This is all old hat for anyone who reads or has read Chomsky.

Per Noam Chomsky, it is a very very simple formula:

+ Those that do our bidding are beyond rapproach and are referred to as "friends" and will always be spoken of fondly.

+ Those who are disobedient, disrespectful, or express any independence of thought or will or departure from our will are "evil," or "madmen," "dictator", "genocidal", etc.

The most important rule is that the PR treatment of the leaders has exactly NOTHING to do with their behavior in office with their own people, or anything else.

The ONLY behavior that is of any interest is -- have they agreed to kiss the ring or not?

ALL the empirical evidence supports this theory 100%. One can see it most clearly in cases where a once-obedient and pliable leader becomes a bit unpredictable.

One case is Saddam Hussein. Why was he killed, and his authority stripped? Very simple. He misunderstood instructions from our State Department under Baker under BUSH 41 as a green light to reclaim areas of Kuwait that are disputed with Iraq. He paid the ultimate price for that misunderstanding, losing everything and most importantly his sons. His mistake made him unpredictable on some level. And, because he sits on so much oil and can disrupt the market, even a slight unpredictability was grounds for assassination.

Another interesting case is Russia. Yeltsin followed orders from Washington without question or protest. But, Yeltsin was a nincompoop and was correctly despised in Russia as an incompetent drunk. Putin is loved in Russia and admired and has been great for Russia. But, he has dared to cut his own path. For that "Crime," he is demonized by our press, including Mr Brauchli above.

Couldn't Putin's arrest of Kasparov and gang just be called regular law enforcement -- enforcing the law on the books? Yes. Sure sounds like it.

Wishiwereinagreenstate; Milosevich didn't play the game with the cabal of international bankers and imperialists who love destroying countries, privatizing everything, and promoting ethnic, racial or political hatred within a country, causing a civil war. Propaganda works! May I suggest you read Dr. Parent's book, "TO KILL A NATION", and consider the 'mass graves and ethnic cleansing' 'reporting' from another perspective on the former Yugoslavia.

As long as the general population prefers ignorance over knowledge, the 'ruling class' wins and people are slaughtered for no reason at all, whether on the battlefield or since WW2 and ever since, in civillian populated areas.

Until We The People, 'green state, red state, and any other phony color state' unite, in the streets, withholding our labor and services, the status quo will not only remain the same, it will turn against us, the citizens, as it has all along in our nation's history, but more so in this administration.

Ignorance is not bliss, it is unforgivable!

Bernice; I saw the film and not only was it an accurate description of the chain of events in Venezuela, the documentary is an inspiration to all that value liberty and democracy and think nothing can be done.
I hope folks follow your advice and see the film.

I think I'll enjoy a Guiness Stout with my lunch.

GENEO; I'm with you.

JUST A BUNCH OF SHEEP WE ARE. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO REVOLT AND RID OF THE NATION OF THESE LYING FATHER LESS PEOPLE?

Whether they are the dictators of Pakistan, the Congo, Saudi Arabia ect. or the dictators of Cuba, Venezuala, Russia, Bolivia, or Belarus, the days of supporting dictators should be over.

Would Bush be able to get away with so many crimes if it weren't for Democrats?

No. They are in it together, can't you people understand?

The Bush administration has been conducting a war of disinformation and interference with Venezuela's elections and politics since 2001. State Department money to support this "work" is funneled through the international arm of the Republican Party, whose chair, interestingly enough, is John McCain.

As in Iraq, it IS about oil. But it is also about clinging to market fundamentalism and institutionalized preferential treatment for corporate interests rather than those of ordinary people. Chavez is, in my opinion, helping Latin America develop a new way forward. (He has, among other actions, told the IMF and the World Bank to get lost, since the conditions placed on their loans cause more harm than good. Other countries will surely follow.)

The 2002 Irish documentary film, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," details the first U.S. attempt to depose Chavez. Those carrying out the coup were Venezuela's monetary elite. They kidnapped Chavez, appointed a business executive as president, suspended the constitution and dissolved the government. The people of Venezuela took their country back and restored Chavez to the presidency within a couple of days. A truly inspiring act.

See www.irc-online.org, www.cepr.org (Mark Weisbrot's columns), www.venezuelanalysis, and www.handsoffvenezuela.org for tons of information on the later failed attempts. Chavez fears that he is a possible target for assassination. So do I.

Maybe Putinism was coming all along because of Russia's long authoritarian tradition, but we have sped it too. Immediately after 1991 doctrinaire Western economists helped turn Russia's difficult situation into a catastrophe. Clinton humiliated Russia by advancing NATO's front line from West Germany to the borders of Belarus and Ukraine when there was no threat to Poland or other former Warsaw Pact countries. Who in this country objected to expanding our strategic commitments? Bush withdrew from the strategic arms treaty banning anti-missile systems. Don't expect our patriotic, government-guided media to point out any of this.

Peaceman, Milosevich "a target"? Did I catch that correctly?

I would hope mass graves and ethnic cleansing would make one a "target" for labelling as a war criminal.

I only wish U.S. elected war criminals would be similarly and accurately labelled.

Frank1569; Funny! We need a good laugh once in awhile. Thanks!

"Impeach the Turds of War!"

-Mr. Hanky

I agree with you all, regarding Chavez, Morales, and Putin. Hugo and Evo have initiated many progressive programs for the people which has never been done before. I look up to these men as great national and world leaders. And they are recognized abroad as well. As for Putin, look what he inherited from the Yeltzin band of plunderers? I stand by my admiration of him. With the Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Pearl crowd in DC, what are the Russians to do? Putin is nobody's fool and knows darn well what he is up against and is re-arming his military to counter our threat. And the sleeping giant will back him up if "push comes to shove" as they are neighboring countries and trading partners.

Several months ago on Common Dreams, there was a heated discussion about WW2, and we were pointing fingers at one another, which is standard operating procedure for liberals such as myself. The Red Army crushed the German military ( at a terrible cost to the Soviet Union) and shortly after the surrender, the US turned against the Russians (our allies). Dufus W wants to install missles in Eastern Europe? What would you folks do if you were Vladimir?

And super-democratic Saudi Arabia is our "eternal friend," especially with the Friday public beheadings, which the Loonitary Decider will devote a whole wing to at his forthcoming "Freedumb Ins'a'toot."

Freedumb's happening!

How dare Chavez help his poor? Doesn't he know that he can only help the poor by giving it all to the rich so it will trickle down to the poor? Doesn't he realize that he is destroying Venezuela's economy by giving oil revenues to Venezuelans, to their small businesses, healthcare for all, for pensions for the elderly and disabled, for food and education instead of for Big Business, Mansions, private jets and mega yachts for billionaire oilmen and Wall Street gamblers? Who does he think he is, Jesus Christ?

Also Hugo Chavez is a genuine democratic leader which is the reason the USA is at war him. Much the same is true of the Russian president. He wasn't the one who used tanks against the parliament in Moscow. No, that was Boris Yeltsin, the Western, and especially the US big business favorite.

Get real! The USA since way back in the Cold War was carrying on a "war on democracy" as John Pilger, the best journalist writing for the British press points out in his documentary by that same name and which to my knowledge hasn't gained entrance to the USA yet, and is likely not to as long as the neo cons have control of this country's policy on such things.

RichM; Thank you for the correction. I was listening to a show on the radio as I typed my post and I don't know what I was thinking about. Besides my copy of "To Kill A Nation" I purchased one for a friend of mine who finally began reading it and cannot put it down. This gentleman is well informed on European history and was quite surprised on what he didn't know about Yugoslavia and our involvement in that nation's affairs. Parenti digs deep for his research.

About four years ago, Michael Parenti was in Santa Cruz, California, and I attended his lecture. He has been one of my heros for many years and an inspiration. He knows the score.

Chavez has done much to help the poor since he's been in office, and Morales seems to be on the right path in Bolivia. Don't forget, Rich, both Presidents are constantly being attacked by the right wing, who, as you know so well, want everything for themselves. We on the left can't seem to unite, but the right stays together in spite of internal differences. A classical example was The Spanish Civil War.

Regarding Putin, I think he has restored dignity among the Russian people and a sense of national pride, after the privatization years of Yeltzin. He is popular with the average person and slowly calculates his moves domestically as well as internationally. Could it be hyperbole or has his internal policies increased the standard of living for working stiffs?

You are correct pertaining to the "not taking orders from Washington" and the natural resources US corporations want. Another reason why the bully has to be humbled.

Peace and Harmony to you.

A good essay, except for the tacit adoption of the right wing's talking point about Hugo Chavez. While far from perfect, Chavez is even further from being a "despot." Unlike our President, he was actually chosen by the people in a free, fair election.

The reference to Chavez as a fellow despot to Putin, Bush etc., seems inappropriate without clarification as to what Brauchli means by the appellation.

RichM,Powerbook, ezflyer and Ronald White
Who's to label a despot? Let's leave to the people of Venezuela, and members of the Bolivarian alliance that is developing, how they want to manage their affairs. Those who call names, like "despot" should look in the mirror, and note that they who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

To ezeflyer : How long would Castro and the Cuban Revolucion last if he didn't ? If,If,If ... The reality is he did and the revolucions are still there and there may be more . I'm no so much a fortune-teller to predict the reaction of a foreign population to a benign series of American presidents.Mosty important ,it's really none of my business.

How long would Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution last if he didn't?

The New Yorker magazine on Oct 1 2007 had a beautiful article on that gutsy courageous and smart Gary Kasparov written by David Remnick. I have been following the Russians incarcaration of Garry-

I recommend that tomorrow Sunday you watch "Csar Putin" a one hour documentary called "CNN Investigates" and I really learned a lot about todays Russia which has some similarityes with China and the US- certain large groups of people in these countries as well as the US want nothing from politics and are basically only interested in making money.

It is important for me to know that some people are exceptional and not juste after money and Garry Kasparov is right up there!!!

To Chavez' admirers: your logic seems to be something like "whatever the Bush administration demonizes must automatically be good, and whatever it praises must automatically be evil." Damn, I wish I could be as intelligent as you guys! Such depth of analysis is way over my head!

You never hear Bush praise any of our Presidents or esteemed statemen. What does he do on Memorial Day but shut the gate to Kennedy's tomb so noone can deliver flowers. He's a piece of work, but look to the genes he's inherited. We've had a string of thieving, lying, traitorous govermental leaders for the past several years going back as far as Nixon, so who does Bush have to look up to. And consider his heritage as the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

quote from above: "In response to criticism from Condoleezza Rice about the imposition of martial law before elections scheduled in January Mr. Musharraf said that martial law was the best way to insure free and fair elections."

Coming to a news outlet near you sometime in October, 2008:

"In response to criticism from Mr. Chavez about the imposition of martial law, suspension of elections, and imposition of themselves as permanent rulers, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney assured the american people that these actions were necessary to ensure the continuation of the greatest country on the face of the earth. 'Trust us,' they said. 'We really do know what's best for you.'

The american sheeple saluted and bowed on their knees to their kind and benevolent rulers."

You've got it, SHANTI....and the bottom of the "rabbit hole" is the bottom line of the SUPER BANKERS/NATIONAL ECONOMY RAPERS, starting with the Federal Reserve and probably culminating with the ROTHCHILDS.

Another of my favorite William Blum quotes: "No matter how paranoid or conspiracy-minded you are, what the government is actually doing is worse than you imagine."

peaceman -- I agree that the Michael Parenti book about Yugoslavia is top-notch. (It's titled "To Kill a Nation.")

Putin, Morales & Chavez are being demonized, all right, but it's not really because they have social programs for the "common people." (Putin doesn't even have that.) It's mainly because they don't take orders from Washington -- and their countries have valuable resources that US corporations want to get their paws on.

Musharraf didn't simply suspend the Constitution, he re-wrote it.
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0907-01.htm

"Among the 29 amendments he adopted was one that allowing him to make further amendments any time he feels like it. In addition, he gave himself the power to dissolve the elected Parliament "

Bush accomplishes nearly the same thing by believing himself a unitary executive. Alito helped develop what an AEI scholar (apparently their token radical left wing fringe liberal) calls the "dubious" theory.

Edward1793; SHANTI; Starofthesea; Thank you all for saying it better than I would say it.

Mermaid, The blessed Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States" seperates fact from fiction and is a masterpiece of honest historical perspective.

Many will disagree, but I'm betting on Putin. He rembers the 90's when the new generation of carpetbaggers and privatizers came in to take what little the people had. He is being demonized along with Chavez and Morales, and anyone who has social programs for the 'common people'. Milosevich was also a target. Read Michael Parenti's "Death of a Nation".

Well said, my fellow Dreamers!

Nice citation from William Blum.

Yep, Bush is envious of Musharraf. He wishes he could suspend the constitution one day and jail the "liberal" media people the next, and beat up all the folks that are against his wars and militarism.

"That's what I'd do on my first three days in the White House. On the fourth day, I'd be assassinated."

Such is the fate of all saviors.

A good reference is the book:

"Killing Hope - US military and CIA Interventions Since World War II" by William Blum

My favorite, from another work - and later used by Bin Laden:

"If I were the president, I could stop terrorist attacks
against the United Stated in a few days. Permanently. I would first apologize- very publicly and very sincerely- to all the widows and orphans, the impoverished and the tortured, and all the many millions of other victims of American imperialism. Then I would announce to every corner of the world that America's global military interventions have come to an end. I would then inform Israel the it is no longer the 51st state of the union but - oddly enough - a foreign country. Then I would reduce the military budget by at least 90% and use the savings to pay reparations to the victims and repair the damage from the many American bombings, invasions and sanctions. There would be more than enough money. One year's military budget in the United States is equal to more than $20,000 per hour for every hour since Jesus Christ was born. That's one year.

That's what I'd do on my first three days in the White House. On the fourth day, I'd be assassinated."

-William Blum

Edward1793---you said it well. This is nothing new---all one needs to do is read Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States" to clear their heads of illusions of US exceptionalism.

From a larger historical perspective, what else can we expect from a nation built on the genocide of the original North American indigenous peoples? That was the beginning of this nightmare, the out-of-control-power-over development/rape of this part of Mother Gaia, and her defenders.

People to this day, bristle at the mention of this fact, as if they can dismiss any sense of responsibility even though their very privilaged status today was made possible by the sytematic violence that proceeded us.

Our entire way of life today depends on this continuing in countless places around the world. Still we refuse to acknowledge the connections. We ignore this TRUTH at our own peril.

BUSH AND CHENEY AND the majority in congress, ARE REALLY JUST PUPPETS WHO HAVE SOLD OUT AMERICA TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER! It is the plutocratic, financial, elite that are guilty of the most egregious, treason to our beloved country. A country of the rich;by the rich;and for the rich. What is needed is for these people to be exposed or nothing will change. Just as they support these despots and thugs in foreign countries, they support the same kind of people in America. Just follow the $$$ folks!

It isn't just bush that supports these despots, For over the past 100 years the U.S. has supervised the installation of dictators in countries all over the globe. The U.S. has supported the worst of the worst (un)human-beings the world has ever known, all because of pressure from large corporations to strip natural resources and use slave labor.