Of course, some of the most famous mustaches are those of the past and dead (thank goodness) dictators like...
Adolf Hitler (I think we all know why he is considered a dictator, right?)
Though he may have voted as the third-best Russian by Russians, Joseph Stalin is still a dictator on all levels and he, too, ported a mustache fit for a dictator.Then we have the dictators of our Zeitgeist, still alive and kicking (well, doing worse than kicking... more like killing, oppressing, extorting, etc.) who have mustaches, among the most famous is...
Fidel Castro. No need to explain why he's a dictator, I'm sure. He doesn't just have a mustache either, but a full-on beard.Then we have the lesser-known dictators, at least lesser-known to most Americans.
This guy's "mustache" is very small... I'm not even sure I can call it a mustache, it's almost like the one Hitler had but even narrower. It's disturbing and it looks like some kind of fungal matter growing there. In any case, why is he a dictator? Actually, I'm sure many people, even Americans, know who he is but in case you don't.Name: Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Years in Power: 21.5
Country: Zimbabwe
Capital: Harare
RSF Ranking: 149 (of 169) [1 = most free, 169 = least free]
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 3 (of 177) [1 = failed state, 177 = most sustainable state]
Basic info: Believe it or not, but Robert Mugabe in his younger days, was an African hero fighting for independence from colonization and even spending time in prison for his activism. Though Zimbabwe is an alleged "parliamentary democracy", in reality it's a kleptocracy and all opposition members are crushed, raped, imprisoned, and possibly even killed. Who knows? Starvation is widespread, cholera infections kill hundreds if not thousands, 80% of the population is unemployed, and the nation-state is on the verge (if not already at the point) of failure. It's economy under Mugabe has been destroyed (Real GDP growth rate is estimated to be -12.6%) and nothing is being done to stop hyperinflation (inflation is 80,000,000,000%).
Al-Bashir has a sort of weird outline of a mustache/beard. Name: Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir (عمر حسن أحمد البشير)
Years in Power: 20
Country: Sudan (السودان)
Capital: Khartoum (الخرطوم)
RSF Ranking: 140 (of 169)
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 2 (of 177)
Basic info: In March 2009, the ICC (International Criminal Court) issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir who is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes in contributing to the genocide in Darfur. He was charged by the ICC with "murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing, and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians, and pillaging their property." Since 2003, the crisis at Darfur, under al-Bashir's military campaign, has lead to the expulsion of about 2.7 million people from their homes. Despite the arrest warrant and the charges against him, al-Bashir continues to keep his position as "President of Sudan", a seat he has kept since coming to power 1989 as a colonel that lead to the coup d'état and the abdication of Sadiq al-Mahdi.
This guy doesn't just have a mustache, he has a full on beard. Then again, it might just be because he's such a "devout Muslim".Name: Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i (علی حسینی خامنهای)
Years in Power: 20
Country: Iran (ايران)
Capital: Tehran (تهران)
RSF Ranking: 166 (of 169)
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 49 (of 177)
Basic info: "Ayatollah" Khamenei's regime is one that openly violates human rights. Women's rights don't seem to exist and activists are often arrested, religious minorities as well as ethnic minorities can also be arrested. Iran also permits the execution of those under 18 (boys at age 15 and girls at age 9). Of course, any serious political opposition would be crushed as you may have noticed already with the riots and protests against the recent presidential election results. They say that the conservative Ahmadinejad only actually won around 12% of the votes while the more left-wing Mousavi won the rest... but hey... don't quote me on that.
A very Stalin-esque mustache is being worn by this Eritrean dictator.Name: Isaias Afewerki
Years in Power: 16
Country: Eritrea
Capital: Asmara
RSF Ranking: 169 (of 169)
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 44 (of 177)
Basic info: Afewerki came to power upon Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Since then, he's been president and announed in May of last year (2008), that there would no longer be presidential elections or at least the next 30 or 40 years since such elections "polarize" society. Eritrea is ranked as the most oppressive in terms of free press according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and since 2001, there are at least a dozen journalists still under arrest in the country. All media is controlled by the government.
This guy is the known as the guy in charge of the "Last Dictatorship in Europe". Let's hope that it's really true, that it really is the last dictatorship in Europe (knock on wood).Name: Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko (Аляксандр Рыгоравіч Лукашэнка)
Years in Power: 15
Country: Belarus (Беларусь)
Capital: Minsk (Менск)
RSF Ranking: 151 (of 169)
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 53 (of 177)
Basic info: After the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus became an independent nation, changed their flag to white awith red centered banner, and worked toward democracy all until the election of Lukashenko in 1994 and he's been in power since. Freedom of speech is questionable at best, government controls all forms of media, including restrictions on the internet as ranked by RSF, and probably all elections are rigged to favor the reelection of Lukashenko (no matter how popular a leader may be, no one really wins with 82+% of the popular vote unless there's election fraud involved and especially after 10+ years in office) the most recent election being 2006.
A mustache and a goatee. Gross. I hate goatees. No wait, I actually just dislike facial hair in general because it seems really... not very hygienic. Who knows what kind of gross bacteria and other shit are growing in there???Name: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك عبد الله بن عبد العزيز آل سعود)
Years in Power: 13 (de facto)
Country: Kingdom of Saudi Arabic (المملكة العربية السعودية)
Capital: Riyadh (الرياض)
RSF Ranking: 148 (of 169)
Failed States Index (FSI) Ranking: 84 (of 177)
Basic info: Although the U.S tries to buddy up with Saudi Arabia, it's ignoring the dictatorial government that is in place under Abdullah... all because of our dependence on Saudi oil. Thus, our government chooses to ignore the fact that Saudi Arabia is a dictatorial, repressive monarchy. Women in Saudi Arabia must have permission from male guardians to do the simplest things, including obtaining an Identification card, marrying, traveling, studying, and working. The government is allegedly trying to "reform" but the Human Rights Commission is headed solely by men and its penal code disallows defendants to question witnesses.
