]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1954–1957 || <small>Junta Chairman, 1954; President of Guatemala 1954-1957. Gained power in a coup; banned the popular [[Guatemalan Party of Labour|Communist party]]; purged trade unions of leftist influence; declared himself president in 1956. Assassinated.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Oswaldo López Arellano]] || align=center|[[Honduras]] || align=center|1963–1971 <br> 1972–1975 ||<small> Head of Military Government 1963-1965; President of Honduras 1965-1971; Head of State 1972-1975. Military officer who allowed elections in 1971 before re-seizing power the next year. According to Clara Nieto in ''Masters of War: Latin America and United States Aggression from the Cuban Revolution through the Clinton years'', p. 114 (ISBN 1-58322-545-5): "During this second term (1972-1975) López governed without a congress and by decree."</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Anastasio Somoza Debayle]] || align=center|[[Nicaragua]] || align=center|1967-1979 || <small>Succeeded his somewhat more liberal brother [[Luis Somoza Debayle|Luis]]; stepped down briefly in 1972, then resumed the presidency after an earthquake; outlawed several opposition parties; declared [[martial law]] in response to guerilla opposition; oversaw brutal repression by the National Guard.<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Omar Torrijos]] || align=center|[[Panama]] || align=center|1968–1981 || <small>Commander of the National Guard. Gained power in a coup; banned opposition, unions and free press.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Efraín Ríos Montt]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1982–1983 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1982; President of Guatemala 1982-1983. Dictator during a military coup. Known for [[scorched earth]] counter-insurgency strategies. Since then was Head of Congress for many years and made several failed attempts to be elected democratically. Used his declared conservative evangelical Christian beliefs to portray dissent as an attack against God.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Noriega]] || align=center|[[Panama]]|| align=center|1983–1989 || <small>Commander of the National Guard and ''de facto'' military leader, widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9056130], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561240/Noriega_Moreno_Manuel_Antonio.html], [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/8155061.htm]).</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===South America===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1813-1814 and 1814-1840 ||<small>gained power in election. Outlawed all opposition. Installed a police state. Cult of personality; citizens forced to raise their hats or a brim when he passed by; styled himself with the position name "El Supremo". </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Simón Bolívar]] || align=center| [[Gran Columbia]] || align=center| 1821-1830 || <small>Though an admirer of classical liberal democracy, the founder and president of Gran Colombia proclaimed himself dictator in 1828 after an unsuccessful constitutional convention. Resigned eighteen months later.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Juan Manuel de Rosas]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1835–1852 || <small>Governor of Buenos Aires 1829-1832, 1835-1852; Supreme Chief of the Argentine Confederation 1851-1852. Assumed dictatorial powers; exiled opponents.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Antonio López]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1841–1862 || <small>First Consul 1841-1844; President of Paraguay 1844-1862. <!--Substantiate: "Ruled despotically" - described as a dictator.--></small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Belzu]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1848–1855 || <small>Provisional President of Bolivia 1848-1850; President of Bolivia 1850-1855. Unelected military ruler; ''[[caudillo]]''. A populist and nationalist who voluntarily relinquished power after 1855 elections, described in (ISBN 0-13-524356-4), p.131, as the "cleanest ever held" in (early) Bolivian history.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Francisco Solano López]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1862–1869 ||<small> President of Paraguay. Inherited power from his father; had himself awarded immense powers by a congress he had packed with supporters. Killed in the [[War of the Triple Alliance]] (which Lopez had caused by invading Brazil), along with 90 per cent of the Paraguayan adult (age 14+) male population.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Mariano Melgarejo]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1864–1871 || <small>Provisional President 1864-1870; President of Bolivia 1870-1871. Gained power in a coup and ruthlessly suppressed opposition. In 1869 he sent the army to suppress an uprising by [[Huaichu]] Indians attempting to regain land privileges they enjoyed under President Belzu (see ISBN 1-55753-324-5).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Antonio Guzmán Blanco]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1870–1888 ||<small> Acting President of Venezuela 1863, 1865; General-in-chief April-July 1870; Provisional President of Venezuela 1870-1873; President of Venezuela 1873 - 1877; Supreme Director 1879; Provisional President of Venezuela 1879 - 1880; President of Venezuela 1880 -1884, 1886 -1888. Described, perhaps inaccurately, as a "benevolent despot"; other sources mention his "long dictatorship" (see[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:ghIhQZ7WhgUJ:www.normangall.com/artigos/Church_Militant.pdf+Antonio+Guzm%C3%A1n+Blanco+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Cipriano Castro]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1899–1909 || <small>Supreme Chief 1899-1901; Provisional President 1901 - 1902, 1904 - 1905; President of Venezuela 1902 - 1904, 1905 - 1909. Took over in a military coup (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:kdvql1ZK2-4J:www.sg.inter.edu/revista-ciscla/volume29/singh.pdf+Antonio+Guzm%C3%A1n+Blanco+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Reyes]] || align=center|[[Colombia]] || align=center|1904–1909 || <small>President 1904 - 1909, as a military ruler representing the Conservatives. "In the course of his regime, Reyes improved the country’s finances, expanded roads and railroads, and encouraged increased coffee production. Large U.S. investments and purchases of coffee and minerals contributed to Colombia’s economic growth. However, Reyes ruled as a dictator. He dissolved the congress and replaced it with a handpicked legislature, jailed and exiled political opponents, and declared martial law." (''Colombia'', [[Encarta|Microsoft Encarta]] 2003)</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Juan Vicente Gómez]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1909–1914 <br> 1922–1929 <br> 1931–1935 || <small>Provisional President 1909-1910; President of Venezuela 1910-1914, 1922-1929, 1931-1935. Gained power in a coup; never elected; kleptocrat; widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9037322], [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=156078], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563557/Juan_Vicente_Gomez.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Óscar Benavides]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1914–1915 <br> 1933–1939 ||<small> Junta Chairman 1914; President of Peru 1914-1915, 1933-1939. Twice gained power by coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Augusto B. Leguía y Salcedo|Augusto Leguía]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || 1919–1930 || <small>President of Peru. Gained power in a coup; ignored constitution; suppressed and exiled opposition.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Ibáñez del Campo]] || align=center|[[Chile]] || align=center|1927–1931 || <small>Acting President 1927, President 1927 - 1931. Democratically elected to a six-year term in 1952.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Getúlio Vargas]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1930–1934 <br> 1937–1945 ||<small> Head of provisional government 1930-1934 after revolution; indirectly elected as Constitutional President 1934-1937; launched a coup in 1937 and became dictator 1937-1945; democratically-elected President of Brazil 1950-1954.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gabriel Terra]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1931–1938 || <small>President of Uruguay. Suspended congress and dissolved constitution in 1933. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Higinio Morínigo]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1940–1948 || <small>Provisional president 1940-1943; President of Paraguay 1943-1948. Seized absolute power; ruled by [[diktat]] until 1946.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Odría]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1948–1956 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1948 - 1950; President of Peru 1950 - 1956. Gained power in a coup; restricted civil rights; allowed election in 1956.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Marcos Pérez Jiménez]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1948–1958 || <small>Member of military junta 1948 - 1952; Provisional president 1952 -1953; President of Venezuela 1953 - 1958. Never elected; pursued opposition violently; credited with improvements to the country's infrastructure.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gustavo Rojas Pinilla]] || align=center|[[Colombia]] || align=center|1953–1957 || <small>President of Colombia. Gained power in a coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Alfredo Stroessner]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1954–1989 ||<small> President of Paraguay. He took over in a military coup (see[http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19890301faessay5951/riordan-roett/paraguay-after-stroessner.html], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:vqkaVDmcvaIJ:www.columbia.edu/cu/polisci/pdf-files/apsa_krutz.pdf+Stroessner+dictator],[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:qfMgvA6bakgJ:users.ox.ac.uk/~newc1465/Proudman%2520-%2520SoftPowerMeetsHard.pdf+Stroessner+dictator]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco|Humberto Castelo Branco]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1964–1967 || <small>President of Brazil. Gained power in a coup; abolished most opposition; subsequently appointed by congress.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[René Barrientos]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1964–1969 || <small>Chairman of the military junta, 1964-January 1966 (jointly with [[Alfredo Ovando]] 1965-1966); President of Bolivia, August 1966 - 1969. Gained power in military coup; kleptocrat; responsible for [[Catavi massacre]] and execution of [[Che Guevara]] (ISBN 0-85345-991-6), p.136.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Forbes Burnham]] || align=center|[[Guyana]] || align=center|1966–1985 ||<small> Prime Minister 1966 - 1980; President 1980 - 1985. Elected, but became increasingly dictatorial; held dubious elections and encouraged leftist religious cults (such as the [[Peoples Temple]]) to settle in the Guyanese interior (see [http://www.jagan.org/janet_jagan29.htm], [http://www.hardbeatnews.com/editor/RTE/my_documents/my_files/details.asp?newsid=4498&title=Politics]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Artur da Costa e Silva]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1967–1969 || <small>President of Brazil 1967-1969. Elected in 1966, but centralised power; closed the Congress; banned opposition; suspended free press. Decreed [[Institutional Act No. 5]], described as "the most unconstitutional, anti-democratic, arbitrary, and repressive decree in Brazil's history." (ISBN 1-58322-545-5), p.167.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Emílio Garrastazu Médici]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1969–1974 ||<small> President of Brazil. Appointed by congress, but instituted a military government; suppressed press and opposition (see[http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/62/index.rtf]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Hugo Banzer]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1971–1978 ||<small> President of Bolivia. Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; closed universities; 3,000 opponents arrested, 200 killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Juan María Bordaberry]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1972–1976 || <small>President of Uruguay 1972 - 1976. Elected, but installed a military government, dissolved Congress, suspended civil liberties and banned unions.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Augusto Pinochet]] || align=center|[[Chile]] || align=center|1973–1990 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1973-1974; Supreme Head of the Nation 1974; President of Chile 1974 - 1990. Gained power in a coup; suppressed and exiled opposition; over 3000 "[[Forced disappearance|disappearances]]" and 28,000 tortured.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ernesto Geisel]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1974-1979 || <small>Congress-appointed President of Brazil. The fourth of the military dictators; party and union freedom were still inexistent during his term; had oppositionists like journalist [[Wladimir Herzog]] and factory worker [[Manoel Fiel Filho]] tortured and murdered.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jorge Rafael Videla]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1976–1981 || <small>President of Argentina. Gained power in a coup; never elected; between ten and thirty thousand opponents killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1979-1985 || <small> Congress-appointed President of Brazil. Society won some democratic measures these years, but there was still a major fraud during 1982 State government elections. His government was responsible for the 1983 bomb in the Riocentro.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Dési Bouterse]] || align=center|[[Suriname]] || align=center|1980–1988 || <small>Chairman of the National Military Council 1980-1988. Gained power in a coup; never elected; widespread misrule. Most infamous atrocity is the ''[[Decembermoorden]]''.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Luis García Meza Tejada]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1980–1981 || <small>President of Bolivia. Gained power in the "Cocaine Coup" aided by [[Klaus Barbie]]; highly repressive; over 1,000 killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gregorio Conrado Álvarez]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1981–1985 || <small>President of Uruguay. Ignored constitution; extensive human rights abuses (see [http://www.rulers.org/indexa2.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Leopoldo Galtieri]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1981–1982 || <small>President of Argentina 1981-1982. Gained power in a coup (see[http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,873601,00.html], [http://english.pravda.ru/world/2003/01/14/41968.html]). Deposed after failed [[Falklands War|invasion of the Falkland Islands]] in 1982.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Alberto Fujimori]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1992-1993 || <small>President of Peru 1990-2000, widely critizised for his political authoritarism. [http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n34peru_body.html][http://www.aprodeh.org.pe/fujimori/delitos-eng.htm] [http://www.cverdad.org.pe/ingles/pagina01.php]. After enjoying a certain degree of popular support, Fujimori was forced from office following controvertial third term re-election[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/05/29/peru.elections.04/]. In 2000 political opponent Mario Vargas Llosa called Fujimori a "dictator" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/741841.stm]. His government was also marked by the influence of the director of the SIN, [[Vladimiro Montesinos]] [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2005.00165.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=goop][http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB37/]. Currently in Peru, Fujimori is in trial for presumed charges ranging from corruption to participation in crimes against humanity. [http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/peru-qna-1030.htm].</small> <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hugo Chávez]] ||align=center| [[Venezuela]] ||align=center| '''1999-present || <small>Appointed special powers, nationalized the media and oil companies,Shut down opposition media and banned "The Simpsons."</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Caribbean===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1804-1806 || <small>Governor-General of Haiti 1804; Emperor of Haiti (as Jacques I) 1804 - 1806. Ruled autocratically.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Henry Christophe]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] <br>(northern)|| align=center|1806-1820 || <small>Provisional Chief of the Haitian Government 1806-1807; President of Haiti 1807-1811; King of Haiti (as Henry I) 1811-1820. Ruled autocratically.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Pedro Santana]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1844-1848, 1853 -1856, 1858 - 1861 || <small>Never elected; suppressed opposition; widely considered a dictator.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Buenaventura Báez]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1849-1878 (intermittent) || <small>President of the Dominican Republic five times. Gained power following coups; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ulises Heureaux]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1882-1899 (intermittent) || <small>President of the Dominican Republic three times. Never elected; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.marcusgarvey.com/wmview.php?ArtID=507], [http://countrystudies.us/dominican-republic/8.htm], [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-7709.2004.00452.x]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gerardo Machado]] || align=center|[[Cuba]] || align=center|1925-1933 || <small>President of Cuba. A follower of [[Benito Mussolini]], he is widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=672], [http://www.highbeam.com/ref/doc0.asp?docid=1E1:MachadoG]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Trujillo]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1930-1961 || <small>President of the Dominican Republic 1930 - 1938, 1942 - 1952; ''de facto'' ruler 1930-1961. Gained power in a coup; cult of personality (renamed the capital [[Ciudad Trujillo]]); promoted racism against Haitians and ordered the massacre of 20,000 blacks.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Paul Magloire]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1950-1956 || <small>President of Haiti. Gained power in a coup; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Fulgencio Batista]] || align=center| [[Cuba]] || align=center| 1952-1959 || <small>President of Cuba 1940-1944; 1952-1959. Gained power the second time in a coup; suppressed opposition violently. Use of torture and collective punishment. Mafia ties.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[François Duvalier]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1957-1971 ||<small> President of Haiti. Elected in 1957, but banned opposition; declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1964; highly repressive.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Fidel Castro]] || align=center|[[Cuba]] || align=center| 1959-2006 || <small>Prime Minister of Cuba 1959-1976; President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers from 1976. Gained power after [[Cuban Revolution|revolution]]. Castro was elected President [[Elections in Cuba|after 1976]], but within a one-party [[Communist state]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jean-Claude Duvalier]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1971-1986 ||<small> President of Haiti. Inherited presidency aged 19 from his father; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Eric Gairy]] || align=center|[[Grenada]] || align=center|1974-1979 || <small>Prime Minister of Grenada 1967-1979. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.factbites.com/topics/Eric-Gairy], [http://www.paradise-inn-carriacou.com/grenada_revolution.php], [http://counterpunch.org/gibson06052004.html]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Raoul Cédras]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1991-1994 || <small>''De facto'' ruler for a relatively short period of time. Gained power in a coup (see [http://www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org/infamous.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Raul Castro]] ||align=center| [[Cuba]] ||align=center| '''2006-present''' || <small>Appointed successor by his brother of the Communist Party of Cuba.</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Asia==<br />
<br />
===Western Asia ("Middle East")===<br />
<!--Dont add names before discussing it on talk page first--><br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Abdul Karim Qassem]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1958–1963 || <small>Gained power by coup; viewed by some as benevolent (see [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/18/wisad18.xml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Abdul Salam Arif]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1963–1966 ||<small> Gained power in a coup; military ruler.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1968–1979 ||<small> Gained power in a coup; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Hafez al-Assad]] || align=center|[[Syria]] || align=center|1970–2000 ||<small>Gained power in a coup; totalitarian;{{fact}} cult of personality; oversaw [[Hama massacre]] yielding twenty to forty thousand dead (see [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012197]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ruhollah Khomeini]] || align=center|[[Iran]] || align=center|1979–1989 || <small> As [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]], held ultimate and uncontested authority over all government matters under the principle of [[Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists|Guardianship]]. Created the extra-constitutional [[Special Clerical Court]] system in 1987, accountable only to the Supreme Leader and used principally for suppression of political dissent. Instituted routine torture, beheadings for children.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Saddam Hussein]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1979–2003 || <small>Pressured Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to resign in 1979 and formally became president. Repressive; developed extensive personality cult; deposed by [[United States]] and coalition forces in an invasion.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ali Khamenei|Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]]||align=center| [[Iran]] ||align=center| '''1989-present''' || <small>Continues Khomeini's [[Islamist]] path & uses religion as a tool, cracks down on all authentic dissent, tortures, and has given orders that permit killings like that of [[Akbar Mohammadi]] and [[Zahra Kazemi]]. Only permitts [[government-organized demonstrations]]. Allows a multi-party government but disallows the candidacy of true moderates.[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=9940][http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1527919/][http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200505310823.asp][http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1154652871.shtml][http://isd.georgetown.edu/demo_0102.pdf][http://www.boycottliberalism.com/liberalcelebrity.htm]</small>ISBN 0-16-074590-X <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Bashar al-Assad]] || align=center|[[Syria]] || align=center|'''2000–present''' || <small>No opposition permitted in election following death of his father; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110007449], [http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP92405], [http://www.freeman.org/m_online/feb04/pasko.htm]).</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Central Asia===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Askar Akayev]] || align=center|[[Kyrgyzstan]] || align=center|1990–2005 ||<small> Appointed but became increasingly authoritarian; widely described as a dictator (see [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4542783.stm], [http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/archive/000935.php], [http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kazakhstan/hypermail/200507/0023.shtml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Islam Karimov]] || align=center|[[Uzbekistan]] || align=center|'''1991–present''' || <small>Described as authoritarian who is increasingly centralizing power (see [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/expand?pub=infobike://bell/soviet/2003/00000019/00000004/art00002&unc=], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:uuOVzdj_xBoJ:www1.dogus.edu.tr/dogustru/journal/sayi_6/M00073.PDF+%22Islam+Karimov%22+%22dictator%22]). Elections essentially uncontested and unmonitored. Opposition repressed. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Saparmurat Niyazov]] || align=center|[[Turkmenistan]] || align=center|1991–2006 || <small>Declared [[President for Life]] in 1999; [[cult of personality]]; his book ''[[Ruhnama]]'' is to be treated with reverence (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:blnbM3mP0eAJ:www.eurasianet.org/turkmenistan.project/files2/050603Turkmenreport.pdf+%22Niyazov%22+%22dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:Ie2QfLuR_ysJ:www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/tamerlane/Tamerlane-Chapter2.pdf+%22Niyazov%22+%22dictatorship%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Muhammed Omar]] || align=center|[[Afghanistan]] || align=center|1996–2001 || <small>Considered a Theocratic Dictator who excercized strict sharia laws; allowed the persecution of Hazaras; gave Al Qaeda refuge in Afghanistan. (see[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0881088.html][http://www.afghan-web.com/bios/today/momar.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ilham Aliyev]] || align=center|[[Azerbaijan]] || align=center|'''2003–present''' ||<small> Dubious election; opposition suppressed (see[http://www.underreported.com/print.php?sid=1241]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow]] || align=center|[[Turkmenistan]] || align=center|'''2006-present''' ||<small>Unelected, appointed as successor upon Niyazov's death. Turkemnistan still continues to be oppresive and a single-party state.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===South Asia===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ayub Khan]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1958–1969 || <small>Gained power in a coup. Subsequent elections considered dubious (see[http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A069], [http://www.indianexpress.com/messages.php?content_id=71414]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Yahya Khan]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1969–1971 ||<small> Military ruler, gaining power from coup (see [http://presidentyahya.com],[http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/pakistantimeline.html], [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/kpsgill/terrorism/04Jan10Pio.htm]).</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]] || align=center|[[Maldives]] || align=center|1978–2008 || <small>[[Autocracy|Autocrat]]; widely considered to be a dictator; no opposition or free press allowed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1978–1988 || <small>Took over following coup. Claimed government to be legitimate because it was Islamic (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:dcmhb0vRS4wJ:smartech.gatech.edu:8282/dspace/bitstream/1853/6901/1/kulkarni_nikhil_v_200505_ms.pdf+%22Muhammad+Zia%22+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rahimuddin Khan]] || align=center|[[Balochistan (Pakistan)]] || align=center|1978–1984 || <small>Appointed supreme Martial Law Governor of Balochistan by central Pakistani military government following coup. (see [http://www.answers.com/rahimuddin%20khan]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hossain Mohammad Ershad]] || align=center|[[Bangladesh]] || align=center|1982–1990 ||<small>Gained power in a coup; declared martial law; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Pervez Musharraf]] || align=center| [[Pakistan]] || align=center| 1999-2008 || <small>Deposed Nawaz Sharif in a military coup, calling it a necessity during a state of emergency. Governed directly as commander in chief until Parliament reconvened in November 2002. Assumed the title of President upon Rafiq Tarar's resignation and stood in a referendum in 2002. Opposition parties state that the rule of law in his custody has deteriorated further.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Eastern Asia ("Far East")===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years <br> in &nbsp; power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] || align=center|[[Japan]] || align=center|1600-1616|| <small> Shogun of [[Japan]] and founder of the long reigning [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Gained power by unifying the warring clans during [[Japan]]'s long period of civil unrest. He also created an "alternate attendance" system to pacify the [[daimyo]] warlords, as well as closing and isolating trade and the economy, in order to retain his power. His rule was also marked by persecution of european missionaries and japanese christians. <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Yuan Shikai]] || align=center|[[Republic of China]] || align=center|1912–1916 || <small>[[President of the Republic of China]] 1912 - 1915, self-proclaimed [[Emperor of China]], 1916. Ignored legislative consent as defined by the [[Constitution of the Republic of China|Constitution]]; dissolved the [[National Assembly of the Republic of China|National Assembly]]; assassinated [[Song Jiaoren]]; disbanded the [[Kuomintang]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Roman von Ungern-Sternberg]] || align=center|[[Mongolia]] || align=center|1921 || <small><br />
Born, Baron Roman Nicolaus von Ungern-Sternberg (Роман Фёдорович Унгерн фон Штернберг), in Graf, Austria of Prussian nobility, von Ungern-Sternberg fought, against his own Prussians, in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I and fought the [[Bolsheviks]], in [[Siberia]], after 1917. A rabid [[monarchist]], von Ungern-Sternberg soon thereafter became an independent [[warlord]] with the intention of establishing an independent Russo-Sino-Mongolian monarchy in [[Urga]] under the nominal rule of [[Bogd Khaan]] (the [[Living Buddha]]). Although considered the paragon of bravery, von Ungern-Sternberg was reckless, brutal and mentally unstable. <br />
</small><small><br />
After a savage battle against occupying [[Chinese republic]]an forces, on March 13, 1921, [[Mongolia]] was proclaimed an independent [[monarchy]], and Ungern von Sternberg became Mongolian [[dictator]]. His brief rule of Mongolia was characterised by looting, raping and a reign of terror by his army. Eventually, the [[Bolsheviks]] invaded Mongolia and after a series of battles, von Ungern-Sternberg was defeated in a August 1921, captured by his own soldiers, and handed over to the [[Red Army]] on August 21, 1921.<br />
</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Chiang Kai-Shek]] ||align=center| [[Republic of China]] ||align=center| 1927-1975 || <small>Known as the "Generalissimo". Gained power by military force. Leader of anti-communist one-party state under the Kuomintang. Rule on mainland China repeatedly undermined by powerful regional factions, civil wars, and the war against Japan. Ruled with an iron-fist following his retreat to Taiwan in 1949.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Horloogiyn Choybalsan]] || align=center|[[Mongolia]] || align=center|1936–1952 ||<small> Unelected; opponents purged; cult of personality.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Kim Il-sung]] || align=center|[[North Korea]] || align=center|1948–1994 || <small>Appointed prime minister in 1948; purged rivals in the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] to consolidate power in 1956 (see [http://muse.jhu.edu/cgi-bin/access.cgi?uri=/journals/korean_studies/v026/26.1lankov.pdf]); introduced "[[Juche]]" ideology demanding absolute loyalty to him and the party; created most pervavise cult of personality in recent history. Declared "Eternal President" on his death.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ho Chi Minh]] ||align=center| [[North Vietnam]] ||align=center| 1945-1969 || <small>Unelected; killed thousands of political rivals in the 1940s; killed tens of thousands more during the land reforms of the 1950s; presided over a one-party state.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Sukarno]] || align=center|[[Indonesia]] || align=center| 1949-1968 ||<small>First President of Indonesia. Consolidated his powers, and got proclaimed President for LIfe. Was overthrown by the then Dictator of Indonesia, Suharto.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mao Zedong]] || align=center|[[People's Republic of China]] || align=center|1949–1976 || <small>Chairman of the PRC (1949 – 1959), Chairman of the [[Communist Party of China]] (1945 – 1976), Chairman of the [[Central Military Commission]] (1936 – 1976). Immense cult of personality; purged members of government; silenced opposition. Circumvented Communist Party hierarchy after the 1966 [[Cultural Revolution]]; imprisoned head of state [[Liu Shaoqi]]. Millions of Chinese citizens killed or murdered as a result of his policies and repression.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ngo Dinh Diem|Ngô Ðình Diệm]] || align=center|[[South Vietnam]] || align=center|1955–1963 || <small>Unelected; autocratic; oppressed Buddhists (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9055646?tocId=9055646&ref=news0905arc]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Park Chung Hee]] || align=center|[[South Korea]] || align=center|1961–1979 || <small>Took power in 1961 coup. Although initially welcomed by much of the population, he suspended the constitution in 1971 and introduced a new constitution that greatly increased his power.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ne Win]] || align=center|[[Burma]] || align=center|1962–1988 || <small>Seized power in a coup; instituted extreme repression (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:rSAOt9c_lU0J:www.iseas.edu.sg/62003.pdf+%22Ne+Win%22+%22dictator%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:yqkmuBoqlnYJ:www.asiapacificms.com/papers/pdf/burma_india_china.pdf+%22Ne+Win%22+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Thanom Kittikachorn]] || align=center|[[Thailand]] || align=center|1963–1973 || <small>Military dictator, known as one of Thailand's so-called "Three Tyrants". Oppressed student-led uprisings in October 1973 and 1976.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Suharto]] || align=center|[[Indonesia]] || align=center|1967–1998 || <small>His ''[[New Order (Indonesia)|New Order]]'' imprisoned Communists and alleged Communists; repressed Chinese inhabitants; made existing parties subordinate. Also a cleptocrat (with personal and family's assets at least worth US$ 15 billion, based on [[Time]] Magazine investigation in 1998). Described as a dictator in many sources (see[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:Bbh_caM50o4J:www.aut.ac.nz/depts/commstud/journ/docs/reviewscronau.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:128rEIvvRD4J:www.civiced.org/research/pdfs/RisingTide.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:_233mw5azNkJ:cmbc.ucsd.edu/content/1/docs/laurance2004.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Lon Nol]] || align=center|[[Cambodia]] || align=center|1972–1975 || <small>Gained power by coup; not elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Pol Pot]] || align=center|[[Democratic Kampuchea]] || align=center|1975–1979 || <small>Unelected; led a [[Khmer Rouge]] dictatorship; responsible for deaths of at least 1 million Cambodian citizens during his rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Chun Doo Hwan]] || align=center|[[South Korea]] || align=center|1980–1988 || <small>Gained power in a coup; declared martial law; oversaw [[Gwangju Massacre]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mahathir bin Mohamad]] ||align=center| [[Malaysia]] ||align=center| 1981-2003 || <small>Authoritarian; suppresed opposition, media.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Khamtai Siphandon]] || align=center|[[Laos]] || align=center|1992–2006 || <small>Unelected; one-party state (see[http://www.arthuredelstein.org/worlddictators]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Than Shwe]] || align=center|[[Myanmar]] || align=center|'''1992–present''' || <small>Unelected; persecution of minorities (especially [[Karenni]] and [[Rohingya]] groups [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51506.htm]) leading 250,000 to flee, either becoming [[IDP]]s or moving across the border to Thailand; consolidated power into himself from the [[SPDC]] - he moved to a new capital in Kyat Pyay in 2006 , &renamed it as Nay Pyi Daw ,i.e the Royal Palace City"; gained power via a military [[coup]] and announced that he would not hand over the power to [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]'s Elected Party (the [[NLD]]); no free press (see [http://www.bbc.co.uk/burmese/forum/story/2004/10/041020_khin_nyunt_ousted.shtml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Kim Jong-il]] || align=center|[[North Korea]] || align=center|'''1994–present''' || <small>Became General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission (the highest state offices) on his father's death. Continues his father's "[[Juche]]" ideology.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Sonthi Boonyaratglin]] || align=center|[[Thailand]] || align=center|'''2006–present''' || <small>Army chief seized power while Prime Minister [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] was out of the country. A state of martial law was declared, parliament was dissolved and the constitution abrogated. Instituted press censorship and restrictions on protests. The first Muslim in charge of the mostly Buddhist army.</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Europe==<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Oliver Cromwell]] || align=center| [[Commonwealth of England]] || align=center| 1653-1658 || <small>A [[Puritan]] general in the [[English Civil War]] who quickly rose through the ranks to become ''de facto'' head of the Parliamentary forces. After the Royalist defeat and the execution of [[Charles I]] the newly constituted [[Rump Parliament]] was overthrown by Cromwell who refused the Crown, choosing instead the title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. After his death the monarchy was reinstated. [http://www.olivercromwell.org/].</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Maximilien Robespierre]] || align=center| [[France]] || align=center| 1793–1794 || <small>Head of the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution. To purge french society of "Counter Revolutionaries", he instituted the heavily repressive Reign of Terror, a period which killed thousands of french citizens, many of those killed were simply killed under mere suspicion, with little or no proof. Desposed when the National Convention declared him an outlaw.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] || align=center| [[France]]|| align=center| 1799–1814 || <small>First Consul, 1799-1804. Emperor of the French 1804-1814. Declared himself "First Consul for Life" in 1802 and then Emperor in 1804.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Józef Chłopicki|Józef Grzegorz Chłopicki]] || align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1830–1831 || <small>Held official title of dictator for one year only.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Napoleon III of France|Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte]] || align=center| [[France]] || align=center| (1848–1851) <br> 1851–1870|| <small>President of France from 1848 to 1852. In 1851 he launched a coup against the legislature, making himself absolute ruler. From 1852 to 1870 he styled himself Emperor of the French under the name Napoléon III from 1852 to 1870. Later during his reign constitutional liberties were gradually restored. In 1870 he was captured during the abortive [[Franco-Prussian War]] and deposed in his absence by the [[Third Republic]] of France.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Romuald Traugutt]] || align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1863–1864 || <small>Held official title of dictator for one year. Succeeded [[Marian Langiewicz]] who had declared himself dictator previously, but only lasted less than a year in 1863. </small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Nicholas II]] ||align=center| [[Russia]] ||align=center| 1894-1917 || <small>Ruthless, overthrown by the "October Revolution" and the newly established communist government. The last Tsar of Russia.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Vladimir Lenin]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1917-1924 || <small>Head of Bolshevik Revolution took power in 1917. Secured victory in the Russian civil war. Headed effort to transform the Russian economy to a socialist model.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/lenin_vladimir.shtml] </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] || align=center|[[Turkey]] || align=center|1918-1938 || <small>Led the Turkish national movement. Transformed Turkey into a secular republic through broad authoritarian reforms.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Benito Mussolini]] || align=center| [[Italy]] || align=center| 1922–1943, and in part of the country 1943-1945 ||<small> Prime Minister of Italy 1922-1943; head of the so-called [[Italian Social Republic]] until 1945. "He introduced strict censorship and altered the methods of election so that in 1925–1926 he was able to assume dictatorial powers and dissolve all other political parties" (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:0PFM13qC39YJ:www.ablongman.com/history_rh_bridge/assets/0321025865_ch15.pdf+%22Italian+dictator+Benito+Mussolini%22],[http://doi.contentdirections.com/mr/greenwood.jsp?doi=10.1336/0275979377]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Miguel Primo de Rivera]] || align=center| [[Spain]] || align=center| 1923–1930 ||<small> Prime Minister of Spain. Gained power in a coup; suspended the constitution; established martial law; imposed strict censorship; banned all political parties. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061388], [http://www.bartleby.com/65/pr/PrimRivM.html], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761565186/Miguel_Primo_de_Rivera.html]). </small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Aleksandar Tsankov]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1923-1926 || <small>Established Right wing nationalist, anti communist coup against [[Stamboliyski]]’s democratic elected [[Agrarians]]. Forced out of power by Tsar [[Boris III]]. [http://www.bartleby.com/65/ts/TsankovA.html]. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Joseph Stalin]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1924–1953 || <small>General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1922 - 1953; Premier of the Soviet Union 1941 - 1953. Never elected; cult of personality; heavily repressive; responsible for deaths of millions of Soviet citizens (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9108469], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761559200/Stalin_Joseph.html],[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitextlo/prof_josephstalin.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ahmet Bej Zogu]] || align=center| [[Albania]] || align=center| 1925–1939 || <small>Originally elected Prime Minister of Albania 1922-1924 and 1925; President of Albania 1925-1928; crowned himself King of the Albanians (as Zog I) 1928-1939. Described as a dictator (see[http://www.albanian.com/information/history/independ.html], [http://www.diplom.org/manus/talossa/?lingo=&page=Statute&act=25RZ13], [http://www.electionworld.org/history/albania.htm]). Forced to flee with his wife, Queen Geraldine, the imminent takeover of the country by Italy under [[Benito Mussolini]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[José Mendes Cabeçadas]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926 || <small>Leader of [[Ditadura Nacional]] during the first part of June immediately after the [[28th May 1926 coup d'état]]</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gomes da Costa]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926 || <small>Succeeded Cabeçadas as head of the [[Ditadura Nacional]] for less than a month</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[António Óscar Carmona]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926-1928 || <small>Head of [[Ditadura Nacional]]</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Józef Piłsudski]]|| align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1926–1935 ||<small> Polish Head of State 1918-1922, but regained power in 1926 via coup. Prime Minister of Poland 1926-1928 and 1930; Commander in Chief of the Army 1926-1935. Initiated authoritarian [[Sanacja]] government; often described as a "benevolent dictator".</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Antanas Smetona]] || align=center| [[Lithuania]] || align=center| 1926–1940 || <small>President of Lithuania. Seized power in a 1925 military coup (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:wEZn53dBGtoJ:www.gla.ac.uk/departments/dcees/Duvold.pdf+Antanas+Smetona+%22dictatorship%22]); authoritarian rule. His description as a dictator is common (see[http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?target=@DOCKEYWORDS%20balthistbio&unkey=balthistbio&clientIp=216%2E63%2E197%2E211&userAgent=Mozilla%2F4%2E0+%28compatible%3B+MSIE+6%2E0%3B+Windows+NT+5%2E1%3B+SV1%3B+%2ENET+CLR+1%2E1%2E4322%29]), but not universal.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1928–1968 || <small>Prime Minister of Portugal. Established an anti-democratic, anti-parliamentarian, ultra-[[Clericalism|clericalist]], [[Corporativism|corporativist]], extremely conservative, repressive and authoritarian dictatorship, connoted with the Italian fascism, highly supported by the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Longest right-wing dictatorship ever (four complete decades).</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander I]] || align=center| [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1929-1934 || <small>King of Yugoslavia from 1921. On January 6, 1929 he abolished the constitution, prorogued parliament and established the so-called "January 6 Dictatorship." A new constitution in 1931 left all significant political power in the hands of the King.<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Engelbert Dollfuss]] || align=center| [[Austria]] || align=center| 1933–1934 || <small>Chancellor of Austria 1932-1934. Suspended parliament indefinitely in March 1933, governing thereafter by decree. Rule sometimes compared to Mussolini or Franco (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:PUVNNLui6y4J:www3.la.psu.edu/hrsweb/majmin/Theses/Houlihan/Thesis.pdf+%22dictator%22+%22Dollfuss%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Konstantin Päts]] || align=center| [[Estonia]] || align=center| 1933–1940 || <small>State Elder 1933 - 1937; State Protector 1937 - 1938; President of Estonia 1938-1940. Established authoritarian rule following a coup. Allowed (and won) election in 1938.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Adolf Hitler]] || align=center| [[Nazi Germany]] || align=center| 1933–1945 || <small>Chancellor of Germany 1933-1945; ''Führer'' (Leader) 1934-1945. The 1933 [[Enabling Act]] suspended most of the constitution and allowed Hitler to [[rule by decree]]. Heavily repressive; ordered imprisonment of millions of political opponents and members of ethnic minorities in concentration camps, where they were abused and killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Kimon Georgiev]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1934 || <small>Took power in coup. Overthrown by Tsar Boris III. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| Tsar [[Boris III]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1934-1943 || <small> Overthrew Kimon Geogiev. Took power him self ruled through puppet Prime Ministers Georgi Kyoseivanov. His Regime banned all opposition parties. Took Bulgaria into alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Kurt Schuschnigg]] || align=center| [[Austria]] || align=center| 1934–1938 || <small>Chancellor of Austria. Maintained his predecessor Dollfuss' oppressive rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Karlis Ulmanis|Kārlis Ulmanis]] || align=center| [[Latvia]] || align=center| 1934–1940 || <small>Prime Minister of Latvia 1934-1940; President of Latvia 1936 - 1940. Gained power in a coup and dissolved parliament; generally viewed as a "benevolent dictator" (see [http://www.ltn.lv/~krz/latvia/lat_history.html], [http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/karlis_ulmanis], [http://www.bartleby.com/65/la/Latvia.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ioannis Metaxas]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1936–1941 ||<small> Prime Minister of Greece. Never elected; banned political parties; arrested opponents; criminalized unions; censored media. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.bartleby.com/65/pa/PapandrG.html], [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052304], [http://www.ahistoryofgreece.com/biography/metaxas.htm]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Francisco Franco]] || align=center| [[Spain]] || align=center| 1936–1975 || <small>Prime Minister of Spain 1938-1975 and Head of State 1939 - 1975 (in the Nationalist Zone, both only to 1939). Purged opposition; often referred to as a dictator or ''caudillo'' (see[http://www.policyreview.org/jun03/diamond.html], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:B1Mmefo38twJ:www.personal.psu.edu/mlb300/spainsocprob.pdf+%22dictator+Francisco+Franco%22],[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:NsfbKjiVUowJ:www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/POSC/faculty/montero/Spain%2520Paper%25201.pdf+%22dictator+Francisco+Franco%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:9ZzXaMENcm8J:www.artcult.org/cst/spain_prepack_participants.pdf+%22Francisco+Franco%22+%22dictatorship%22]). Strongly supported by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] worldwide.</small><br />
<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Jozef Tiso]] || align=center| [[Slovakia]] || align=center| 1939–1945 || <small>President of [[Slovak Republic (1939-1945)|WWII Slovak Republic]]. Led a partly Roman Catholic clerical, partly pro-Nazi, one-party state. Described by some as a dictator (see [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/3578_52.asp], [http://dominican-republic.asinah.net/en/wikipedia/j/jo/jozef_tiso.html], [http://www.ce-review.org/00/19/vaknin19.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ion Antonescu]] || align=center| [[Romania]] || align=center| 1940–1944 || <small>Prime Minister of Romania. Two days after his appointment, forced King Carol II (see above) to abdicate in favor of his son, Mihai. Named himself ''Conducător'' (Leader), assumed dictatorial powers and relegated monarchy to decorative role.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Philippe Pétain]] || align=center| [[Vichy France]] || align=center| 1940–1944 ||<small> Prime Minister of France 1940 - 1942; Head of State 1940 - 1944. The ''Assemblée Nationale'' of Vichy France suspended the [[Third Republic]] and granted Pétain dictatorial power, although ultimately he was answerable to the German Nazi hierarchy.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ante Pavelic|Ante Pavelić]] || align=center| [[Croatia]] || align=center| 1941–1945 ||<small>''Poglavnik'' ("Leader") of Croatia. Not elected; ordered massacres of Serbs, Jews, Gypsies and dissidents; hundreds of thousands slaughtered; led the genocial, devoutly Roman Catholic Ustase (see [http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/tyrants.htm], [http://www.cuttingedge.org/articles/RC130.html], [http://emperors-clothes.com/vatican/cpix.htm]). Supported by most, if not all, of the Roman Catholic church in Croatia.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Vidkun Quisling]] || align=center| [[Norway]]|| align=center| 1942–1945 || <small>Minister President of Norway between 1942-1945, and founder of the fascist "National Unity" party . Traitor to his country. Executed by firing squad. Described as being the Hitler of Norway.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ferenc Szálasi]]<br>(Szálasi Ferenc) || align=center| [[Hungary]] || align=center| 1944–1945 || <small>Leader of the [[fascist]] [[Arrow Cross]] party, Szálasi was installed as a fascist ruler by the [[Nazis]] following their overthrow of [[regent]] [[Miklós Horthy]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Josip Broz Tito]] || align=center| [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1944–1980 || <small>Secretary-General of the Yugoslav Communist Party 1937 - 1963; Prime Minister of Yugoslavia 1945–1953; Premier of Yugoslavia 1953 - 1963; President of Yugoslavia 1953 - 1980; President of the ''Presidium of the League of Communists'' from 1963 until 1980. Declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1963. Viewed favorably in Yugoslavia despite authoritarian rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Enver Hoxha]] || align=center| [[Albania]] || align=center| 1944-1985||<small> General Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour. Leader of single-party Communist state; extensive personality cult; Declared his nation to be the world's only officially atheist state and banned all practice of religion in 1967.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Mátyás Rákosi]] || align=center| [[Hungary]] || align=center| 1949-1953||<small> General Secretary of the [[Hungarian Workers Party]] and Prime Minister of the [[Hungarian People's Republic]]. Leader of single-party Communist state; nicknamed "Stalin's best Hungarian disciple"; Invented the phrase "[[salami tactics]]" to describe piecemeal assumption of power.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Nikita Khrushchev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1953-1964 || <small> First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1953-1964. Allowed limited liberalisation in the arts and media later on. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Todor Zhivkov]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1956-1989 || <small>Head of pro soviet communist regimen in Bulgaria. Became party secretary in 1956 and prime minister in 1962. Forced out of power in 1989 by communist party to comply with demands of protesters.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Antonín Novotný]] || align=center| [[Czechoslovakia]] || align=center| 1957-1968 || <small>Antonín Novotný, the First Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, was leader of Czechoslovakia during the Stalinisation of the country, resulting in the replacement of the Czechoslovakian democracy by a one-party communist state. His dictatorship centralized power and used force to protect his regime which lasted fifteen years.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Walter Ulbricht]] || align=center| [[German Democratic Republic]] || align=center| 1950/1960-1971 || <small>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany 1950-1971 and Head of State 1960-1973.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Leonid Brezhnev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1964–1982 || <small>First/General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964-1982. Formed a [[cult of Personality]] later on.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]] || align=center| [[Romania]] || align=center| 1965–1989 ||<small> General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, 1965-1989; President of Romania, 1974-1989. Leader of single-party Communist state; extensive personality cult developed during the 1970s. Lived lavish lifestyle while country was still using donkey carts.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[George Papadopoulos]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1967–1973 || <small>Prime Minister of Greece 1967 - 1973; Regent 1972 - 1973; President of Greece 1973. Gained power in a coup; lead military regime. Widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0778782.html], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/379334.stm], [http://www.hellas.net]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Marcelo Caetano]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1968–1974 || <small>Prime Minister of Portugal 1968 - 1974; Upon the death of [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] he continued the dictatorial regime. Some liberties were improved but the situation of the country and the [[Portuguese Colonial War|colonial wars]] lead to the [[Carnation Revolution]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gustáv Husák]] || align=center| [[Czechoslovakia]] || align=center| 1969-1987 || <small>Came into power through soviets, Crushed the Prague spring. Headed brutal secret police stepped down from power in 1987 two years before communism fell. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Erich Honecker]] || align=center| [[German Democratic Republic]] || align=center| 1971-1989 || <small>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany 1971-1989 and Head of State 1976-1989.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Phaedon Gizikis]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1973-1974 || <small>President of Greece 1973-1974. Gained power in coup. Lead millitary regime installed by previous head of state.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]] || align=center|[[Poland]] || align=center|1961-1990 ||<small> Imposed martial law in Poland in 1981 in response to Solidarity party led strikes. Made himself head of the "Commission for National Salvation." Stated his actions were taken in order to prevent a Soviet invasion of Poland. Was President of Poland until his resignation in 1990. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Yuri Andropov]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1982-1984 || <small>General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1982-1984. Early signs of [[Perestroika]] and [[Glasnost]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Konstantin Chernenko]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1984-1985 || <small> General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1984-1985. Ailing stop-gap leader. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1985-1991 || <small> General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed and the CPSU was banned. Oversaw democratisation in the Soviet Union, but was never directly elected as leader.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Slobodan Milošević]] || align=center| [[Serbia]], [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1989-1997, 1997-2000 || <small>In 1984 he became the head of the local Communist party in Belgrade and adopted a populist style, the party's leader. He successfully took over as head of the Serbian Communist party in 1987. He challenged the federal government, championed Serbian control of the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, and advocated stridently socialist economic policy. By 1988, he had replaced party leaders in Kosovo and Vojvodina, and in 1989 he became president of Serbia. However, in September 1990, a new democratic constitution was passed allowing direct, multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections. Milosevic was elected president of Serbia for the first time in December 1990, although allegations persist of electoral fraud during the Milosevic years.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Alexander Lukashenko]] || align=center| [[Belarus]] || align=center| '''1994-present''' || <small> President of Belarus. Said to have an "authoritarian ruling style". Lack of democratic standards. Human rights violations. Referred to as "Europe's last dictatorship."</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Oceania==<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Sitiveni Rabuka]] || align=center|[[Fiji]] || align=center|1987–1992 ||<small> Twice gained power through coup, allowed elections in 1992, which he won.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Frank Bainimarama]] || align=center|[[Fiji]] || align=center|'''2006-present''' ||<small>Launched a coup d'etat in December 2006 after weeks of threats against the elected government.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Constitutional crisis]]<br />
* [[Cult of personality]]<br />
* [[List of political leaders who held active military ranks in office]]<br />
* [[List of political leaders who suspended the constitution]]<br />
* [[List of successful coups d'état]]<br />
* [[President for Life]]<br />
* [[Single-party state]]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.thedictatorship.com The Dictatorship]<br />
*[http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Dictators_and_Non-Democratic_Governments Dictators and Non-Democratic Governments]<br />
*[http://www.lkwdpl.org/schools/horacemann/dictators/ Modern dictators and Human Rights Violations]<br />
*[http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Oppressive_Regimes Oppressive Regimes]<br />
*[http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_01-22-2006/Dictators The World’s 10 Worst Dictators]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lists|dictators]][[Category:Totalitarianism]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:NATO_war_in_Libya&diff=985201Talk:NATO war in Libya2012-06-09T12:41:17Z<p>Regular: /* Post Gaddafi */</p>
<hr />
<div>It is said that hundreds of Libyan lives was the cost of the harshly suppressed uprising in February in Libya. But the shooting, could it be done by a mercenary company? <br />
<br />
Consider this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Britian, April 12: The UK government has floated the idea of employing private security firms in Libya to help bolster revolutionary forces fighting the regime of Muammar Qaddafi. Defense experts and military officials raised the idea after high-ranking NATO officials including Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen admitted that “there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya,” and that the crisis should be settled through politics. [http://article.wn.com/view/2011/04/12/A_new_Blackwater_in_Libya/]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
Some people think:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
This is no civil war. It is an invasion. The "rebels" are mercenaries. They are probably mostly Iraqis recruited and trained in Iraq. Others may be part of al Quaeda just as Qaddafi says. The "rebels" are well organized and well armed. <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 11:34, 28 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Yes, it appears the Libyan uprising is not entirely indigenous. Something should also be said about how ''after'' Gaddafi complied entiely with Western demands to renounce terrorism, give up WMD, paid reparations to victims, re-established trade with the West, was granted diplomatic recognition and accepted back into the community of nations, these same governments themselves now have violated those agreements they made with Gaddafi. That is a horrible precedent set when attempting to deal with a dictator. Even when he repents and bows to your demands, it is not enough. These governments have proven themselves to be fraudulent in thier word in the use of diplomacy. Who would ever acquiece or accpet their demands or words as meaningful again? And the case of Gaddafi is now a case study of fraudulent demands and bogus promises by Western governments over severtal decades. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 22:28, 29 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Friendship treaty with Italy ==<br />
<br />
"We signed a friendship treaty with Libya, that includes a nonaggression clause, but when the counterpart '''no longer exists''' — in this case the Libyan state — the treaty cannot be applied”. Italy’s foreign minister, Franco Frattini on February 26, 2011 (the uprising began on February 16, 2011). <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Italy’s treaty with Libya, signed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in August 2008, calls on Italy to pay Libya $5 billion over 20 years in reparations for its colonial past there. In return, Libya pledged to help block the flow of illegal immigrants to Italy and grant favorable treatment for Italian companies seeking to do business in Libya. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/europe/28military.html]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 07:46, 30 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Has Italy recognized the Transnational Committee? what a convenient way to wipe out a national debt. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 10:08, 30 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== From the third Europe-Africa summit 2010 ==<br />
<br />
Tripoli Declaration<br />
<br />
3rd Africa EU Summit<br />
<br />
29/30 November 2010<br />
<br />
We, Heads of State and Governments of Africa and the European Union, representing<br />
more than 1.5 billion citizens have gathered in Tripoli on 29 – 30 November 2010<br />
determined to seize together new opportunities for broader and mutually beneficial<br />
initiatives.<br />
<br />
"Press info pack" <br />
<br />
About PEACE AND SECURITY<br />
<br />
The partnership pursues dialogue, networking and coherence<br />
among African and European stakeholders... Systematic political '''dialog''' between AU and EU on every crisis situation in Africa<br />
[http://ec.europa.eu/development/services/events/3rdsummit/documents/publications/en/5-DEV_Africa_Peace_and_Security_FS_A4_screen.pdf]<br />
<br />
and about DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS<br />
<br />
The respect of fundamental rights translates directly into security for the<br />
people. Democratic electoral processes give legitimacy to governments and contribute to stability, peace and security. The African Union (AU) is currently formulating a new Governance Architecture for Africa, with the support of the EU. Together, the two partners are also working on a Human Rights Strategy, to be adopted in early 2011. The aim is to move towards implementing a number of existing international and African legal instruments. One example is the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which promotes democracy, the rule of law and human rights. <br />
As they develop joint positions, the EU and African States will be able to mutually strengthen each other and make their voice heard in international fora on issues such as non-discrimination, the right to life, the fight against torture, freedom of<br />
association, liberty and security, to name just a few. <br />
<br />
What has been achieved so far?<br />
<br />
*The launch of an EU-Africa “Platform for dialog” on<br />
governance.<br />
*Better coordination between EU and AU election observation<br />
missions in the countries in which they are deployed<br />
*Two Civil Society Seminars on Human Rights were organized<br />
in 2009 and 2010<br />
*Joint event on women and conflict organized in the margins<br />
of the ministerial week of the UN General Assembly in 2009<br />
*EU Commission-sponsored colloquium on culture and<br />
creativity as vectors for development in April 2009,<br />
with 38 African ministers participating<br />
[http://ec.europa.eu/development/services/events/3rdsummit/documents/publications/en/10-DEV_Africa_Governance_FS_A4_screen.pdf]<br />
<br />
NO MENTION AT ALL OF ANY VIOLATION IN LIBYA OF HUMAN RIGHTS.<br />
........<br />
<br />
The Declaration ended with:<br />
<br />
We express our gratitude to the Leader of the Revolution and people of the Great<br />
Socialist Peoples’ Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the care, hospitality and attention extended to the participants of this Summit.<br />
[http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/doc_tripoli_declaration_en.pdf]<br />
<br />
15 HEADS OF STATE with 80 countries represented.<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 22:14, 2 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Grandsons ==<br />
<br />
In a bombing by NATO in Tripoli were killed three grandsons of Muammar Gaddafi, Seif (2 years), Carthage (2 years) and Mastoura (4 months), as well as friends and neighbors. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 09:28, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:truly a shame. I wish we didn't take war so lightly--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 09:42, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::The war now clearly is illegal; Obama missed the 60 day deadline under the WPR (War Powers Resolution). [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 17:21, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Good article==<br />
I think we have a very good, comphrehensive article going here. Now we need to elevate it's visibility by getting daily links to it from the Main Page. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 21:58, 5 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
I want to ask a minor question. For this article to be good, wouldn't it need mention of why NATO got involved in the first place? I.E., the whole civilians getting cut in half by autocannon shells aspect of it all. [[User:TacticsNerd|TacticsNerd]]<br />
: NATO is now an instrument; they did the same mass murder as in [[Serbia]]. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 14:17, 29 October 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Berluskahn, a plot? ==<br />
<br />
Is there any relation between Silvio Berlusconi and Strauss-Kahn besides the sex scandal? Are they facing justice as a pressure because of Gaddafi? <br />
<br />
Consider these ideas: <br />
<br />
Until the bombs started falling, Berlusconi and Gaddafi were much more than casual acquaintances and bilateral buddies. The two shared an intimate friendship that was evident every time they met. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-23/berlusconi-and-qaddafi-their-close-friendship/]<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi spoke with Gaddafi by telephone on Tuesday, the Italian leader's office said later without elaborating. The Italian news agency ANSA said Berlusconi had urged a peaceful solution to the crisis and told Gaddafi that Italy was not arming protesters as stated by the Libyan leader in his speech. In one of many demonstrations held Tuesday outside Libyan embassies across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, protesters burned an Italian flag in Valletta, Malta in anger at Rome's ties with Gaddafi's regime. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1112394/1/.html]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Opposition lawmakers have criticised Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for failing to condemn violence in Libya and saying he did not want to "disturb" Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during a revolt in the North African state. [http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/20/idINIndia-55029820110220]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
And about Sarkozy-Strauss Khan:<br />
<br />
The Strauss-Kahn Affair: Implications for the 2012 Presidential Elections<br />
<br />
Approval for Sarkozy hits record lows: One year ahead of legislative and presidential elections, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s approval rating stands at a mere 20%. Dominique Strauss Kahn, currently head of the International Monetary Fund, is topping the list with 43%, almost twice Sarkozy's score. [http://world247.net/france-approval-for-sarkozy-hits-record-lows/] [http://www.france24.com/en/20110411-approval-sarkozy-sinks-new-lows]<br />
<blockquote><br />
With his popularity at a record low and facing an election next year, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in desperate need of a boost to his political stature. It didn’t take Sarkozy long to jump unto this bandwagon. The French leader once dubbed “Super Sarko” by the local press for his eagerness to take the reins in global crises, summoned leaders from four continents to an emergency war council at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris to agree on military action against strongman Muammar Gaddafi in Libya... Barely more than three years ago, Sarkozy gave Gaddafi the red carpet treatment in Paris, welcoming him with open arms and allowing the Libyan leader to pitch a Bedouin tent near the Elysee. Now the French president was announcing that he was sending warplanes in to bomb him. [http://alittleleftofright.com/?p=328]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
Strauss-Kahn’s premature exit has narrowed the field.<br />
<br />
So with Strauss-Kahn spectacularly removed, what shape will the presidential race take? The immediate response on the part of many commentators has been to highlight the boost that Nicolas Sarkozy will surely receive; Dominique Strauss-Kahn was regarded by many as the strongest potential candidate. [http://frenchpolitics.blogs.france24.com/article/2011/05/18/strauss-kahn-affair-implications-2011-presidential-elections-0] <br />
<br />
Strauss-Kahn participated in the fourth annual conference on Progress in Regional Integration and Promotion of Joint Ventures in the Maghreb (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) which took place in Tripoli on 17 November, 2008. At that time Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn praised Libya's efforts to introduce economic reforms saying his discussions with Libyan officials convinced him that Libya is making progress in its reform agenda, with the goal of realizing even higher growth and improving the standard of living among its people. [http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=2571]<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
"I was also privileged to meet the Leader of Libya, Colonel Gaddafi, the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Finance, Mr. El-Huweij, and the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Bengdara.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><br />
"Our discussions confirmed that we share many views on Libya's economic achievements and key challenges. Ambitious reforms over the past years have yielded strong and increasingly broad-based growth and macroeconomic stability. The key challenge is to sustain the ongoing reforms, including reducing the size of the government.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
The media has to find a way to make Gaddafi seem like an impossible ogre to justify killing him and his relatives. It's pure extra-judicial murder and theft of a sovereign nation's assets, and Strauss Kahn knows that to be true. He has to be discredited. [http://the-tap.blogspot.com/2011/05/strauss-kahn-had-praised-libyan.html]<br />
<br />
Both men have protested their innocence but their sex lives have been under intense public scrutiny for years. One has been charged with attempted rape, the other is on trial for having allegedly had sex with an underage prostitute. The accusations may be different but the scandals surrounding Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Silvio Berlusconi reveal underlying similarities.[http://english.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=340443&SecID=65&IssueID=0]<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 19:59, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:Wow. Very interesting. IMHO, it seems the Italian people were not at the start, or now, as hungry or enthusiastic about the Libyan War as the French. For France, it was more a point of pride, still trying to convince themselves they're a world power. But the Italians are probably the largest consumers of Libyan oil, and I don't see how upsetting the status quo works to their advantage. If anything, instability, which a period of nation-building would bring, doesn't bode well for Italian dependence on Libyan oil shipped the short distance across the Mediterranean. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 21:50, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::That's a good point, RobSmith, though as a Frenchman I think that specifically, it was more a sort of colonial nostalgia. France still has a paternal attitude towards such countries as Lebanon, Algeria, or Senegal. Especially with the current conservative (by French standards) government, the general attitude is that France is like a benevolent older brother. Chirac, for example, had said that French imperialism had "a positive effect" on colonies. Never mind that this positive effect came at the expensive of many lives, and that the original intent was not benevolence, but greed and ambition. Just my two cents.--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 22:06, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::Let's hope it's not another [[Dien Bien Phu]] for the US. At the end of WWII Stalin was outraged at the idea of putting France on an equal footing with the Soviet Union; France did more for the German war effort between 1940-44 than it did to defend itself in 1940. But the US insisted on putting France on the Reparations Committee and the UN Security Council, and give it an occupation zone to administer in Germany. Thus was born the myth France was a "victor" in World War II. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:15, 11 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::Why is it that every time I mention being from France, someone always has to give me a non-sequitur about French miliary defeats? I was just providing my cultural perspective and expanding on your original point about France doing this out of pride.--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 22:11, 18 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Israel ==<br />
<br />
Benghazi was the capital of [[Libya]] until Gaddafi came to power in 1969. These are two separate centers of power and the eastern coastal region of Libya sees itself as being of a higher class. Even in Israel there’s a clear enmity between [[Jews]] who lived in Tripoli and Benghazi.<br />
<br />
Could [[Israel]] be behind the whole Arab Spring? Who wins while the Arab countries are divided, murdered or bombed? <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
By perceiving Israel as a sort of "black capital" of a "Zionist empire," we carry water for the globalists in their bid to divide and conquer through preying on our petty prejudices. We also lump together and undermine those in Israel that are fighting against the globalists' exploitation of their nation and their people, who are just as lied to, misled, brainwashed, and manipulated as the people of America, the UK or Europe.<br />
<br />
By understanding the Israeli factor and that those behind it are neither Israeli or Jewish, or even Zionist, we can understand it is but a gambit within a gambit towards building world empire, thus allowing us to move on to targeting the real culprits. [http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/arab-spring-israeli-factor.html]<br />
</blockquote><br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 14:12, 10 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
[[Bernard Henri Levy]], a friend of [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] since 1983 but with an extremely complicated relationship, is the man who, some consider, waged a war in Libya. Lévy, 62 (born in Algeria in 1948, to a wealthy Sephardi Jewish family), a Zionist French philosopher is the man behind the French and American War on Libya... After persuading Sarkozy (also with a Jewish origin), Mr. Lévy, gives Mr. Sarkozy sole credit for persuading London, Washington and others to support intervention in Libya. [http://anarchitext.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/bhl-war-in-libya/ B.H. Levy: the man who waged a War in Libya.] --[[User:JMR10|Joaquín Martínez]] 20:15, 23 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Kosovo ==<br />
<br />
To understand the actions of [[NATO]] in Libya is important to review the NATO Intervention in [[Kosovo]]. <br />
<br />
See: [http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1998/kosovo.htm The Clinton Administration Sets Course for NATO Intervention in Kosovo.] United States Senate, 1998-08-12.<br />
<br />
and [http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=1666 Triggering ethnic conflict as a pretext for intervention.]<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 10:11, 14 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Haven't had a chance to review these yet, but I will get to them. Thanks. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 00:36, 17 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::Yes, very good research from globalresearch.ca with many good sources. Footnote 80 references "[http://nobsblog.blogspot.com/1999/01/clinton-wag-dog-no-kosovo-genocide.html text from internal German ministry documents]" which primary source documents are available at the above link. [http://nobsblog.blogspot.com/2002/05/whos-kla.html Who is the KLA?], also from German documents, is available as well. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 15:38, 22 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Whose interests? ==<br />
<br />
If [[NATO]] nations are not interested in a ceasefire or in fair elections as they have rejected, if they are ready to expend millions of dollars and gave high profile rebels (elected by no one) billions of Libya's assets, if they are destroying Tripoli as they did in Belgrade, if they don't care to kill civilians to arguably protect armed civilians from Benghazi... it is because they have an special own interest in Libya's fate. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 22:57, 18 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Is this for real? ==<br />
<br />
Great article, this seems to be written from an anti-imperialist's perspective. Are you aware that Gaddafi is a socialist (or at least claims to be)? By posting this I am in violation of 90/10 rule but will post content soon. --[[User:XXPowerMexicoXx|XXPowerMexicoXx]] 12:20, 13 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
I will copy this artcile to my wiki, I think it is well-written and shows the illegitimacy of NATO imperialism, despite being written from a (conservative) perspective which I oppose. I will give link to this article's orignial authors in article history --[[User:XXPowerMexicoXx|XXPowerMexicoXx]] 22:19, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Perhaps more of a [[paleoconservative]]/[[libertarian]] slant. Pleas go ahead and use the material. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 22:31, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:: To be a conservative implicates to be a good Christian, and good Christians do not kill innocent people and destroy a country if there is another way to solve problems... first diplomacy has to foster any other options. The whole Arab spring has been stimulated for months in advance and social media has done a nice work to get to this point. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 23:09, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::Yes, and Gadhaffi rehabilitated himself as the West requested, complied with every demand to be accepted back into the Community of Nations, only to be vilified and betrayed by political opportunists. What kind of precedent is that? This is just one more instance of Western duplicity. And ''we'' know the facts, despite the spin governments & media put on it. History will know the facts. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:34, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::: President Obama told that urgent military actions had to be taken to avoid a blood river. A simple call from the White House to Gaddafi, for sure, could had be enough. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 09:54, 18 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Russia and China==<br />
Russia and China both abstained from UNSCR 1973; the section reverted sheds light on the role of Russia and China. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 12:32, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:It just seemed a bit out of place, given the context of the article being about Libya. I'll add it back in and reword so it gels more with the section. [[User:TracyS|TracyS]] 10:58, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::Perhaps it could be added back in under the Role of China, alternatively, that subsection could retitled Role of Russia and China, or under another sub in the that same section. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:33, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Double redirects ==<br />
<br />
[[Libyan uprising 2011]] and [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]] need to be redirected to this article (they currently redirect to [[Libyan War 2011]], which in turn is a redirect). --[[User:Sid 3050|Sid 3050]] 15:51, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Thanks! [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 16:02, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Civil War ==<br />
<br />
Wikipedia calls the conflict a civil war but this is anything but. Yes, the Libyan people rose up against a dictator. You have Britain and the USA with NATO support. You have France involved, the United Nations involved. You have Muslim mercenaries from other countries involved. I don't think Civil War is the right term to describe this kinetic conflict. Was the Korean and Vietnam Wars known as civil wars? Anyway, we were in the top 10 on Google for Libyan War 2011. This after moving up from page 5 for Libya Uprising 2011.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 19:22, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Ok, I thought it was about #17 on Google. Let's move it back, then. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 19:39, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::I've been reading through this and there's one thing bothering me: Although there's mention of NATO and the US's involvement in the war, there's no mention of the war itself. No mention of how it started, of the battle of Bengazi and other eastern cities? Of the rebel government being recognised, etc. Shouldn't things like this be added? At the moment, there's more about the US in here than about Libya. [[User:TracyS|TracyS]] 11:04, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::There are references to France recognizing the Transitional, but not the U.S. (and Britain, I think). [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:35, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Benghazi ==<br />
<br />
What rebels think<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
<br />
Since Friday, rebel officials have been bluntly warning reporters that they could face legal action over what they write, and they have singled out certain journalists whose reports they called inaccurate and divisive, though they did not offer specifics. <br />
“We don’t know if anybody here is a fifth column,” Mr. Bani, a rebel, said of the reporters at a news conference. “It is very difficult to determine who is with you and who is against you in a time of conflict, because you don’t necessarily have to hold a weapon. With a word or a rumor they can cause a lot of deaths.” [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/world/africa/01libya.html?pagewanted=2&hpw]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
== Post Gaddafi and more issues ==<br />
<br />
Very nice article, i got to know some much more about this whole fake revolution by outside forces once again, here i am going to discuss about the changes which can be made on here. The Al-Qaeda have not only flown there flags in Libya, but they have also demolished the graves of jews and christian in Libya, which should be added :-<br />
<br />
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/libyan-mob-desecrates-christian-and-jewish-wwii-tombstones-apparently-over-koran-burning/<br />
<br />
http://www.ice-news.net/2012/04/08/libya-muslims-destroy-wwii-christian-jewish-cemetery-4/ [[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:18, 9 June 2012 (EDT)<br />
<br />
Then there can be more important points which should be added. Amnesty International, Human Rights watch, US defense secretary Robert Gates, US Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, Russian Intelligence and more have reported that allegations that were made against Gaddafi were false and has no proof. Sources:-<br />
<br />
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/amnesty-questions-claim-that-gaddafi-ordered-rape-as-weapon-of-war-2302037.html<br />
<br />
http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=5754<br />
<br />
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/117709/20110301/libya-air-attacks-unconfirmed-robert-gates-mike-mullen-no-fly-zone-hillary-clinton.htm<br />
<br />
http://www.rt.com/news/airstrikes-libya-russian-military/<br />
<br />
[[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:41, 9 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:NATO_war_in_Libya&diff=985199Talk:NATO war in Libya2012-06-09T12:18:45Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>It is said that hundreds of Libyan lives was the cost of the harshly suppressed uprising in February in Libya. But the shooting, could it be done by a mercenary company? <br />
<br />
Consider this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Britian, April 12: The UK government has floated the idea of employing private security firms in Libya to help bolster revolutionary forces fighting the regime of Muammar Qaddafi. Defense experts and military officials raised the idea after high-ranking NATO officials including Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen admitted that “there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya,” and that the crisis should be settled through politics. [http://article.wn.com/view/2011/04/12/A_new_Blackwater_in_Libya/]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
Some people think:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
This is no civil war. It is an invasion. The "rebels" are mercenaries. They are probably mostly Iraqis recruited and trained in Iraq. Others may be part of al Quaeda just as Qaddafi says. The "rebels" are well organized and well armed. <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 11:34, 28 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Yes, it appears the Libyan uprising is not entirely indigenous. Something should also be said about how ''after'' Gaddafi complied entiely with Western demands to renounce terrorism, give up WMD, paid reparations to victims, re-established trade with the West, was granted diplomatic recognition and accepted back into the community of nations, these same governments themselves now have violated those agreements they made with Gaddafi. That is a horrible precedent set when attempting to deal with a dictator. Even when he repents and bows to your demands, it is not enough. These governments have proven themselves to be fraudulent in thier word in the use of diplomacy. Who would ever acquiece or accpet their demands or words as meaningful again? And the case of Gaddafi is now a case study of fraudulent demands and bogus promises by Western governments over severtal decades. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 22:28, 29 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Friendship treaty with Italy ==<br />
<br />
"We signed a friendship treaty with Libya, that includes a nonaggression clause, but when the counterpart '''no longer exists''' — in this case the Libyan state — the treaty cannot be applied”. Italy’s foreign minister, Franco Frattini on February 26, 2011 (the uprising began on February 16, 2011). <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Italy’s treaty with Libya, signed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in August 2008, calls on Italy to pay Libya $5 billion over 20 years in reparations for its colonial past there. In return, Libya pledged to help block the flow of illegal immigrants to Italy and grant favorable treatment for Italian companies seeking to do business in Libya. [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/europe/28military.html]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 07:46, 30 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Has Italy recognized the Transnational Committee? what a convenient way to wipe out a national debt. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 10:08, 30 May 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== From the third Europe-Africa summit 2010 ==<br />
<br />
Tripoli Declaration<br />
<br />
3rd Africa EU Summit<br />
<br />
29/30 November 2010<br />
<br />
We, Heads of State and Governments of Africa and the European Union, representing<br />
more than 1.5 billion citizens have gathered in Tripoli on 29 – 30 November 2010<br />
determined to seize together new opportunities for broader and mutually beneficial<br />
initiatives.<br />
<br />
"Press info pack" <br />
<br />
About PEACE AND SECURITY<br />
<br />
The partnership pursues dialogue, networking and coherence<br />
among African and European stakeholders... Systematic political '''dialog''' between AU and EU on every crisis situation in Africa<br />
[http://ec.europa.eu/development/services/events/3rdsummit/documents/publications/en/5-DEV_Africa_Peace_and_Security_FS_A4_screen.pdf]<br />
<br />
and about DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS<br />
<br />
The respect of fundamental rights translates directly into security for the<br />
people. Democratic electoral processes give legitimacy to governments and contribute to stability, peace and security. The African Union (AU) is currently formulating a new Governance Architecture for Africa, with the support of the EU. Together, the two partners are also working on a Human Rights Strategy, to be adopted in early 2011. The aim is to move towards implementing a number of existing international and African legal instruments. One example is the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which promotes democracy, the rule of law and human rights. <br />
As they develop joint positions, the EU and African States will be able to mutually strengthen each other and make their voice heard in international fora on issues such as non-discrimination, the right to life, the fight against torture, freedom of<br />
association, liberty and security, to name just a few. <br />
<br />
What has been achieved so far?<br />
<br />
*The launch of an EU-Africa “Platform for dialog” on<br />
governance.<br />
*Better coordination between EU and AU election observation<br />
missions in the countries in which they are deployed<br />
*Two Civil Society Seminars on Human Rights were organized<br />
in 2009 and 2010<br />
*Joint event on women and conflict organized in the margins<br />
of the ministerial week of the UN General Assembly in 2009<br />
*EU Commission-sponsored colloquium on culture and<br />
creativity as vectors for development in April 2009,<br />
with 38 African ministers participating<br />
[http://ec.europa.eu/development/services/events/3rdsummit/documents/publications/en/10-DEV_Africa_Governance_FS_A4_screen.pdf]<br />
<br />
NO MENTION AT ALL OF ANY VIOLATION IN LIBYA OF HUMAN RIGHTS.<br />
........<br />
<br />
The Declaration ended with:<br />
<br />
We express our gratitude to the Leader of the Revolution and people of the Great<br />
Socialist Peoples’ Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the care, hospitality and attention extended to the participants of this Summit.<br />
[http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/doc_tripoli_declaration_en.pdf]<br />
<br />
15 HEADS OF STATE with 80 countries represented.<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 22:14, 2 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Grandsons ==<br />
<br />
In a bombing by NATO in Tripoli were killed three grandsons of Muammar Gaddafi, Seif (2 years), Carthage (2 years) and Mastoura (4 months), as well as friends and neighbors. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 09:28, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:truly a shame. I wish we didn't take war so lightly--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 09:42, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::The war now clearly is illegal; Obama missed the 60 day deadline under the WPR (War Powers Resolution). [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 17:21, 3 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Good article==<br />
I think we have a very good, comphrehensive article going here. Now we need to elevate it's visibility by getting daily links to it from the Main Page. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 21:58, 5 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
I want to ask a minor question. For this article to be good, wouldn't it need mention of why NATO got involved in the first place? I.E., the whole civilians getting cut in half by autocannon shells aspect of it all. [[User:TacticsNerd|TacticsNerd]]<br />
: NATO is now an instrument; they did the same mass murder as in [[Serbia]]. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 14:17, 29 October 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Berluskahn, a plot? ==<br />
<br />
Is there any relation between Silvio Berlusconi and Strauss-Kahn besides the sex scandal? Are they facing justice as a pressure because of Gaddafi? <br />
<br />
Consider these ideas: <br />
<br />
Until the bombs started falling, Berlusconi and Gaddafi were much more than casual acquaintances and bilateral buddies. The two shared an intimate friendship that was evident every time they met. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-23/berlusconi-and-qaddafi-their-close-friendship/]<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi spoke with Gaddafi by telephone on Tuesday, the Italian leader's office said later without elaborating. The Italian news agency ANSA said Berlusconi had urged a peaceful solution to the crisis and told Gaddafi that Italy was not arming protesters as stated by the Libyan leader in his speech. In one of many demonstrations held Tuesday outside Libyan embassies across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, protesters burned an Italian flag in Valletta, Malta in anger at Rome's ties with Gaddafi's regime. [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1112394/1/.html]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Opposition lawmakers have criticised Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for failing to condemn violence in Libya and saying he did not want to "disturb" Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during a revolt in the North African state. [http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/20/idINIndia-55029820110220]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
And about Sarkozy-Strauss Khan:<br />
<br />
The Strauss-Kahn Affair: Implications for the 2012 Presidential Elections<br />
<br />
Approval for Sarkozy hits record lows: One year ahead of legislative and presidential elections, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s approval rating stands at a mere 20%. Dominique Strauss Kahn, currently head of the International Monetary Fund, is topping the list with 43%, almost twice Sarkozy's score. [http://world247.net/france-approval-for-sarkozy-hits-record-lows/] [http://www.france24.com/en/20110411-approval-sarkozy-sinks-new-lows]<br />
<blockquote><br />
With his popularity at a record low and facing an election next year, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in desperate need of a boost to his political stature. It didn’t take Sarkozy long to jump unto this bandwagon. The French leader once dubbed “Super Sarko” by the local press for his eagerness to take the reins in global crises, summoned leaders from four continents to an emergency war council at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris to agree on military action against strongman Muammar Gaddafi in Libya... Barely more than three years ago, Sarkozy gave Gaddafi the red carpet treatment in Paris, welcoming him with open arms and allowing the Libyan leader to pitch a Bedouin tent near the Elysee. Now the French president was announcing that he was sending warplanes in to bomb him. [http://alittleleftofright.com/?p=328]<br />
</blockquote> <br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
Strauss-Kahn’s premature exit has narrowed the field.<br />
<br />
So with Strauss-Kahn spectacularly removed, what shape will the presidential race take? The immediate response on the part of many commentators has been to highlight the boost that Nicolas Sarkozy will surely receive; Dominique Strauss-Kahn was regarded by many as the strongest potential candidate. [http://frenchpolitics.blogs.france24.com/article/2011/05/18/strauss-kahn-affair-implications-2011-presidential-elections-0] <br />
<br />
Strauss-Kahn participated in the fourth annual conference on Progress in Regional Integration and Promotion of Joint Ventures in the Maghreb (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) which took place in Tripoli on 17 November, 2008. At that time Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn praised Libya's efforts to introduce economic reforms saying his discussions with Libyan officials convinced him that Libya is making progress in its reform agenda, with the goal of realizing even higher growth and improving the standard of living among its people. [http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=2571]<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
"I was also privileged to meet the Leader of Libya, Colonel Gaddafi, the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Finance, Mr. El-Huweij, and the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Bengdara.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><br />
"Our discussions confirmed that we share many views on Libya's economic achievements and key challenges. Ambitious reforms over the past years have yielded strong and increasingly broad-based growth and macroeconomic stability. The key challenge is to sustain the ongoing reforms, including reducing the size of the government.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
The media has to find a way to make Gaddafi seem like an impossible ogre to justify killing him and his relatives. It's pure extra-judicial murder and theft of a sovereign nation's assets, and Strauss Kahn knows that to be true. He has to be discredited. [http://the-tap.blogspot.com/2011/05/strauss-kahn-had-praised-libyan.html]<br />
<br />
Both men have protested their innocence but their sex lives have been under intense public scrutiny for years. One has been charged with attempted rape, the other is on trial for having allegedly had sex with an underage prostitute. The accusations may be different but the scandals surrounding Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Silvio Berlusconi reveal underlying similarities.[http://english.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=340443&SecID=65&IssueID=0]<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 19:59, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:Wow. Very interesting. IMHO, it seems the Italian people were not at the start, or now, as hungry or enthusiastic about the Libyan War as the French. For France, it was more a point of pride, still trying to convince themselves they're a world power. But the Italians are probably the largest consumers of Libyan oil, and I don't see how upsetting the status quo works to their advantage. If anything, instability, which a period of nation-building would bring, doesn't bode well for Italian dependence on Libyan oil shipped the short distance across the Mediterranean. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 21:50, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::That's a good point, RobSmith, though as a Frenchman I think that specifically, it was more a sort of colonial nostalgia. France still has a paternal attitude towards such countries as Lebanon, Algeria, or Senegal. Especially with the current conservative (by French standards) government, the general attitude is that France is like a benevolent older brother. Chirac, for example, had said that French imperialism had "a positive effect" on colonies. Never mind that this positive effect came at the expensive of many lives, and that the original intent was not benevolence, but greed and ambition. Just my two cents.--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 22:06, 7 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::Let's hope it's not another [[Dien Bien Phu]] for the US. At the end of WWII Stalin was outraged at the idea of putting France on an equal footing with the Soviet Union; France did more for the German war effort between 1940-44 than it did to defend itself in 1940. But the US insisted on putting France on the Reparations Committee and the UN Security Council, and give it an occupation zone to administer in Germany. Thus was born the myth France was a "victor" in World War II. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:15, 11 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::::Why is it that every time I mention being from France, someone always has to give me a non-sequitur about French miliary defeats? I was just providing my cultural perspective and expanding on your original point about France doing this out of pride.--[[User:CamilleT|CamilleT]] 22:11, 18 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Israel ==<br />
<br />
Benghazi was the capital of [[Libya]] until Gaddafi came to power in 1969. These are two separate centers of power and the eastern coastal region of Libya sees itself as being of a higher class. Even in Israel there’s a clear enmity between [[Jews]] who lived in Tripoli and Benghazi.<br />
<br />
Could [[Israel]] be behind the whole Arab Spring? Who wins while the Arab countries are divided, murdered or bombed? <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
By perceiving Israel as a sort of "black capital" of a "Zionist empire," we carry water for the globalists in their bid to divide and conquer through preying on our petty prejudices. We also lump together and undermine those in Israel that are fighting against the globalists' exploitation of their nation and their people, who are just as lied to, misled, brainwashed, and manipulated as the people of America, the UK or Europe.<br />
<br />
By understanding the Israeli factor and that those behind it are neither Israeli or Jewish, or even Zionist, we can understand it is but a gambit within a gambit towards building world empire, thus allowing us to move on to targeting the real culprits. [http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/arab-spring-israeli-factor.html]<br />
</blockquote><br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 14:12, 10 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
[[Bernard Henri Levy]], a friend of [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] since 1983 but with an extremely complicated relationship, is the man who, some consider, waged a war in Libya. Lévy, 62 (born in Algeria in 1948, to a wealthy Sephardi Jewish family), a Zionist French philosopher is the man behind the French and American War on Libya... After persuading Sarkozy (also with a Jewish origin), Mr. Lévy, gives Mr. Sarkozy sole credit for persuading London, Washington and others to support intervention in Libya. [http://anarchitext.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/bhl-war-in-libya/ B.H. Levy: the man who waged a War in Libya.] --[[User:JMR10|Joaquín Martínez]] 20:15, 23 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Kosovo ==<br />
<br />
To understand the actions of [[NATO]] in Libya is important to review the NATO Intervention in [[Kosovo]]. <br />
<br />
See: [http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1998/kosovo.htm The Clinton Administration Sets Course for NATO Intervention in Kosovo.] United States Senate, 1998-08-12.<br />
<br />
and [http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=1666 Triggering ethnic conflict as a pretext for intervention.]<br />
<br />
--[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 10:11, 14 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Haven't had a chance to review these yet, but I will get to them. Thanks. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 00:36, 17 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
::Yes, very good research from globalresearch.ca with many good sources. Footnote 80 references "[http://nobsblog.blogspot.com/1999/01/clinton-wag-dog-no-kosovo-genocide.html text from internal German ministry documents]" which primary source documents are available at the above link. [http://nobsblog.blogspot.com/2002/05/whos-kla.html Who is the KLA?], also from German documents, is available as well. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 15:38, 22 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Whose interests? ==<br />
<br />
If [[NATO]] nations are not interested in a ceasefire or in fair elections as they have rejected, if they are ready to expend millions of dollars and gave high profile rebels (elected by no one) billions of Libya's assets, if they are destroying Tripoli as they did in Belgrade, if they don't care to kill civilians to arguably protect armed civilians from Benghazi... it is because they have an special own interest in Libya's fate. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 22:57, 18 June 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Is this for real? ==<br />
<br />
Great article, this seems to be written from an anti-imperialist's perspective. Are you aware that Gaddafi is a socialist (or at least claims to be)? By posting this I am in violation of 90/10 rule but will post content soon. --[[User:XXPowerMexicoXx|XXPowerMexicoXx]] 12:20, 13 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
I will copy this artcile to my wiki, I think it is well-written and shows the illegitimacy of NATO imperialism, despite being written from a (conservative) perspective which I oppose. I will give link to this article's orignial authors in article history --[[User:XXPowerMexicoXx|XXPowerMexicoXx]] 22:19, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Perhaps more of a [[paleoconservative]]/[[libertarian]] slant. Pleas go ahead and use the material. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 22:31, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:: To be a conservative implicates to be a good Christian, and good Christians do not kill innocent people and destroy a country if there is another way to solve problems... first diplomacy has to foster any other options. The whole Arab spring has been stimulated for months in advance and social media has done a nice work to get to this point. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 23:09, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::Yes, and Gadhaffi rehabilitated himself as the West requested, complied with every demand to be accepted back into the Community of Nations, only to be vilified and betrayed by political opportunists. What kind of precedent is that? This is just one more instance of Western duplicity. And ''we'' know the facts, despite the spin governments & media put on it. History will know the facts. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 23:34, 17 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::: President Obama told that urgent military actions had to be taken to avoid a blood river. A simple call from the White House to Gaddafi, for sure, could had be enough. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 09:54, 18 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Russia and China==<br />
Russia and China both abstained from UNSCR 1973; the section reverted sheds light on the role of Russia and China. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 12:32, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:It just seemed a bit out of place, given the context of the article being about Libya. I'll add it back in and reword so it gels more with the section. [[User:TracyS|TracyS]] 10:58, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::Perhaps it could be added back in under the Role of China, alternatively, that subsection could retitled Role of Russia and China, or under another sub in the that same section. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:33, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Double redirects ==<br />
<br />
[[Libyan uprising 2011]] and [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]] need to be redirected to this article (they currently redirect to [[Libyan War 2011]], which in turn is a redirect). --[[User:Sid 3050|Sid 3050]] 15:51, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Thanks! [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 16:02, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Civil War ==<br />
<br />
Wikipedia calls the conflict a civil war but this is anything but. Yes, the Libyan people rose up against a dictator. You have Britain and the USA with NATO support. You have France involved, the United Nations involved. You have Muslim mercenaries from other countries involved. I don't think Civil War is the right term to describe this kinetic conflict. Was the Korean and Vietnam Wars known as civil wars? Anyway, we were in the top 10 on Google for Libyan War 2011. This after moving up from page 5 for Libya Uprising 2011.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 19:22, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:Ok, I thought it was about #17 on Google. Let's move it back, then. [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 19:39, 20 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
::I've been reading through this and there's one thing bothering me: Although there's mention of NATO and the US's involvement in the war, there's no mention of the war itself. No mention of how it started, of the battle of Bengazi and other eastern cities? Of the rebel government being recognised, etc. Shouldn't things like this be added? At the moment, there's more about the US in here than about Libya. [[User:TracyS|TracyS]] 11:04, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
:::There are references to France recognizing the Transitional, but not the U.S. (and Britain, I think). [[User:RobSmith|Rob Smith]] 13:35, 21 July 2011 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Benghazi ==<br />
<br />
What rebels think<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
<br />
Since Friday, rebel officials have been bluntly warning reporters that they could face legal action over what they write, and they have singled out certain journalists whose reports they called inaccurate and divisive, though they did not offer specifics. <br />
“We don’t know if anybody here is a fifth column,” Mr. Bani, a rebel, said of the reporters at a news conference. “It is very difficult to determine who is with you and who is against you in a time of conflict, because you don’t necessarily have to hold a weapon. With a word or a rumor they can cause a lot of deaths.” [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/world/africa/01libya.html?pagewanted=2&hpw]<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
== Post Gaddafi ==<br />
<br />
Very nice article, i got to know some much more about this whole fake revolution by outside forces once again, here i am going to discuss about the changes which can be made on here. The Al-Qaeda have not only flown there flags in Libya, but they have also demolished the graves of jews and christian in Libya, which should be added :-<br />
<br />
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/libyan-mob-desecrates-christian-and-jewish-wwii-tombstones-apparently-over-koran-burning/<br />
<br />
http://www.ice-news.net/2012/04/08/libya-muslims-destroy-wwii-christian-jewish-cemetery-4/ [[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:18, 9 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Bashar_al-Assad&diff=985050Bashar al-Assad2012-06-08T12:59:54Z<p>Regular: Recent changes.</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:President Syria Bashar al Assad.jpg|150px|thumb|right]]<br />
'''Bashar al-Assad''' is the current president of [[Syria]]. As a member of the Ba'ath Party of Syria, he is a [[socialist]] [[dictator]], though in his reign some limited [[free market]] reforms were implemented. In 2011, the [[Arab Spring]] led to widespread protests in his country, the fight between rebels and Syrian government are ongoing, to date, more than 12,000 deaths have taken place. <br />
<br />
==Foreign Relations==<br />
<br />
Under al-Assad, Syria maintains a close alliance with theocratic [[Iran]], despite his more secular form of governance. Like his father [[Hafez al-Assad]], his relation with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] was sour and tense, and after [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] he established good relations with the new Iraqi government.<br />
<br />
Al-Assad is very anti-American. Neither [[George W. Bush]] nor [[Barack Obama]] have met with him and both administrations have accused him, rightfully, of harboring [[terrorist]] organizations such as [[Hamas]] (which had its headquaters in [[Damascus]]) and [[Hezbollah]]. He is also hostile to [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]] and refuses to recognize the country's right to exist.<br />
<br />
==Personal life==<br />
<br />
President al-Assad believes in [[Shia]] [[Islam]] in its [[Alawite]] variant (which is seen by some Muslims as a heretical sect), and Syrian Alawite elites are his base of support. He is married to [[Asma al-Assad]], a former [[investment bank]]er educated in [[Britain]].<br />
<br />
His elder brother, Basil, was killed in a car accident.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Presidents of Syria]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=List_of_dictators&diff=985048List of dictators2012-06-08T12:58:00Z<p>Regular: /* Central Asia */ Spelling.</p>
<hr />
<div>: ''For a list of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] dictators, see [[Roman dictator#Roman dictators|Roman dictator]].''<br />
: ''See also the [[#See also|related lists]] at the end of this article.''<br />
<br />
<br />
The following is a list of national leaders ([[Head of state|heads of state]] and/or [[Head of government|heads of government]]) commonly regarded as modern [[dictator]]s. This usage usually carries a pejorative sense and refers to a ruler who: <br />
<br />
* Rules by decree, via an [[Enabling Act]] or similar laws passed by a legislature allowing him to do so;<br />
* is an [[absolute ruler]] of a [[state|sovereign state]], usually appointed, but without hereditary ascension;<br />
* governs outside the otherwise accepted [[rule of law]];<br />
* commonly (but not necessarily) gaining power through [[fraud]], a [[coup d'état]], resorting to either again to continue in power;<br />
* may develop a [[cult of personality]];<br />
* may be autocratic, oppressive, despotic or tyrannical.<br />
<br />
Some so-called "[[Dictator#"The benevolent dictator"|benevolent dictators]]" may be viewed as beneficial and their leadership seen as a "necessary evil".<br />
The modern usage of the term 'dictator' developed largely in response to instances of autocratic rule in [[republic]]s, so traditional [[monarch]]s are not usually described as dictators in historical commentary. Also excluded from this list are those who held [[absolute power]] during national [[State of emergency|emergencies]], but restored the rule of law soon thereafter. Otherwise those included have been widely cited by historians or described by the [[Mass media|media]] as dictators. Any controversy surrounding such characterisation is mentioned in the notes.<br />
<br />
The list is sorted according to when each dictator began their years in power. This refers to any years in office as a head of state, government or the like before their dictatorship was established. Any years of elected and judicial rule may be indicated parenthetically.<br />
<br />
==Africa==<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] ||align=center| [[Egypt]] ||align=center| 1954–1970 || <small>Prime Minister of Egypt 1954-1962; President of Egypt 1956-1970. Part of a group of officers in control of Egypt after the coup against British supported [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk]] in 1952; In February 1954, Nasser forced {{fact}} President [[Muhammad Naguib]] to appoint him prime minister and give up most practical power to him; later in that year Naguib resigned and Nasser became president by self-appointment; elected by popular vote (as only candidate) in 1956, and subsequently. Many personalistic elements to Nasser's rule, but nominal parliamentary system under Nasser's 1956-1970 presidency {{fact}}, until his death in 1970.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ahmed Sékou Touré]] ||align=center| [[Guinea]] ||align=center| 1958–1984 || <small>President of Guinea. Widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/DIAINS.html], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_jazz.shtml]) with estimates of up to 50,000 extra-judicial killings during his rule (see [http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat6.htm]) and 250,000 Guineans fleeing his rule ([http://www.africanet.com/africanet/country/guinea/history.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[David Dacko]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1960–1966<br>1979–1981 || <small>President of the Central African Republic. Banned opposition (see [http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad36]); Gained power by coup in 1979, though subsequently stood for election (see [http://www.african-geopolitics.org/show.aspx?ArticleId=3638]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Modibo Keita]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1960–1968 || <small>Schoolteacher and first president of Mali. Forced socialization and extensive protectionism severely harmed the economy and continued the country's dependence on aid donors. Discontent with these policies led Keita to implement his own "Cultural Revolution" and establish a network of people's militias to inform on and punish dissent. In the last few years of his presidency, full powers were vested in an extralegal "National Committee for Defense of the Revolution". He was deposed in a military coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[François (Ngarta) Tombalbaye|François Tombalbaye]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| 1960–1975 || <small>Head of State 1960-1962; President of Chad 1962-1975. Never fought a contested election; imprisoned opposition leaders. Launched a "Cultural Revolution" in the early 1970s encouraging ''[[authenticité]]''.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]] ||align=center| [[Côte d'Ivoire]] ||align=center| 1960–1993 || <small>President of Côte d'Ivoire. Ruled until 1990 with all opposition banned, but not considered particularly repressive. Relocated the official capital to his home village of [[Yamoussoukro]] and constructed the [[Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro]], the largest religious structure in Africa.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Milton Obote]] ||align=center| [[Uganda]] ||align=center| 1962–1972<br>1980–1985 || <small>Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966; President of Uganda 1966-1971 and 1980-1985. Suspended the constitution and declared himself President and Prime Minister in 1966.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hastings Kamuzu Banda]] ||align=center| [[Malawi]] ||align=center| 1963–1994 || <small>Prime Minister of Malawi 1963-1966; President of Malawi 1966-1994. Banned all opposition in 1966; declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1971; exiled and killed opposition leaders. Ordered that a letter bomb be sent to exiled opposition leader [[Attati Mpakati]]; suspected of being involved in the car crash deaths of senior Congress Party leaders; violently crushed an attempted rebellion. Aged 98, he allowed and lost a free election in 1994.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Kenneth Kaunda]] ||align=center| [[Zambia]] ||align=center| 1964–1991 || <small>President of the Republic of Zambia 1964-1991.Elected 1964, banned all political parties in Zambia, viewed himself as "WAMUYAYA" (eternal President).Accused of torturing political opponents.Defeated by Frederick Chiluba in 1991.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Houari Boumediene]] ||align=center| [[Algeria]] ||align=center| 1965–1978 || <small><br />
President of Algeria from June 19, 1965 to his death, (December 27, 1978); Chairman of the Revolutionary Council until December 12, 1976). <br /> In June 1965, Boumédienne seized power in a bloodless coup. Initially lacking a personal power base, he was seen as a weak ruler. But after a botched coup attempt against him by military officers in 1967 he tightened his rule, and then remained Algeria's undisputed ruler until his death in 1978.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Modibo Keita]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1960–1968 || <small>Schoolteacher and first president of Mali. Forced socialization and extensive protectionism severely harmed the economy and continued the country's dependence on aid donors. Discontent with these policies led Keita to implement his own "Cultural Revolution" and establish a network of people's militias to inform on and punish dissent. In the last few years of his presidency, full powers were vested in an extralegal "National Committee for Defense of the Revolution". He was deposed in a military coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jean-Bédel Bokassa]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1966–1979 || <small>President of the Central African Republic 1966-1976; Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire 1976-1979. Bokassa overthrew the autocratic Dacko in a swift coup d'état and assumed power as president of the Republic and head of the sole political party, the Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique Noire (MESAN). Bokassa abolished the constitution of 1959 on January 4 and began to rule by decree. He proclaimed himself emperor in 1976 (see [http://www.african-geopolitics.org/show.aspx?ArticleId=3638]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]] ||align=center| [[Togo]] ||align=center| 1967–2005 || <small>President of Togo. Gained power in a coup; never fought a contested election until 1998; banned, tortured and killed opposition. Fostered a cult of personality that was reinforced after he was the sole survivor of an airplane crash in 1974. In late 1991, troops loyal to Eyadéma closed a constitutional conference that had shifted most executive power to a new transitional government and banned Eyadéma's RPT party. January 1993 saw a mass exodus of residents to neighboring states after security forces fired on pro-democracy demonstrators. Further repression followed a purported 1994 coup attempt (see[http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/data/togoewechro.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Omar Bongo]] ||align=center| [[Gabon]] ||align=center| 1967–2009 || <small>As vice president, he acceded to the presidency following the death of President [[Léon M'ba]]. In 1968, Bongo decreed a one-party state under his [[Gabonese Democratic Party]] and was thrice elected unopposed in the 1970s and 1980s. He became very wealthy during the country's oil boom.<!--Sources?: Gabon saw less naked repression during his rule then most African dictatorships, partly because Bongo was a skilled manipulator able to co-opt much of his opposition.--> Open elections were held in 1990 and Bongo was re-elected in 1993, 1998 and 2005. Observers have criticized the elections as unfair and corruption watchdogs have accused the president of [[nepotism]]. Riots resulting from the mysterious death in 1990 of prominent dissident [[Joseph Rendjambe]] in a government hotel room were put down by French troops.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Moussa Traoré]] ||align=center| [[Mali]] ||align=center| 1968–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Military National Liberation Committee 1968-1969; Head of State 1969-1979; President of Mali 1979-1991. Seized power in a coup; banned all opposition; installed a police state; established one-party state in 1979.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Francisco Macías Nguema]] ||align=center| [[Equatorial Guinea]] ||align=center| 1968–1979 || <small>President of Equatorial Guinea 1968-1979. Elected in 1968 but declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1972; "extreme personality cult"; over a third of population fled his regime. Banned fishing and sanctioned the deaths of most of his pre-independence political rivals, including ex-prime minister [[Bonifacio Ondó Edu]] and foreign minister [[Atanasio Ndongo Miyone]]. Declared an atheist state by Spanish dictator [[Francisco Franco]]. As many as 50,000 civilians were killed, in particular those of the [[Bubi]] ethnic [[minority]] on [[Bioko]] associated with relative wealth and [[intellectual]]ism.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Gaafar Nimeiry]] ||align=center| [[Sudan]] ||align=center| 1969–1985 || <small>Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council 1969-1971; President of Sudan 1971-1985. Gained power in a military coup, banned opposition, dissolved southern Sudanese government, imposed sharia law. Executed several leading communists (the most prominent being [[Abdel Khaliq Mahjub]] and [[Joseph Garang]]) after a botched 1971 coup attempt.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mohamed Siad Barre]] ||align=center| [[Somalia]] ||align=center| 1969–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council 1969-1976; President of Somalia 1976-1991. In 1969, during the power vacuum following the assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, the military staged a coup and took over. Barre was to rule for the next twenty-two years. He attempted to develop a personality cult; large posters of him were common in the capital Mogadishu during his reign, many of which can still be seen today. He dreamed of a "[[Greater Somalia]]" and tried unsuccessfully to annex the [[Ogaden]]—legally Ethiopian territory—in 1977 to realize this end (see [[Ogaden War]]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Anwar Sadat]] || align=center|[[Egypt]] || align=center|1970-1981 || <small>President of Egypt 1970-1981. Unelected, suppressed opposition in what was termed "The Corrective Revolution". Assassinated.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Idi Amin]] ||align=center| [[Uganda]] ||align=center| 1971–1979 || <small>[[President of Uganda]], later (1976) declared as [[President for Life|for Life]]. Deposed in 1979 after declaring war on [[Tanzania]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mengistu Haile Mariam]] ||align=center| [[Ethiopia]] ||align=center| 1974–1991 || <small>Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council ([[Derg]]) in 1974 and 1977-1987; President of Ethiopia 1987-1991. One-party state; repression of opposition; tens of thousands of extra-judicial killings.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Olusegun Obasanjo]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1976-1979 || <small>Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria between 1976 and 1979. Elected President of Nigeria in 1999. Chairman of the [[African Union]] 2004-2006.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jean-Baptiste Bagaza]] ||align=center| [[Burundi]] ||align=center| 1976–1987 || <small>President of Burundi. Widely described as a military dictator (see [http://www.africanews.com/article265.html], [http://www.electionworld.org/history/burundi.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Albert René]] ||align=center| [[Seychelles]] ||align=center| 1977–2004 || <small>President of Seychelles. Deposed the elected president Sir [[James Mancham]] and promulgated a one-party constitution after a period of rule by decree. Created the [[National Youth Service]] (NYS), a compulsory educational institution that included traditional curricula interlaced with political indoctrination and paramilitary training.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Daniel arap Moi]] ||align=center| [[Kenya]] ||align=center| 1978–2002 || <small>President of Kenya. Changed constitution to establish a ''de jure'' one-party state; resorted to repressive rule, including torture and imprisonment without trial.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]] ||align=center| [[Equatorial Guinea]] ||align=center| '''1979–present''' || <small>Chairman of the Supreme Military Council 1979-1982; President of Equatorial Guinea 1982-present. Deposed his uncle in a violent coup; opposition is banned in all but name.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[José Eduardo dos Santos]] ||align=center| [[Angola]] ||align=center| '''1979–present''' || <small>President of Angola. One-party state; did not stand for election until 1992 (see [http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/2000/Angola_Marques_00/Angola_Marques_00.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[João Bernardo Vieira]] ||align=center| [[Guinea-Bissau]] ||align=center| 1980-1984 and '''2005-present''' || <small>become president by a coup. killing and exiled opposition. faoumes for the [[Guinea-Bissau Civil War]].<small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Samuel K. Doe]] ||align=center| [[Liberia]] ||align=center| 1980–1990 || <small>Chairman of the People's Redemption Council 1980-1984; President of Liberia 1984-1990. Gained power in a military coup that killed President [[William R. Tolbert, Jr.]], a [[Reform movement|reformer]]. Promoted [[Krahn]] chauvinism and "died a multi-millionaire and proud owner of mansions and estates" (see[http://www.theperspective.org/2004/oct/bookpeople.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Robert Mugabe]] ||align=center| [[Zimbabwe]] ||align=center| '''1980–present''' || <br />
<small>Gained power through election, and repeatedly re-elected, but criticized for steps used to maintain power. From 1999 on, used police and militant groups like the War Veterans Association and [[Border Gezi Youth]] to enforce [[ZANU-PF]] policies and to prevent opponents from voting; called "king" by his aides.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1709488.stm] Arrested and tortured opponents and human rights activists; gave amnesty to murderers of his political opponents in 2000; ignores court rulings.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,410850,00.html] Criticized as dictator by [[Desmond Tutu]][http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1754307.stm] and [[Vladimir Putin]][http://www.namibian.com.na/2005/July/world/05C16ABC4A.html].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Jerry Rawlings]] ||align=center| [[Ghana]] ||align=center| 1981-1992 || <small>Gained power in a military coup during 1979 but handed it over. Re-took power in another coup of 1981. Elected President in 1992 and again in 1996 before standing aside as per the constitution.</small> <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[André Kolingba]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| 1981–1993 || <small>Chairman of the Military Committee of National Recovery 1981-1985; President of the Central African Republic 1985-1993. Gained power in a coup; persecuted opposition; allowed (and lost) free elections in 1993. Attempted second coup in 2001.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hosni Mubarak]] || align=center|[[Egypt]] || align=center|'''1981-2011''' || <small>Former President of Egypt. Did not stand in a contested election until 2005, when a highly-restricted democratic process was allowed. Was forced from power after a series of mass protests.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Paul Biya]] ||align=center| [[Cameroon]] ||align=center| '''1982–present''' || <small>He served under President Ahmadou Ahidjo and became Prime Minister in 1975. Ahidjo resigned on November 6, 1982 and Biya became president. After years of totalitarian rule, he allowed the creation of opposition parties in 1990 but his re-elections have been marked by widespread fraud and intimidation.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hissène Habré]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| 1982–1990 || <small>Chairman of the Council of State 1982; President of Chad 1982-1990. Gained power in a coup; abolished post of Prime Minister; executed opposition leaders.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Thomas Sankara]] ||align=center| [[Burkina Faso]] ||align=center| 1983-1987 || <small>President of Upper Volta 1983-1984; President of Burkina Faso 1984-1987. Gained power in coup. Lead millitary regime. Overthrown and killed in coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya]] ||align=center| [[Mauritania]] ||align=center| 1984–2005 || <small>Deposed the military head of state, [[Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla]], on December 1984 and declared himself Chairman of the Military Committee for National Salvation. Deposed by [[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]] in a bloodless coup d'état. </small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ibrahim Babangida]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1985-1993 || <small> Annulled the most free and fair presidential election in the history of Nigeria, leading to the death of the presidenstial candidate [[Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Zine El Abidine Ben Ali]] ||align=center| [[Tunisia]] ||align=center| '''1987–2011''' || <small>President of Tunisia. Although he announced [[Pluralism#Plualism in politics|political pluralism]] in 1992, his Democratic Constitutional Rally (formerly Neo-Destour party) continues to dominate the national politics and there is no genuine open political debate. In 1999, although two unknown alternative candidates were permitted for the first time to stand in the presidential elections, Ben Ali was re-elected with 99.66% of the vote. A controversial constitutional referendum in 2002 allowed him to seek re-election and contemplate the possibility of remaining in office until 2014. On October 24, 2004, he was again re-elected, officially taking 94.48% of the vote. Certain books, periodicals and internet sites are banned or blocked. The [http://www.tunisiatv.com National Television] frequently show his actions during a week, but often the President only appears in passing on television. In 2011 he was forced from power after mass protests.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir]] ||align=center| [[Sudan]] ||align=center| '''1989–present''' || <small>President of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation 1989-1993; President of Sudan 1993-present. Took power in a military coup and increasingly centralized power into himself. Widely believed to be implicated in the [[Darfur]] [[Janjaweed]] [[pogrom]]s.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Idriss Déby]] ||align=center| [[Chad]] ||align=center| '''1990–present''' || <small>Head of State 1990-1991; President of Chad 1991 to date. Gained power in a coup; continues to suppress opposition and press (see [http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/tcd-summary-eng]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Sani Abacha]] ||align=center| [[Nigeria]] ||align=center| 1993–1998 || <small>Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council 1993-1998. Seized power in a coup; persecuted opposition; never stood for election. Jailed Chief [[Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]], the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election; presided over execution of activist [[Ken Saro-Wiwa]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Paul Kagame]] || align=center|[[Rwanda]] || align=center|'''1994-present''' || <small>Vice-President of Rwanda 1994-2000; President 2000-Present. Brouhgt to power by a guerilla movement which plunged the country into bloodshed and led to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. Responsible of the the killings of innocent civilians, women and children in Kibeho refugee camp. Responsible of the killings of 4 millions congolese. Responsible of the killings of Priests and Archbishops in Kabgayi.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Yahya Jammeh]] ||align=center| [[The Gambia]] ||align=center| '''1994-Present''' || <small>President of The Gambia. Gained power in coup d'état. Right to the press and free speech supressed. Stood for three elections (1996, 2001, and 2006); last election deemed unfair by opposition.<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] ||align=center| [[Congo-Kinshasa]] ||align=center| 1997–2001 || <small>President of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Overthrew [[Mobutu Sese Seko]] in coup. No elections held during ongoing, interstate [[First Congo War|First]] and [[Second Congo War]]s.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Charles G. Taylor]] ||align=center| [[Liberia]] ||align=center| 1997–2003 || <small>President of Liberia 1997-2003. Elected, but widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sierra/article/0,2763,221878,00.html], [http://www.cij.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewNews&newsID=9], [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/127/48.0.html]). Linked to "[[blood diamonds]]" and illegal arms trading. Believed to have interfered frequently in the internal affairs of neighboring states while a [[warlord]], before his election to the presidency.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[François Bozizé]] ||align=center| [[Central African Republic]] ||align=center| '''2003–present''' || <small>President of the Central African Republic 2003 to date. Gained power in a coup and suspended the constitution, though he has restored some democracy (see [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/28/1456242]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ely Ould Mohamed Vall]] ||align=center| [[Mauritania]] ||align=center| 2005-2007 || <small>Chairman of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy. Gained power via a military coup. Though he has said to relinquish power to an elected government in 2007.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==The Americas==<br />
===North America===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Agustín de Iturbide]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1822 - 1823<br> || <small>Shortly after the Mexican War of Independence, he was declared Emperor of Mexico in 1822. Repressive, cracked down on free speech and any opposition. Desposed when popular opposition forced him to abdicate.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Antonio López de Santa Anna]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1833 - 1855<br>(intermittent) || <small>President or Provisional President of Mexico 1833-1837, then 1841 to February 1844, June to December 1844, March to September 1847 and finally 1853-1855. When [[Anastasio Bustamante]] led a coup overthrowing and killing President [[Vicente Guerrero]], Santa Anna seized power and then was elected President in 1833. At first he gave a free hand to his vice-president [[Valentín Gómez Farías]], a liberal reformer. Later he dismissed Gómez Farías, declared the Constitution suspended, disbanded the Congress and worked to concentrate power in the central government. He was overthrown and restored to power several times before his final overthrow in 1855.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Porfirio Díaz]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1879 - 1910 || <small>Interim president 1876-1877; President of Mexico 1877-1880, 1884-1911. ''De facto'' ruler 1880-1884. Gained power in a coup, after his Revolution of Tuxtepac overthrew his predecessor, Lerdo. He did not run for reelection after his first term in order to keep his one-term promises that he made during his revolution. However, he retook the presidency a few years later and did not leave from power until the [[Mexican Revolution|Revolution of 1910]] kicked him from the Presidency. His rule saw the rapid modernization of Mexico, progress mainly caused by Diaz's encouragement of foreign investment in the country's infrastructure. However, the poor became quite miserable during this time. Political opposition was squelched and rebellions were put down by the ''rurals'', Diaz's personal guard. He was eventually overthrown by the [[Mexican Revolution|Revolution]] which lasted 10 years.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Victoriano Huerta]] || align=center|[[Mexico]] || align=center|1913 - 1914<br> || <small>Appointed president, established a military dictatorship for about a year, and then was forced to resign.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Central America===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Carrera]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1844–1848<br> 1851–1865 ||<small> President of Guatemala. Gained power in a coup; styled himself [[President for Life]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[William Walker]] ||align=center| [[Nicaragua]] ||align=center| 1856-1857 || <small>An american fillibuster takes over and proclaims himself President of Nicaragua. Tried to conquer several central american countries. Eventually executed.<small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Justo Rufino Barrios]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1873–1885 || <small>President of Guatemala. Gained power in a bloody coup, but introduced reforms.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Estrada Cabrera]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1898–1920 || <small>President of Guatemala. Never elected; subverted constitution; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9033093], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558775/Estrada_Cabrera_Manuel.html]). Constructed numerous large [[Ancient Greece|Hellenic]]-style temples as monuments to his rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Maximiliano Hernández Martínez]] || align=center|[[El Salvador]] || align=center|1931–1934<br>1935–1944 || <small>Acting President 1931-1934; President of El Salvador 1935-1944. Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; oversaw massacre of between ten and forty thousand suspected opponents. Presided over ''[[1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising|La Matanza]]'' in 1932, a massacre (genocide) of communists, suspected communists, [[campesinos]] and [[Pipil]] Indians (see [http://countrystudies.us/el-salvador/7.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jorge Ubico]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1931–1944 || <small>President of Guatemala. Elected, but suppressed opposition and "assumed dictatorial powers".<!--Source?--></small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Tiburcio Carías Andino]] || align=center|[[Honduras]] || align=center|1933–1949 || <small>President of Honduras. Banned opposition and set up a [[Rubberstamp (politics)|rubber-stamp]] congress; suppressed unions (see[http://countrystudies.us/honduras/19.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Anastasio Somoza García]] || align=center|[[Nicaragua]] || align=center|1937–1956 || <small>Somoza used his position as head of the [[National Guard (Nicaragua)|National Guard]] to overthrow President [[Juan Bautista Sacasa]]; centralized constitutional authority under his control; alternately rigged elections for himself or installed relatives in his place; kleptocrat.[http://www.immigrantinfo.org/kin/nicaragua.htm][http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9212.html].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Castillo Armas]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1954–1957 || <small>Junta Chairman, 1954; President of Guatemala 1954-1957. Gained power in a coup; banned the popular [[Guatemalan Party of Labour|Communist party]]; purged trade unions of leftist influence; declared himself president in 1956. Assassinated.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Oswaldo López Arellano]] || align=center|[[Honduras]] || align=center|1963–1971 <br> 1972–1975 ||<small> Head of Military Government 1963-1965; President of Honduras 1965-1971; Head of State 1972-1975. Military officer who allowed elections in 1971 before re-seizing power the next year. According to Clara Nieto in ''Masters of War: Latin America and United States Aggression from the Cuban Revolution through the Clinton years'', p. 114 (ISBN 1-58322-545-5): "During this second term (1972-1975) López governed without a congress and by decree."</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Anastasio Somoza Debayle]] || align=center|[[Nicaragua]] || align=center|1967-1979 || <small>Succeeded his somewhat more liberal brother [[Luis Somoza Debayle|Luis]]; stepped down briefly in 1972, then resumed the presidency after an earthquake; outlawed several opposition parties; declared [[martial law]] in response to guerilla opposition; oversaw brutal repression by the National Guard.<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Omar Torrijos]] || align=center|[[Panama]] || align=center|1968–1981 || <small>Commander of the National Guard. Gained power in a coup; banned opposition, unions and free press.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Efraín Ríos Montt]] || align=center|[[Guatemala]] || align=center|1982–1983 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1982; President of Guatemala 1982-1983. Dictator during a military coup. Known for [[scorched earth]] counter-insurgency strategies. Since then was Head of Congress for many years and made several failed attempts to be elected democratically. Used his declared conservative evangelical Christian beliefs to portray dissent as an attack against God.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Noriega]] || align=center|[[Panama]]|| align=center|1983–1989 || <small>Commander of the National Guard and ''de facto'' military leader, widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9056130], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761561240/Noriega_Moreno_Manuel_Antonio.html], [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/8155061.htm]).</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===South America===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1813-1814 and 1814-1840 ||<small>gained power in election. Outlawed all opposition. Installed a police state. Cult of personality; citizens forced to raise their hats or a brim when he passed by; styled himself with the position name "El Supremo". </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Simón Bolívar]] || align=center| [[Gran Columbia]] || align=center| 1821-1830 || <small>Though an admirer of classical liberal democracy, the founder and president of Gran Colombia proclaimed himself dictator in 1828 after an unsuccessful constitutional convention. Resigned eighteen months later.</small><br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Juan Manuel de Rosas]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1835–1852 || <small>Governor of Buenos Aires 1829-1832, 1835-1852; Supreme Chief of the Argentine Confederation 1851-1852. Assumed dictatorial powers; exiled opponents.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Antonio López]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1841–1862 || <small>First Consul 1841-1844; President of Paraguay 1844-1862. <!--Substantiate: "Ruled despotically" - described as a dictator.--></small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Belzu]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1848–1855 || <small>Provisional President of Bolivia 1848-1850; President of Bolivia 1850-1855. Unelected military ruler; ''[[caudillo]]''. A populist and nationalist who voluntarily relinquished power after 1855 elections, described in (ISBN 0-13-524356-4), p.131, as the "cleanest ever held" in (early) Bolivian history.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Francisco Solano López]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1862–1869 ||<small> President of Paraguay. Inherited power from his father; had himself awarded immense powers by a congress he had packed with supporters. Killed in the [[War of the Triple Alliance]] (which Lopez had caused by invading Brazil), along with 90 per cent of the Paraguayan adult (age 14+) male population.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Mariano Melgarejo]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1864–1871 || <small>Provisional President 1864-1870; President of Bolivia 1870-1871. Gained power in a coup and ruthlessly suppressed opposition. In 1869 he sent the army to suppress an uprising by [[Huaichu]] Indians attempting to regain land privileges they enjoyed under President Belzu (see ISBN 1-55753-324-5).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Antonio Guzmán Blanco]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1870–1888 ||<small> Acting President of Venezuela 1863, 1865; General-in-chief April-July 1870; Provisional President of Venezuela 1870-1873; President of Venezuela 1873 - 1877; Supreme Director 1879; Provisional President of Venezuela 1879 - 1880; President of Venezuela 1880 -1884, 1886 -1888. Described, perhaps inaccurately, as a "benevolent despot"; other sources mention his "long dictatorship" (see[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:ghIhQZ7WhgUJ:www.normangall.com/artigos/Church_Militant.pdf+Antonio+Guzm%C3%A1n+Blanco+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Cipriano Castro]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1899–1909 || <small>Supreme Chief 1899-1901; Provisional President 1901 - 1902, 1904 - 1905; President of Venezuela 1902 - 1904, 1905 - 1909. Took over in a military coup (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:kdvql1ZK2-4J:www.sg.inter.edu/revista-ciscla/volume29/singh.pdf+Antonio+Guzm%C3%A1n+Blanco+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Reyes]] || align=center|[[Colombia]] || align=center|1904–1909 || <small>President 1904 - 1909, as a military ruler representing the Conservatives. "In the course of his regime, Reyes improved the country’s finances, expanded roads and railroads, and encouraged increased coffee production. Large U.S. investments and purchases of coffee and minerals contributed to Colombia’s economic growth. However, Reyes ruled as a dictator. He dissolved the congress and replaced it with a handpicked legislature, jailed and exiled political opponents, and declared martial law." (''Colombia'', [[Encarta|Microsoft Encarta]] 2003)</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Juan Vicente Gómez]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1909–1914 <br> 1922–1929 <br> 1931–1935 || <small>Provisional President 1909-1910; President of Venezuela 1910-1914, 1922-1929, 1931-1935. Gained power in a coup; never elected; kleptocrat; widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9037322], [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=156078], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563557/Juan_Vicente_Gomez.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Óscar Benavides]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1914–1915 <br> 1933–1939 ||<small> Junta Chairman 1914; President of Peru 1914-1915, 1933-1939. Twice gained power by coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Augusto B. Leguía y Salcedo|Augusto Leguía]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || 1919–1930 || <small>President of Peru. Gained power in a coup; ignored constitution; suppressed and exiled opposition.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Carlos Ibáñez del Campo]] || align=center|[[Chile]] || align=center|1927–1931 || <small>Acting President 1927, President 1927 - 1931. Democratically elected to a six-year term in 1952.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Getúlio Vargas]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1930–1934 <br> 1937–1945 ||<small> Head of provisional government 1930-1934 after revolution; indirectly elected as Constitutional President 1934-1937; launched a coup in 1937 and became dictator 1937-1945; democratically-elected President of Brazil 1950-1954.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gabriel Terra]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1931–1938 || <small>President of Uruguay. Suspended congress and dissolved constitution in 1933. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Higinio Morínigo]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1940–1948 || <small>Provisional president 1940-1943; President of Paraguay 1943-1948. Seized absolute power; ruled by [[diktat]] until 1946.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Manuel Odría]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1948–1956 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1948 - 1950; President of Peru 1950 - 1956. Gained power in a coup; restricted civil rights; allowed election in 1956.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Marcos Pérez Jiménez]] || align=center|[[Venezuela]] || align=center|1948–1958 || <small>Member of military junta 1948 - 1952; Provisional president 1952 -1953; President of Venezuela 1953 - 1958. Never elected; pursued opposition violently; credited with improvements to the country's infrastructure.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gustavo Rojas Pinilla]] || align=center|[[Colombia]] || align=center|1953–1957 || <small>President of Colombia. Gained power in a coup.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Alfredo Stroessner]] || align=center|[[Paraguay]] || align=center|1954–1989 ||<small> President of Paraguay. He took over in a military coup (see[http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19890301faessay5951/riordan-roett/paraguay-after-stroessner.html], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:vqkaVDmcvaIJ:www.columbia.edu/cu/polisci/pdf-files/apsa_krutz.pdf+Stroessner+dictator],[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:qfMgvA6bakgJ:users.ox.ac.uk/~newc1465/Proudman%2520-%2520SoftPowerMeetsHard.pdf+Stroessner+dictator]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco|Humberto Castelo Branco]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1964–1967 || <small>President of Brazil. Gained power in a coup; abolished most opposition; subsequently appointed by congress.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[René Barrientos]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1964–1969 || <small>Chairman of the military junta, 1964-January 1966 (jointly with [[Alfredo Ovando]] 1965-1966); President of Bolivia, August 1966 - 1969. Gained power in military coup; kleptocrat; responsible for [[Catavi massacre]] and execution of [[Che Guevara]] (ISBN 0-85345-991-6), p.136.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Forbes Burnham]] || align=center|[[Guyana]] || align=center|1966–1985 ||<small> Prime Minister 1966 - 1980; President 1980 - 1985. Elected, but became increasingly dictatorial; held dubious elections and encouraged leftist religious cults (such as the [[Peoples Temple]]) to settle in the Guyanese interior (see [http://www.jagan.org/janet_jagan29.htm], [http://www.hardbeatnews.com/editor/RTE/my_documents/my_files/details.asp?newsid=4498&title=Politics]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Artur da Costa e Silva]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1967–1969 || <small>President of Brazil 1967-1969. Elected in 1966, but centralised power; closed the Congress; banned opposition; suspended free press. Decreed [[Institutional Act No. 5]], described as "the most unconstitutional, anti-democratic, arbitrary, and repressive decree in Brazil's history." (ISBN 1-58322-545-5), p.167.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Emílio Garrastazu Médici]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1969–1974 ||<small> President of Brazil. Appointed by congress, but instituted a military government; suppressed press and opposition (see[http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/62/index.rtf]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Hugo Banzer]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1971–1978 ||<small> President of Bolivia. Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; closed universities; 3,000 opponents arrested, 200 killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Juan María Bordaberry]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1972–1976 || <small>President of Uruguay 1972 - 1976. Elected, but installed a military government, dissolved Congress, suspended civil liberties and banned unions.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Augusto Pinochet]] || align=center|[[Chile]] || align=center|1973–1990 || <small>Chairman of military junta 1973-1974; Supreme Head of the Nation 1974; President of Chile 1974 - 1990. Gained power in a coup; suppressed and exiled opposition; over 3000 "[[Forced disappearance|disappearances]]" and 28,000 tortured.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ernesto Geisel]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1974-1979 || <small>Congress-appointed President of Brazil. The fourth of the military dictators; party and union freedom were still inexistent during his term; had oppositionists like journalist [[Wladimir Herzog]] and factory worker [[Manoel Fiel Filho]] tortured and murdered.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jorge Rafael Videla]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1976–1981 || <small>President of Argentina. Gained power in a coup; never elected; between ten and thirty thousand opponents killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo]] || align=center|[[Brazil]] || align=center|1979-1985 || <small> Congress-appointed President of Brazil. Society won some democratic measures these years, but there was still a major fraud during 1982 State government elections. His government was responsible for the 1983 bomb in the Riocentro.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Dési Bouterse]] || align=center|[[Suriname]] || align=center|1980–1988 || <small>Chairman of the National Military Council 1980-1988. Gained power in a coup; never elected; widespread misrule. Most infamous atrocity is the ''[[Decembermoorden]]''.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Luis García Meza Tejada]] || align=center|[[Bolivia]] || align=center|1980–1981 || <small>President of Bolivia. Gained power in the "Cocaine Coup" aided by [[Klaus Barbie]]; highly repressive; over 1,000 killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gregorio Conrado Álvarez]] || align=center|[[Uruguay]] || align=center|1981–1985 || <small>President of Uruguay. Ignored constitution; extensive human rights abuses (see [http://www.rulers.org/indexa2.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Leopoldo Galtieri]] || align=center|[[Argentina]] || align=center|1981–1982 || <small>President of Argentina 1981-1982. Gained power in a coup (see[http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,873601,00.html], [http://english.pravda.ru/world/2003/01/14/41968.html]). Deposed after failed [[Falklands War|invasion of the Falkland Islands]] in 1982.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Alberto Fujimori]] || align=center|[[Peru]] || align=center|1992-1993 || <small>President of Peru 1990-2000, widely critizised for his political authoritarism. [http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n34peru_body.html][http://www.aprodeh.org.pe/fujimori/delitos-eng.htm] [http://www.cverdad.org.pe/ingles/pagina01.php]. After enjoying a certain degree of popular support, Fujimori was forced from office following controvertial third term re-election[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/05/29/peru.elections.04/]. In 2000 political opponent Mario Vargas Llosa called Fujimori a "dictator" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/741841.stm]. His government was also marked by the influence of the director of the SIN, [[Vladimiro Montesinos]] [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2005.00165.x?cookieSet=1&journalCode=goop][http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB37/]. Currently in Peru, Fujimori is in trial for presumed charges ranging from corruption to participation in crimes against humanity. [http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/peru-qna-1030.htm].</small> <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hugo Chávez]] ||align=center| [[Venezuela]] ||align=center| '''1999-present || <small>Appointed special powers, nationalized the media and oil companies,Shut down opposition media and banned "The Simpsons."</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Caribbean===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|- <br />
| align=center|[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1804-1806 || <small>Governor-General of Haiti 1804; Emperor of Haiti (as Jacques I) 1804 - 1806. Ruled autocratically.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Henry Christophe]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] <br>(northern)|| align=center|1806-1820 || <small>Provisional Chief of the Haitian Government 1806-1807; President of Haiti 1807-1811; King of Haiti (as Henry I) 1811-1820. Ruled autocratically.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Pedro Santana]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1844-1848, 1853 -1856, 1858 - 1861 || <small>Never elected; suppressed opposition; widely considered a dictator.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Buenaventura Báez]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1849-1878 (intermittent) || <small>President of the Dominican Republic five times. Gained power following coups; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ulises Heureaux]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1882-1899 (intermittent) || <small>President of the Dominican Republic three times. Never elected; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.marcusgarvey.com/wmview.php?ArtID=507], [http://countrystudies.us/dominican-republic/8.htm], [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-7709.2004.00452.x]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Gerardo Machado]] || align=center|[[Cuba]] || align=center|1925-1933 || <small>President of Cuba. A follower of [[Benito Mussolini]], he is widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=672], [http://www.highbeam.com/ref/doc0.asp?docid=1E1:MachadoG]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rafael Trujillo]] || align=center|[[Dominican Republic]] || align=center|1930-1961 || <small>President of the Dominican Republic 1930 - 1938, 1942 - 1952; ''de facto'' ruler 1930-1961. Gained power in a coup; cult of personality (renamed the capital [[Ciudad Trujillo]]); promoted racism against Haitians and ordered the massacre of 20,000 blacks.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Paul Magloire]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1950-1956 || <small>President of Haiti. Gained power in a coup; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Fulgencio Batista]] || align=center| [[Cuba]] || align=center| 1952-1959 || <small>President of Cuba 1940-1944; 1952-1959. Gained power the second time in a coup; suppressed opposition violently. Use of torture and collective punishment. Mafia ties.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[François Duvalier]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1957-1971 ||<small> President of Haiti. Elected in 1957, but banned opposition; declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1964; highly repressive.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Fidel Castro]] || align=center|[[Cuba]] || align=center| 1959-2006 || <small>Prime Minister of Cuba 1959-1976; President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers from 1976. Gained power after [[Cuban Revolution|revolution]]. Castro was elected President [[Elections in Cuba|after 1976]], but within a one-party [[Communist state]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Jean-Claude Duvalier]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1971-1986 ||<small> President of Haiti. Inherited presidency aged 19 from his father; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Eric Gairy]] || align=center|[[Grenada]] || align=center|1974-1979 || <small>Prime Minister of Grenada 1967-1979. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.factbites.com/topics/Eric-Gairy], [http://www.paradise-inn-carriacou.com/grenada_revolution.php], [http://counterpunch.org/gibson06052004.html]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Raoul Cédras]] || align=center|[[Haiti]] || align=center|1991-1994 || <small>''De facto'' ruler for a relatively short period of time. Gained power in a coup (see [http://www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org/infamous.htm]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Raul Castro]] ||align=center| [[Cuba]] ||align=center| '''2006-present''' || <small>Appointed successor by his brother of the Communist Party of Cuba.</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Asia==<br />
<br />
===Western Asia ("Middle East")===<br />
<!--Dont add names before discussing it on talk page first--><br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Abdul Karim Qassem]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1958–1963 || <small>Gained power by coup; viewed by some as benevolent (see [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/18/wisad18.xml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Abdul Salam Arif]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1963–1966 ||<small> Gained power in a coup; military ruler.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1968–1979 ||<small> Gained power in a coup; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Hafez al-Assad]] || align=center|[[Syria]] || align=center|1970–2000 ||<small>Gained power in a coup; totalitarian;{{fact}} cult of personality; oversaw [[Hama massacre]] yielding twenty to forty thousand dead (see [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012197]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ruhollah Khomeini]] || align=center|[[Iran]] || align=center|1979–1989 || <small> As [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]], held ultimate and uncontested authority over all government matters under the principle of [[Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists|Guardianship]]. Created the extra-constitutional [[Special Clerical Court]] system in 1987, accountable only to the Supreme Leader and used principally for suppression of political dissent. Instituted routine torture, beheadings for children.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Saddam Hussein]] || align=center|[[Iraq]] || align=center|1979–2003 || <small>Pressured Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to resign in 1979 and formally became president. Repressive; developed extensive personality cult; deposed by [[United States]] and coalition forces in an invasion.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ali Khamenei|Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]]||align=center| [[Iran]] ||align=center| '''1989-present''' || <small>Continues Khomeini's [[Islamist]] path & uses religion as a tool, cracks down on all authentic dissent, tortures, and has given orders that permit killings like that of [[Akbar Mohammadi]] and [[Zahra Kazemi]]. Only permitts [[government-organized demonstrations]]. Allows a multi-party government but disallows the candidacy of true moderates.[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=9940][http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1527919/][http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200505310823.asp][http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1154652871.shtml][http://isd.georgetown.edu/demo_0102.pdf][http://www.boycottliberalism.com/liberalcelebrity.htm]</small>ISBN 0-16-074590-X <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Bashar al-Assad]] || align=center|[[Syria]] || align=center|'''2000–present''' || <small>No opposition permitted in election following death of his father; widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110007449], [http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP92405], [http://www.freeman.org/m_online/feb04/pasko.htm]).</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Central Asia===<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Askar Akayev]] || align=center|[[Kyrgyzstan]] || align=center|1990–2005 ||<small> Appointed but became increasingly authoritarian; widely described as a dictator (see [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4542783.stm], [http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/archive/000935.php], [http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kazakhstan/hypermail/200507/0023.shtml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Islam Karimov]] || align=center|[[Uzbekistan]] || align=center|'''1991–present''' || <small>Described as authoritarian who is increasingly centralizing power (see [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/expand?pub=infobike://bell/soviet/2003/00000019/00000004/art00002&unc=], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:uuOVzdj_xBoJ:www1.dogus.edu.tr/dogustru/journal/sayi_6/M00073.PDF+%22Islam+Karimov%22+%22dictator%22]). Elections essentially uncontested and unmonitored. Opposition repressed. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Saparmurat Niyazov]] || align=center|[[Turkmenistan]] || align=center|1991–2006 || <small>Declared [[President for Life]] in 1999; [[cult of personality]]; his book ''[[Ruhnama]]'' is to be treated with reverence (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:blnbM3mP0eAJ:www.eurasianet.org/turkmenistan.project/files2/050603Turkmenreport.pdf+%22Niyazov%22+%22dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:Ie2QfLuR_ysJ:www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/tamerlane/Tamerlane-Chapter2.pdf+%22Niyazov%22+%22dictatorship%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Muhammed Omar]] || align=center|[[Afghanistan]] || align=center|1996–2001 || <small>Considered a Theocratic Dictator who excercized strict sharia laws; allowed the persecution of Hazaras; gave Al Qaeda refuge in Afghanistan. (see[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0881088.html][http://www.afghan-web.com/bios/today/momar.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ilham Aliyev]] || align=center|[[Azerbaijan]] || align=center|'''2003–present''' ||<small> Dubious election; opposition suppressed (see[http://www.underreported.com/print.php?sid=1241]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow]] || align=center|[[Turkmenistan]] || align=center|'''2006-present''' ||<small>Unelected, appointed as successor upon Niyazov's death. Turkemnistan still continues to be oppresive and a single-party state.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===South Asia===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ayub Khan]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1958–1969 || <small>Gained power in a coup. Subsequent elections considered dubious (see[http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A069], [http://www.indianexpress.com/messages.php?content_id=71414]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Yahya Khan]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1969–1971 ||<small> Military ruler, gaining power from coup (see [http://presidentyahya.com],[http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/pakistantimeline.html], [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/kpsgill/terrorism/04Jan10Pio.htm]).</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]] || align=center|[[Maldives]] || align=center|1978–2008 || <small>[[Autocracy|Autocrat]]; widely considered to be a dictator; no opposition or free press allowed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] || align=center|[[Pakistan]] || align=center|1978–1988 || <small>Took over following coup. Claimed government to be legitimate because it was Islamic (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:dcmhb0vRS4wJ:smartech.gatech.edu:8282/dspace/bitstream/1853/6901/1/kulkarni_nikhil_v_200505_ms.pdf+%22Muhammad+Zia%22+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Rahimuddin Khan]] || align=center|[[Balochistan (Pakistan)]] || align=center|1978–1984 || <small>Appointed supreme Martial Law Governor of Balochistan by central Pakistani military government following coup. (see [http://www.answers.com/rahimuddin%20khan]).</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Hossain Mohammad Ershad]] || align=center|[[Bangladesh]] || align=center|1982–1990 ||<small>Gained power in a coup; declared martial law; never elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Pervez Musharraf]] || align=center| [[Pakistan]] || align=center| 1999-2008 || <small>Deposed Nawaz Sharif in a military coup, calling it a necessity during a state of emergency. Governed directly as commander in chief until Parliament reconvened in November 2002. Assumed the title of President upon Rafiq Tarar's resignation and stood in a referendum in 2002. Opposition parties state that the rule of law in his custody has deteriorated further.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Eastern Asia ("Far East")===<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years <br> in &nbsp; power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] || align=center|[[Japan]] || align=center|1600-1616|| <small> Shogun of [[Japan]] and founder of the long reigning [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Gained power by unifying the warring clans during [[Japan]]'s long period of civil unrest. He also created an "alternate attendance" system to pacify the [[daimyo]] warlords, as well as closing and isolating trade and the economy, in order to retain his power. His rule was also marked by persecution of european missionaries and japanese christians. <br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Yuan Shikai]] || align=center|[[Republic of China]] || align=center|1912–1916 || <small>[[President of the Republic of China]] 1912 - 1915, self-proclaimed [[Emperor of China]], 1916. Ignored legislative consent as defined by the [[Constitution of the Republic of China|Constitution]]; dissolved the [[National Assembly of the Republic of China|National Assembly]]; assassinated [[Song Jiaoren]]; disbanded the [[Kuomintang]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Roman von Ungern-Sternberg]] || align=center|[[Mongolia]] || align=center|1921 || <small><br />
Born, Baron Roman Nicolaus von Ungern-Sternberg (Роман Фёдорович Унгерн фон Штернберг), in Graf, Austria of Prussian nobility, von Ungern-Sternberg fought, against his own Prussians, in the Imperial Russian Army during World War I and fought the [[Bolsheviks]], in [[Siberia]], after 1917. A rabid [[monarchist]], von Ungern-Sternberg soon thereafter became an independent [[warlord]] with the intention of establishing an independent Russo-Sino-Mongolian monarchy in [[Urga]] under the nominal rule of [[Bogd Khaan]] (the [[Living Buddha]]). Although considered the paragon of bravery, von Ungern-Sternberg was reckless, brutal and mentally unstable. <br />
</small><small><br />
After a savage battle against occupying [[Chinese republic]]an forces, on March 13, 1921, [[Mongolia]] was proclaimed an independent [[monarchy]], and Ungern von Sternberg became Mongolian [[dictator]]. His brief rule of Mongolia was characterised by looting, raping and a reign of terror by his army. Eventually, the [[Bolsheviks]] invaded Mongolia and after a series of battles, von Ungern-Sternberg was defeated in a August 1921, captured by his own soldiers, and handed over to the [[Red Army]] on August 21, 1921.<br />
</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Chiang Kai-Shek]] ||align=center| [[Republic of China]] ||align=center| 1927-1975 || <small>Known as the "Generalissimo". Gained power by military force. Leader of anti-communist one-party state under the Kuomintang. Rule on mainland China repeatedly undermined by powerful regional factions, civil wars, and the war against Japan. Ruled with an iron-fist following his retreat to Taiwan in 1949.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Horloogiyn Choybalsan]] || align=center|[[Mongolia]] || align=center|1936–1952 ||<small> Unelected; opponents purged; cult of personality.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Kim Il-sung]] || align=center|[[North Korea]] || align=center|1948–1994 || <small>Appointed prime minister in 1948; purged rivals in the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] to consolidate power in 1956 (see [http://muse.jhu.edu/cgi-bin/access.cgi?uri=/journals/korean_studies/v026/26.1lankov.pdf]); introduced "[[Juche]]" ideology demanding absolute loyalty to him and the party; created most pervavise cult of personality in recent history. Declared "Eternal President" on his death.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Ho Chi Minh]] ||align=center| [[North Vietnam]] ||align=center| 1945-1969 || <small>Unelected; killed thousands of political rivals in the 1940s; killed tens of thousands more during the land reforms of the 1950s; presided over a one-party state.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center| [[Sukarno]] || align=center|[[Indonesia]] || align=center| 1949-1968 ||<small>First President of Indonesia. Consolidated his powers, and got proclaimed President for LIfe. Was overthrown by the then Dictator of Indonesia, Suharto.</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mao Zedong]] || align=center|[[People's Republic of China]] || align=center|1949–1976 || <small>Chairman of the PRC (1949 – 1959), Chairman of the [[Communist Party of China]] (1945 – 1976), Chairman of the [[Central Military Commission]] (1936 – 1976). Immense cult of personality; purged members of government; silenced opposition. Circumvented Communist Party hierarchy after the 1966 [[Cultural Revolution]]; imprisoned head of state [[Liu Shaoqi]]. Millions of Chinese citizens killed or murdered as a result of his policies and repression.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ngo Dinh Diem|Ngô Ðình Diệm]] || align=center|[[South Vietnam]] || align=center|1955–1963 || <small>Unelected; autocratic; oppressed Buddhists (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9055646?tocId=9055646&ref=news0905arc]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Park Chung Hee]] || align=center|[[South Korea]] || align=center|1961–1979 || <small>Took power in 1961 coup. Although initially welcomed by much of the population, he suspended the constitution in 1971 and introduced a new constitution that greatly increased his power.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Ne Win]] || align=center|[[Burma]] || align=center|1962–1988 || <small>Seized power in a coup; instituted extreme repression (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:rSAOt9c_lU0J:www.iseas.edu.sg/62003.pdf+%22Ne+Win%22+%22dictator%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:yqkmuBoqlnYJ:www.asiapacificms.com/papers/pdf/burma_india_china.pdf+%22Ne+Win%22+%22dictator%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Thanom Kittikachorn]] || align=center|[[Thailand]] || align=center|1963–1973 || <small>Military dictator, known as one of Thailand's so-called "Three Tyrants". Oppressed student-led uprisings in October 1973 and 1976.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Suharto]] || align=center|[[Indonesia]] || align=center|1967–1998 || <small>His ''[[New Order (Indonesia)|New Order]]'' imprisoned Communists and alleged Communists; repressed Chinese inhabitants; made existing parties subordinate. Also a cleptocrat (with personal and family's assets at least worth US$ 15 billion, based on [[Time]] Magazine investigation in 1998). Described as a dictator in many sources (see[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:Bbh_caM50o4J:www.aut.ac.nz/depts/commstud/journ/docs/reviewscronau.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:128rEIvvRD4J:www.civiced.org/research/pdfs/RisingTide.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:_233mw5azNkJ:cmbc.ucsd.edu/content/1/docs/laurance2004.pdf+%22Suharto+dictatorship%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Lon Nol]] || align=center|[[Cambodia]] || align=center|1972–1975 || <small>Gained power by coup; not elected.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Pol Pot]] || align=center|[[Democratic Kampuchea]] || align=center|1975–1979 || <small>Unelected; led a [[Khmer Rouge]] dictatorship; responsible for deaths of at least 1 million Cambodian citizens during his rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Chun Doo Hwan]] || align=center|[[South Korea]] || align=center|1980–1988 || <small>Gained power in a coup; declared martial law; oversaw [[Gwangju Massacre]].</small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Mahathir bin Mohamad]] ||align=center| [[Malaysia]] ||align=center| 1981-2003 || <small>Authoritarian; suppresed opposition, media.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Khamtai Siphandon]] || align=center|[[Laos]] || align=center|1992–2006 || <small>Unelected; one-party state (see[http://www.arthuredelstein.org/worlddictators]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Than Shwe]] || align=center|[[Myanmar]] || align=center|'''1992–present''' || <small>Unelected; persecution of minorities (especially [[Karenni]] and [[Rohingya]] groups [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51506.htm]) leading 250,000 to flee, either becoming [[IDP]]s or moving across the border to Thailand; consolidated power into himself from the [[SPDC]] - he moved to a new capital in Kyat Pyay in 2006 , &renamed it as Nay Pyi Daw ,i.e the Royal Palace City"; gained power via a military [[coup]] and announced that he would not hand over the power to [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]'s Elected Party (the [[NLD]]); no free press (see [http://www.bbc.co.uk/burmese/forum/story/2004/10/041020_khin_nyunt_ousted.shtml]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Kim Jong-il]] || align=center|[[North Korea]] || align=center|'''1994–present''' || <small>Became General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission (the highest state offices) on his father's death. Continues his father's "[[Juche]]" ideology.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Sonthi Boonyaratglin]] || align=center|[[Thailand]] || align=center|'''2006–present''' || <small>Army chief seized power while Prime Minister [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] was out of the country. A state of martial law was declared, parliament was dissolved and the constitution abrogated. Instituted press censorship and restrictions on protests. The first Muslim in charge of the mostly Buddhist army.</small><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Europe==<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Oliver Cromwell]] || align=center| [[Commonwealth of England]] || align=center| 1653-1658 || <small>A [[Puritan]] general in the [[English Civil War]] who quickly rose through the ranks to become ''de facto'' head of the Parliamentary forces. After the Royalist defeat and the execution of [[Charles I]] the newly constituted [[Rump Parliament]] was overthrown by Cromwell who refused the Crown, choosing instead the title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. After his death the monarchy was reinstated. [http://www.olivercromwell.org/].</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Maximilien Robespierre]] || align=center| [[France]] || align=center| 1793–1794 || <small>Head of the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution. To purge french society of "Counter Revolutionaries", he instituted the heavily repressive Reign of Terror, a period which killed thousands of french citizens, many of those killed were simply killed under mere suspicion, with little or no proof. Desposed when the National Convention declared him an outlaw.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] || align=center| [[France]]|| align=center| 1799–1814 || <small>First Consul, 1799-1804. Emperor of the French 1804-1814. Declared himself "First Consul for Life" in 1802 and then Emperor in 1804.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Józef Chłopicki|Józef Grzegorz Chłopicki]] || align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1830–1831 || <small>Held official title of dictator for one year only.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Napoleon III of France|Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte]] || align=center| [[France]] || align=center| (1848–1851) <br> 1851–1870|| <small>President of France from 1848 to 1852. In 1851 he launched a coup against the legislature, making himself absolute ruler. From 1852 to 1870 he styled himself Emperor of the French under the name Napoléon III from 1852 to 1870. Later during his reign constitutional liberties were gradually restored. In 1870 he was captured during the abortive [[Franco-Prussian War]] and deposed in his absence by the [[Third Republic]] of France.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Romuald Traugutt]] || align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1863–1864 || <small>Held official title of dictator for one year. Succeeded [[Marian Langiewicz]] who had declared himself dictator previously, but only lasted less than a year in 1863. </small><br />
|-<br />
|align=center|[[Nicholas II]] ||align=center| [[Russia]] ||align=center| 1894-1917 || <small>Ruthless, overthrown by the "October Revolution" and the newly established communist government. The last Tsar of Russia.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Vladimir Lenin]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1917-1924 || <small>Head of Bolshevik Revolution took power in 1917. Secured victory in the Russian civil war. Headed effort to transform the Russian economy to a socialist model.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/lenin_vladimir.shtml] </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center|[[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] || align=center|[[Turkey]] || align=center|1918-1938 || <small>Led the Turkish national movement. Transformed Turkey into a secular republic through broad authoritarian reforms.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Benito Mussolini]] || align=center| [[Italy]] || align=center| 1922–1943, and in part of the country 1943-1945 ||<small> Prime Minister of Italy 1922-1943; head of the so-called [[Italian Social Republic]] until 1945. "He introduced strict censorship and altered the methods of election so that in 1925–1926 he was able to assume dictatorial powers and dissolve all other political parties" (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:0PFM13qC39YJ:www.ablongman.com/history_rh_bridge/assets/0321025865_ch15.pdf+%22Italian+dictator+Benito+Mussolini%22],[http://doi.contentdirections.com/mr/greenwood.jsp?doi=10.1336/0275979377]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Miguel Primo de Rivera]] || align=center| [[Spain]] || align=center| 1923–1930 ||<small> Prime Minister of Spain. Gained power in a coup; suspended the constitution; established martial law; imposed strict censorship; banned all political parties. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061388], [http://www.bartleby.com/65/pr/PrimRivM.html], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761565186/Miguel_Primo_de_Rivera.html]). </small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Aleksandar Tsankov]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1923-1926 || <small>Established Right wing nationalist, anti communist coup against [[Stamboliyski]]’s democratic elected [[Agrarians]]. Forced out of power by Tsar [[Boris III]]. [http://www.bartleby.com/65/ts/TsankovA.html]. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Joseph Stalin]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1924–1953 || <small>General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, 1922 - 1953; Premier of the Soviet Union 1941 - 1953. Never elected; cult of personality; heavily repressive; responsible for deaths of millions of Soviet citizens (see [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9108469], [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761559200/Stalin_Joseph.html],[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitextlo/prof_josephstalin.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ahmet Bej Zogu]] || align=center| [[Albania]] || align=center| 1925–1939 || <small>Originally elected Prime Minister of Albania 1922-1924 and 1925; President of Albania 1925-1928; crowned himself King of the Albanians (as Zog I) 1928-1939. Described as a dictator (see[http://www.albanian.com/information/history/independ.html], [http://www.diplom.org/manus/talossa/?lingo=&page=Statute&act=25RZ13], [http://www.electionworld.org/history/albania.htm]). Forced to flee with his wife, Queen Geraldine, the imminent takeover of the country by Italy under [[Benito Mussolini]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[José Mendes Cabeçadas]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926 || <small>Leader of [[Ditadura Nacional]] during the first part of June immediately after the [[28th May 1926 coup d'état]]</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gomes da Costa]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926 || <small>Succeeded Cabeçadas as head of the [[Ditadura Nacional]] for less than a month</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[António Óscar Carmona]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1926-1928 || <small>Head of [[Ditadura Nacional]]</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Józef Piłsudski]]|| align=center| [[Poland]] || align=center| 1926–1935 ||<small> Polish Head of State 1918-1922, but regained power in 1926 via coup. Prime Minister of Poland 1926-1928 and 1930; Commander in Chief of the Army 1926-1935. Initiated authoritarian [[Sanacja]] government; often described as a "benevolent dictator".</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Antanas Smetona]] || align=center| [[Lithuania]] || align=center| 1926–1940 || <small>President of Lithuania. Seized power in a 1925 military coup (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:wEZn53dBGtoJ:www.gla.ac.uk/departments/dcees/Duvold.pdf+Antanas+Smetona+%22dictatorship%22]); authoritarian rule. His description as a dictator is common (see[http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?target=@DOCKEYWORDS%20balthistbio&unkey=balthistbio&clientIp=216%2E63%2E197%2E211&userAgent=Mozilla%2F4%2E0+%28compatible%3B+MSIE+6%2E0%3B+Windows+NT+5%2E1%3B+SV1%3B+%2ENET+CLR+1%2E1%2E4322%29]), but not universal.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1928–1968 || <small>Prime Minister of Portugal. Established an anti-democratic, anti-parliamentarian, ultra-[[Clericalism|clericalist]], [[Corporativism|corporativist]], extremely conservative, repressive and authoritarian dictatorship, connoted with the Italian fascism, highly supported by the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Longest right-wing dictatorship ever (four complete decades).</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander I]] || align=center| [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1929-1934 || <small>King of Yugoslavia from 1921. On January 6, 1929 he abolished the constitution, prorogued parliament and established the so-called "January 6 Dictatorship." A new constitution in 1931 left all significant political power in the hands of the King.<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Engelbert Dollfuss]] || align=center| [[Austria]] || align=center| 1933–1934 || <small>Chancellor of Austria 1932-1934. Suspended parliament indefinitely in March 1933, governing thereafter by decree. Rule sometimes compared to Mussolini or Franco (see [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:PUVNNLui6y4J:www3.la.psu.edu/hrsweb/majmin/Theses/Houlihan/Thesis.pdf+%22dictator%22+%22Dollfuss%22]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Konstantin Päts]] || align=center| [[Estonia]] || align=center| 1933–1940 || <small>State Elder 1933 - 1937; State Protector 1937 - 1938; President of Estonia 1938-1940. Established authoritarian rule following a coup. Allowed (and won) election in 1938.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Adolf Hitler]] || align=center| [[Nazi Germany]] || align=center| 1933–1945 || <small>Chancellor of Germany 1933-1945; ''Führer'' (Leader) 1934-1945. The 1933 [[Enabling Act]] suspended most of the constitution and allowed Hitler to [[rule by decree]]. Heavily repressive; ordered imprisonment of millions of political opponents and members of ethnic minorities in concentration camps, where they were abused and killed.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Kimon Georgiev]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1934 || <small>Took power in coup. Overthrown by Tsar Boris III. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| Tsar [[Boris III]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1934-1943 || <small> Overthrew Kimon Geogiev. Took power him self ruled through puppet Prime Ministers Georgi Kyoseivanov. His Regime banned all opposition parties. Took Bulgaria into alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Kurt Schuschnigg]] || align=center| [[Austria]] || align=center| 1934–1938 || <small>Chancellor of Austria. Maintained his predecessor Dollfuss' oppressive rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Karlis Ulmanis|Kārlis Ulmanis]] || align=center| [[Latvia]] || align=center| 1934–1940 || <small>Prime Minister of Latvia 1934-1940; President of Latvia 1936 - 1940. Gained power in a coup and dissolved parliament; generally viewed as a "benevolent dictator" (see [http://www.ltn.lv/~krz/latvia/lat_history.html], [http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/karlis_ulmanis], [http://www.bartleby.com/65/la/Latvia.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ioannis Metaxas]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1936–1941 ||<small> Prime Minister of Greece. Never elected; banned political parties; arrested opponents; criminalized unions; censored media. Widely described as a dictator (see[http://www.bartleby.com/65/pa/PapandrG.html], [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052304], [http://www.ahistoryofgreece.com/biography/metaxas.htm]). </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Francisco Franco]] || align=center| [[Spain]] || align=center| 1936–1975 || <small>Prime Minister of Spain 1938-1975 and Head of State 1939 - 1975 (in the Nationalist Zone, both only to 1939). Purged opposition; often referred to as a dictator or ''caudillo'' (see[http://www.policyreview.org/jun03/diamond.html], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:B1Mmefo38twJ:www.personal.psu.edu/mlb300/spainsocprob.pdf+%22dictator+Francisco+Franco%22],[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:NsfbKjiVUowJ:www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/POSC/faculty/montero/Spain%2520Paper%25201.pdf+%22dictator+Francisco+Franco%22], [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=active&q=cache:9ZzXaMENcm8J:www.artcult.org/cst/spain_prepack_participants.pdf+%22Francisco+Franco%22+%22dictatorship%22]). Strongly supported by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] worldwide.</small><br />
<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Jozef Tiso]] || align=center| [[Slovakia]] || align=center| 1939–1945 || <small>President of [[Slovak Republic (1939-1945)|WWII Slovak Republic]]. Led a partly Roman Catholic clerical, partly pro-Nazi, one-party state. Described by some as a dictator (see [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/3578_52.asp], [http://dominican-republic.asinah.net/en/wikipedia/j/jo/jozef_tiso.html], [http://www.ce-review.org/00/19/vaknin19.html]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ion Antonescu]] || align=center| [[Romania]] || align=center| 1940–1944 || <small>Prime Minister of Romania. Two days after his appointment, forced King Carol II (see above) to abdicate in favor of his son, Mihai. Named himself ''Conducător'' (Leader), assumed dictatorial powers and relegated monarchy to decorative role.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Philippe Pétain]] || align=center| [[Vichy France]] || align=center| 1940–1944 ||<small> Prime Minister of France 1940 - 1942; Head of State 1940 - 1944. The ''Assemblée Nationale'' of Vichy France suspended the [[Third Republic]] and granted Pétain dictatorial power, although ultimately he was answerable to the German Nazi hierarchy.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ante Pavelic|Ante Pavelić]] || align=center| [[Croatia]] || align=center| 1941–1945 ||<small>''Poglavnik'' ("Leader") of Croatia. Not elected; ordered massacres of Serbs, Jews, Gypsies and dissidents; hundreds of thousands slaughtered; led the genocial, devoutly Roman Catholic Ustase (see [http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/tyrants.htm], [http://www.cuttingedge.org/articles/RC130.html], [http://emperors-clothes.com/vatican/cpix.htm]). Supported by most, if not all, of the Roman Catholic church in Croatia.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Vidkun Quisling]] || align=center| [[Norway]]|| align=center| 1942–1945 || <small>Minister President of Norway between 1942-1945, and founder of the fascist "National Unity" party . Traitor to his country. Executed by firing squad. Described as being the Hitler of Norway.</small> <br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Ferenc Szálasi]]<br>(Szálasi Ferenc) || align=center| [[Hungary]] || align=center| 1944–1945 || <small>Leader of the [[fascist]] [[Arrow Cross]] party, Szálasi was installed as a fascist ruler by the [[Nazis]] following their overthrow of [[regent]] [[Miklós Horthy]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Josip Broz Tito]] || align=center| [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1944–1980 || <small>Secretary-General of the Yugoslav Communist Party 1937 - 1963; Prime Minister of Yugoslavia 1945–1953; Premier of Yugoslavia 1953 - 1963; President of Yugoslavia 1953 - 1980; President of the ''Presidium of the League of Communists'' from 1963 until 1980. Declared himself [[President for Life]] in 1963. Viewed favorably in Yugoslavia despite authoritarian rule.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Enver Hoxha]] || align=center| [[Albania]] || align=center| 1944-1985||<small> General Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour. Leader of single-party Communist state; extensive personality cult; Declared his nation to be the world's only officially atheist state and banned all practice of religion in 1967.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Mátyás Rákosi]] || align=center| [[Hungary]] || align=center| 1949-1953||<small> General Secretary of the [[Hungarian Workers Party]] and Prime Minister of the [[Hungarian People's Republic]]. Leader of single-party Communist state; nicknamed "Stalin's best Hungarian disciple"; Invented the phrase "[[salami tactics]]" to describe piecemeal assumption of power.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Nikita Khrushchev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1953-1964 || <small> First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1953-1964. Allowed limited liberalisation in the arts and media later on. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Todor Zhivkov]] || align=center| [[Bulgaria]] || align=center| 1956-1989 || <small>Head of pro soviet communist regimen in Bulgaria. Became party secretary in 1956 and prime minister in 1962. Forced out of power in 1989 by communist party to comply with demands of protesters.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Antonín Novotný]] || align=center| [[Czechoslovakia]] || align=center| 1957-1968 || <small>Antonín Novotný, the First Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, was leader of Czechoslovakia during the Stalinisation of the country, resulting in the replacement of the Czechoslovakian democracy by a one-party communist state. His dictatorship centralized power and used force to protect his regime which lasted fifteen years.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Walter Ulbricht]] || align=center| [[German Democratic Republic]] || align=center| 1950/1960-1971 || <small>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany 1950-1971 and Head of State 1960-1973.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Leonid Brezhnev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1964–1982 || <small>First/General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964-1982. Formed a [[cult of Personality]] later on.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]] || align=center| [[Romania]] || align=center| 1965–1989 ||<small> General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, 1965-1989; President of Romania, 1974-1989. Leader of single-party Communist state; extensive personality cult developed during the 1970s. Lived lavish lifestyle while country was still using donkey carts.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[George Papadopoulos]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1967–1973 || <small>Prime Minister of Greece 1967 - 1973; Regent 1972 - 1973; President of Greece 1973. Gained power in a coup; lead military regime. Widely described as a dictator (see [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0778782.html], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/379334.stm], [http://www.hellas.net]).</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Marcelo Caetano]] || align=center| [[Portugal]] || align=center| 1968–1974 || <small>Prime Minister of Portugal 1968 - 1974; Upon the death of [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] he continued the dictatorial regime. Some liberties were improved but the situation of the country and the [[Portuguese Colonial War|colonial wars]] lead to the [[Carnation Revolution]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Gustáv Husák]] || align=center| [[Czechoslovakia]] || align=center| 1969-1987 || <small>Came into power through soviets, Crushed the Prague spring. Headed brutal secret police stepped down from power in 1987 two years before communism fell. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Erich Honecker]] || align=center| [[German Democratic Republic]] || align=center| 1971-1989 || <small>General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany 1971-1989 and Head of State 1976-1989.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Phaedon Gizikis]] || align=center| [[Greece]] || align=center| 1973-1974 || <small>President of Greece 1973-1974. Gained power in coup. Lead millitary regime installed by previous head of state.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]] || align=center|[[Poland]] || align=center|1961-1990 ||<small> Imposed martial law in Poland in 1981 in response to Solidarity party led strikes. Made himself head of the "Commission for National Salvation." Stated his actions were taken in order to prevent a Soviet invasion of Poland. Was President of Poland until his resignation in 1990. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Yuri Andropov]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1982-1984 || <small>General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1982-1984. Early signs of [[Perestroika]] and [[Glasnost]].</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Konstantin Chernenko]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1984-1985 || <small> General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1984-1985. Ailing stop-gap leader. </small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] || align=center| [[Soviet Union]] || align=center| 1985-1991 || <small> General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed and the CPSU was banned. Oversaw democratisation in the Soviet Union, but was never directly elected as leader.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Slobodan Milošević]] || align=center| [[Serbia]], [[Yugoslavia]] || align=center| 1989-1997, 1997-2000 || <small>In 1984 he became the head of the local Communist party in Belgrade and adopted a populist style, the party's leader. He successfully took over as head of the Serbian Communist party in 1987. He challenged the federal government, championed Serbian control of the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, and advocated stridently socialist economic policy. By 1988, he had replaced party leaders in Kosovo and Vojvodina, and in 1989 he became president of Serbia. However, in September 1990, a new democratic constitution was passed allowing direct, multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections. Milosevic was elected president of Serbia for the first time in December 1990, although allegations persist of electoral fraud during the Milosevic years.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Alexander Lukashenko]] || align=center| [[Belarus]] || align=center| '''1994-present''' || <small> President of Belarus. Said to have an "authoritarian ruling style". Lack of democratic standards. Human rights violations. Referred to as "Europe's last dictatorship."</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Oceania==<br />
{|class="wikitable" <br />
|-<br />
! Name !! Country !! Years<br>in&nbsp;power !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Sitiveni Rabuka]] || align=center|[[Fiji]] || align=center|1987–1992 ||<small> Twice gained power through coup, allowed elections in 1992, which he won.</small><br />
|-<br />
| align=center| [[Frank Bainimarama]] || align=center|[[Fiji]] || align=center|'''2006-present''' ||<small>Launched a coup d'etat in December 2006 after weeks of threats against the elected government.</small><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Constitutional crisis]]<br />
* [[Cult of personality]]<br />
* [[List of political leaders who held active military ranks in office]]<br />
* [[List of political leaders who suspended the constitution]]<br />
* [[List of successful coups d'état]]<br />
* [[President for Life]]<br />
* [[Single-party state]]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://www.thedictatorship.com The Dictatorship]<br />
*[http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Dictators_and_Non-Democratic_Governments Dictators and Non-Democratic Governments]<br />
*[http://www.lkwdpl.org/schools/horacemann/dictators/ Modern dictators and Human Rights Violations]<br />
*[http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Oppressive_Regimes Oppressive Regimes]<br />
*[http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_01-22-2006/Dictators The World’s 10 Worst Dictators]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Lists|dictators]][[Category:Totalitarianism]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:India&diff=984677Talk:India2012-06-06T12:12:21Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>The article states that Christianity reached India in the 2nd century through the travels of the Apostle Thomas. At face value, this statement must be incorrect as Thomas would have been dead by then. [[User:Learn together|Learn together]] 11:36, 7 September 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
==Content==<br />
Oppp, what needs to be done with regards to this article is ''expansion'', not ''contraction'', and certainly not removing content from this page just to make another page without even expanding on that. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 08:27, 4 November 2007 (EST)<br />
<br />
==Illiteracy==<br />
<br />
India has about 74%+ Literacy now :-<br />
<br />
http://www.ilpnet.org/Literacy2011census<br />
<br />
So the question is that will we remove 'illiteracy' word from the introduction para? [[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:12, 6 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Bashar_al-Assad&diff=984676Talk:Bashar al-Assad2012-06-06T12:08:55Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>==First Paragraph==<br />
<br />
Can we put 'rebels' instead of protestors?<br />
<br />
Number was 5,000 then, but now the number is above 12,000. [[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:08, 6 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Bashar_al-Assad&diff=984675Talk:Bashar al-Assad2012-06-06T12:08:31Z<p>Regular: /* First Paragraph */</p>
<hr />
<div>==First Paragraph==<br />
<br />
Can we put 'rebels' instead of protestors?<br />
<br />
Number was 5,000 then, but now the number is above 12,000.[[User:Regular|Regular]] 08:08, 6 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:Bashar_al-Assad&diff=984674Talk:Bashar al-Assad2012-06-06T12:08:12Z<p>Regular: Created page with "==First Paragraph== Can we put 'rebels' instead of protestors? Number was 5,000 then, but now the number is above 12,000."</p>
<hr />
<div>==First Paragraph==<br />
<br />
Can we put 'rebels' instead of protestors?<br />
<br />
Number was 5,000 then, but now the number is above 12,000.</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Muammar_al-Gaddafi&diff=984673Muammar al-Gaddafi2012-06-06T12:05:48Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi in Dimashq.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Leader and Guide of the 1969 Revolution."]]<br />
Colonel '''Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: معمر القذافي, b. 1942 - d. October 20, 2011) was the Head of State of [[Libya]], a [[socialist]] and [[leader]] until the 2011 Libyan civil war. He rose to power through a coup that he led in 1969, and he ruled Libya for more than forty years ending with his capture and death. Once he became the leader of Libya, he renamed all the months in the calendar and published the Green Book, which was a series of pamphlets on democracy, economics, and sociology. <br />
<br />
In the 1970s, Gaddafi attempted to assume the leadership of a pan-Arabic movement, a position left open by the death of President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] of [[Egypt]]; however, other Arab nations mostly ignored him. He attempted to extend his influence in Africa by supporting [[Uganda]]'s [[Idi Amin]] in the [[Uganda-Tanzania War]] with military aid and equipment, including [[Tupolev Tu-22|Tu-22]] jet bombers. In the 1980s, Gaddafi became a sponsor of [[terrorism]] and President [[Ronald Reagan]] ordered a retaliatory bombing of his palace and key Libyan targets (Operation El Dorado Canyon). (In August 2003, Libya agreed to pay $2.7 billion to families of the 270 killed on board flight 103, when it blew up in December 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Just six months after the settlement, Qaddafi was visited by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Tripoli.) <ref> [http://www.nndb.com/people/641/000026563/ Muammar Qaddafi.] </ref><br />
<br />
In the 1990s, Gaddafi changed course and severed all ties with terrorism to normalize relations with the West. In 2006, the "decision of the US to restore full diplomatic relations with Libya marks the crowning success of his efforts to have his country accepted back into the international community." <ref> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3336059.stm</ref> [[Condoleezza Rice]] praised Libya for its "excellent co-operation" in the US-led war on terror. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4773617.stm] (BBC News).</ref> Full diplomatic relations with the United States were restored in 2006, and the Gaddafi regime's turnaround has been heralded by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a model for others to follow. <br />
<br />
Gaddafi was a lifelong enemy of [[Israel]] and under his reign Israel was not recognized by Libya. He also expelled Palestinian Arabs from Libya.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/05/world/libya-s-leader-urges-other-arab-countries-to-expel-palestinians.html</ref><br />
<br />
[[Nobel Peace Prize]] recipient [[Nelson Mandela]] speaking of the values he shares with Gaddafi, said,<br />
{{Cquote|In a world where the strong may seek to impose upon the more vulnerable; and where particular nations or groups of nations may still seek to decide the fate of the planet - in such a world respect for multilateralism, moderation of public discourse and a patient search for compromise become even more imperative to save the world from debilitating conflict and enduring inequality. When we dismissed criticism of our friendship with yourself, My Brother Leader, and of the relationship between South Africa and Libya, it was precisely in defence of those values.<ref>http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656?oid=222537&sn=Detail</ref>}}<br />
<br />
The Libyan people thrived under his leadership. A delegation of medical professionals from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus wrote in an appeal "Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin that after becoming acquainted with Libyan life, it was their view that in few nations did people live in such comfort". <br />
[[File:Gaddafi and Mandela 1.JPG|thumb|300px|Nobel Peace Prize winner [[Nelson Mandela]] greets an old friend and ally, Muammar Gaddafi.]]<br />
[[File:Schoolboys chant pro-Gaddafi slogans Reuters.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Schoolboys chant pro-Gaddafi slogans, Photograph: Reuters.]]<br />
{{Clear}}<br />
{{Cquote|<br />
China is a different kind of competitor. It is a rising economic power and America is unable to stop it. It has an unprecedented human wealth. In addition, it is a nuclear-weapon state and a permanent member of the Security Council. Everywhere in the world, China is making economic, human and political inroads. Unlike America which unwisely has chosen the harsh military approach, China is making those inroads using soft power. America continues its brazen interference in the internal affairs of states in the name of democracy and human rights. Africom is a case in point. Such interference is no longer acceptable. America itself is condemned in the field of human rights. It makes a habit of taking losers as allies... America is aware of the danger China poses. [http://www.algathafi.org/html-english/cat_1_11.htm China..America..The inevitable Confrontation.]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*[[Libyan uprising 2011]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.nndb.com/people/641/000026563/ Muammar Qaddafi.]<br />
*[http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/dictators/muammar-qaddafi/ Muammar Qaddafi.]<br />
*[http://www.algathafi.org/html-english/index.htm Official web site.]<br />
*[http://israelstreams.com/?israelinsider.html?http://israelinsider.com/Articles1/Diplomacy/4062.htm Gadhafi ready to compensate Jews who fled Libya.] Israel Insider.<br />
*[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142593 Qaddafi is Jewish and I'm His Cousin.]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
<references/><br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Al-Gadafi, Muammar}}<br />
[[Category:Libya]]<br />
[[Category:Africa]]<br />
[[Category:Muslims]]</div>Regularhttps://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Talk:List_of_dictators&diff=984670Talk:List of dictators2012-06-06T11:52:54Z<p>Regular: </p>
<hr />
<div>How far back are we going here? [[User:Maestro|Maestro]] 10:34, 12 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
----<br />
OldRight, Can you give us some background on the dispute in WP, that may be of interest elesewhere. Thanks. [[User:RobS|RobS]] 10:40, 12 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Absolute Monarch vs. Dictator ==<br />
Often confused, an absolute (non constitutional) monarch with right of ascension is distinct form a dictator, even if they behave dictatorially. All of the country, people and property, and all the laws are subjects of the monarch who may change them. Such a monarch may be ambivalent, aggressive, abusive, passive, kind, cruel, have secret police, etc, but if they are a a monarch with hereditary ascension rights, they are not a dictator. Note, much of the list, with 2-3 errors, or instance where someone has declared themselves king, refers to presidents, party secretaries, generals, prime ministers, shoguns, chancellors, etc. <br />
<br />
It would be good to have a list of "kings behaving badly" that is distinct from dictators. <br />
<br />
Also note, historically, rule by dictat had time limits, if not limited to life of the individual.<br />
<br />
Please maintain the list accordingly.<br />
<br />
: Technically I think you are right but normal users understand better in a simple way. --[[User:Joaquín Martínez|Joaquín Martínez]] 00:20, 6 January 2011 (EST)<br />
<br />
== Bush ==<br />
<br />
George W. Bush satisfies all these five criteria.<br />
<br />
* is an absolute ruler of a sovereign state;<br />
**Bush can do anything he wants, thanks to the PATRIOT Act and his veto<br />
* governs outside the otherwise accepted rule of law;<br />
**Guantánamo Bay (locking up unconvicted alleged "terrorists" and torturing them because the area doesn't legally belong to the US and thus the basic human rights don't apply there)<br />
* commonly (but not necessarily) gained power through fraud or a coup d'état, or resorts to them to stay in power;<br />
**The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2000|2000 elections] clearly weren't fair...<br />
* may develop a cult of personality;<br />
**[http://www.alarmingnews.com/archives/Bush%20love%202.jpg][http://www.willisms.com/archives/bushingeorgia.gif]<br />
* may be autocratic, oppressive, despotic or tyrannical.<br />
**He was tyrannical/oppressive when invading and conquering Iraq.[http://www.bushflash.com/occupied.html][http://www.bushflash.com/antiwar2.html]<br />
<br />
Also see [http://www.bushflash.com/14.html] for more proof.<br />
<br />
[[User:Liberalism|Liberalism]] 16:13, 17 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
::Are you serious? Or are you a parodist? [[User:Bohdan|Bohdan]] 16:59, 17 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:<small>''The following message moved from my talk page. &mdash; [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]]''</small><br />
What's wrong with [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=List_of_dictators&diff=235708&oldid=228274 this] entry? I explained my reasons on the [[Talk:List of dictators|talk page]]. [[User:Liberalism|Liberalism]] 16:26, 17 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:President Bush is not a dictator; this is merely your attempt to denigrate him. Your reasons above don't stand up to scrutiny. For example, I don't believe for one moment that President Bush is not subject to the decisions of the Supreme Court, so he can't do "anything he wants", and besides, the power of veto allows him to ''stop'' legislation he disagrees with, not to ''pass'' legislation to do "anything he wants". [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 19:12, 17 July 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Dates ==<br />
<br />
Since this is protected, can someone please dewikilink the dates? I know from the [[Special:Wantedpages|wantedpages]] that there's at least a 2004 wikilinked. (I also saw a 1982). Thanks. [[User:Jazzman831|Jazzman831]] 22:19, 14 August 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
*LOL! You know, I actually started to do it, but then realized it is so complicated, that I would really screw it up royally! Please, please do it....--<font color="#0002AC" face="Comic Sans MS">[[User:TK|şŷŝôρ-₮K]]</font><sup><font color="OOFFAA">[[User_Talk:TK|Ṣρёаќǃ]]</font></sup> 22:29, 14 August 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
:Can do! (Ctrl+F is my friend!) [[User:Jazzman831|Jazzman831]] 22:31, 14 August 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
::Ok done (I think). Dunno if it still needs protected, since the person involved with the edit war is now blocked. But it's not up to me... [[User:Jazzman831|Jazzman831]] 22:44, 14 August 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
*Yeah, but if left open, I will wake up tomorrow and see Bush and the Pope there. Thank you so very much, Jazzman! --<font color="#0002AC" face="Comic Sans MS">[[User:TK|şŷŝôρ-₮K]]</font><sup><font color="OOFFAA">[[User_Talk:TK|Ṣρёаќǃ]]</font></sup> 22:50, 14 August 2007 (EDT)<br />
<br />
== Some more names ==<br />
<br />
Very nice list first of all, Second thing, i think a few names in this list have been missed, from Ibn Saud to King Abdullah, all dictators of Saudi Arabia should be added here.<br />
<br />
Although i don't think so about King Faisal who was ruler from 1964 - 1975, as he was 'anti communist', :-<br />
<br />
http://blog.nixonfoundation.org/2010/06/thirty-six-years-ago-rn-meets-king-faisal/<br />
<br />
But every other name should be added. [[User:Regular|Regular]] 07:52, 6 June 2012 (EDT)</div>Regular