Today, there are rumors that Assad is seeking refuge in Cuba, Ecuador, or Venezuela. This is apropos, as I am introducing a new series on this blog-- Exile Destinations.
For a while now, I've wondered what country is the favorite of deposed dictators around the world. I am going to look at every country's leaders from 1975 to the present and track the countries they escape to. I am going to guess that France will end up on top. Here we go. This is today's installment:
- Afghanistan- Pakistan 1x, U.S.S.R. 1x (As an aside, being Afghanistan's leader is a bad idea; you often end up executed and/or castrated in public. Ouch.)
- Albania- 0
- Algeria- 0
- Andorra- 0
- Angola- 0
- Antigua & Barbados- 0
- Argentina- Spain 1x
- Armenia- 0
- Australia- 0
- Austria-0
Tally thus far: 1x = Pakistan, U.S.S.R., Spain.
If I were Assad, I would definitely not go to France. The French have played a big role in destabilizing Syria. Syria, like Iraq, was able to organize itself and attain some semblance of dignity while the USSR existed, but these days France wants its old playground back and the US is supreme in the region. Some puppet government will eventually be installed and we in the West will be told that Democracy has prevailed. It's to Assad's credit that Syria's been able to remain functional this long.
ReplyDeleteNo, if I were Assad, I would sooner go to Zimbabwe than to France.