Assassinating a dictator, Can it be justified? Options

[simx]

Can the assassination of a dictator be justified?

[*tweeak*]

Yes, it certainly can be justified, depending on how the dictator dictates. Does that make it morally right, though? I'd say not. But then, I don't believe in fighting wars, either.

[Ington]

I hate how people always think of dictators as evil tyrants.

If the dictator was killing people, its the same as giving a murderer the death penalty. An eye for an eye.

If he's a bad ruler and its a time of crisis (ie: attack from other nations), and the dictator can't properly protect the country, I think that might be neccessary for the survival of the entire country. Overthrow the dictator and put a new one up. However, in real life it would be way more complicated than just that.

But if the dictator is just annoying, then no. Thats just stupid.

Saddam Hussein = A dictator. Saddam Hussein =/= All dictators.

Ever hear about the Roman Empire? After the republic, a dictator came into power. He set the Roman Empire on its path to its golden age and then stepped down. Yeah. I just felt that had to be said, for the definitions sake. Dictators can be good too.

[sovietski]

If he is your dictator or shall we say your ruler than I think its wrong. Its a matter of pride and respect. Assassinations in a country can lead to deep healing wounds. The JKF assassination was just depressing and blank. He wasn't a dictator but anyways...

but if you're some hired spy, i guess its not ur job to worry about the enemy. Killing is never good, and wrong to a big degree. But in realist terms, assassinating an enemy dictator makes you great.

[vash1530]

if someone decided that assassinating a dictator is the correct course of action, then yes, in their minds it is justified.

[*RiC3xBoy*]

It depends, a dictator is just someone who has absolute power.

[*mipadi*]

Saddam Hussein = A dictator. Saddam Hussein =/= All dictators.

Ever hear about the Roman Empire? After the republic, a dictator came into power. He set the Roman Empire on its path to its golden age and then stepped down. Yeah. I just felt that had to be said, for the definitions sake. Dictators can be good too.

The dictator in the Roman Empire did not come after the Republic, but rather during the Republic. The Office of the Dictator was set up in order to give someone emergency powers in order to quell rebellion, repel invasion, and so forth. The term lasted six months, in which case control returned to the republican government.

Not all dictators were benevolent in Rome. Julius Caesar and Lucius Cornelius Sulla are two prime examples. In fact, the Office of the Dictator was abolished after the fiasco with Caesar, who declared himself dictator for life.

(Incidentally, the idea of the Office of the Dictator, and the subsquequent abuse of power by some dictators, is mirrored in Star Wars Episodes II and III.)

[vash1530]

The dictator in the Roman Empire did not come after the Republic, but rather during the Republic. The Office of the Dictator was set up in order to give someone emergency powers in order to quell rebellion, repel invasion, and so forth. The term lasted six months, in which case control returned to the republican government.

Not all dictators were benevolent in Rome. Julius Caesar and Lucius Cornelius Sulla are two prime examples. In fact, the Office of the Dictator was abolished after the fiasco with Caesar, who declared himself dictator for life.

(Incidentally, the idea of the Office of the Dictator, and the subsquequent abuse of power by some dictators, is mirrored in Star Wars Episodes II and III.)

wow i never made that connection. very interesting

[sheridan_whitesi...]

I doubt that an assassination would be very effective against any brutal dictator, as the country would immediately be swept into unrest as different parties attempt to fill the power vacuum produced by the decapitation of that government. One man doesn't run the whole government, there is the administrator of pain, genital battery charger, naked pyramid builder, genital pointer-at-er, hood weaver, and all sorts of other agents in charge of brutal torture also run the government. It's not like they all go away if you cap one guy. If the CIA did assassinate someone, it probably wouldn't be for noble aims like capping Milosevic or something, they probably want to off someone like Hugo Chavez, who resists globalizers influence in his country, has rhetoric critical of the U.S., and incidentally is sitting on a huge pile of oil.

[SkaironFrenzy]

only when they take the lives of countless people.. i say bring him/her down. but can there be a "good-treating" dictator?

[Ajmalhuuss]

Murdur can never be justified. If we decide to murdur someone without due course of law then we are also sinking down to the level of the dictator. Not to mention killing one individual will do nothing. Today's dictators are not just one person but rather part of a group from which someone sharing the same autocratic values will emerge to take their place. And having his predasessor mudured will only give the successor reason to take further negative actions.

[*ECD & C0*]

Murdur can never be justified

in some ways i agree but if the person had commited deeds in which another person is killed, they deserve the same sorta what i said in the death penalty

[Sumiaki]

Murdur can never be justified

I disagree. Can a revolution that ensues violence and death not be justified for either side?

An excerpt from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence (United States)

But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

It is a human's right to overthrow an abusive government. Therefore if an assassination is necessary so be it.

[dtang4]

It can be easily justified, especially if one life lost will prevent a lot more from being lost.

[Paradox of Life]

^ But it's against the law. Murder is against the law, even if you want to justify by saying you're saving many more lives than was lost. There are much better ways to "deal with a dictator". Especially in the new age, the president may completely be taken out of power. People would stop working for him, he'd be forcefully pushed out of authority and put into jail. Killing can not be justified.

[demolished]

It's very justified depends on the dictator's plan, announcement, and his attitute toward the people.

^ But it's against the law. Murder is against the law, even if you want to justify by saying you're saving many more lives than was lost. There are much better ways to "deal with a dictator". Especially in the new age, the president may completely be taken out of power. People would stop working for him, he'd be forcefully pushed out of authority and put into jail. Killing can not be justified.

... How many people would like to slaughter Hitler, than he killed himself?

Because it's right.

He took disadvantage of people.

It’s best to get rid of the dictator because his existence is so great that it'll give more bad influence to other people.


We want democracy and republic.

[sakaitone]

It's very justified depends on the dictator's plan, announcement, and his attitute toward the people.
... How many people would like to slaughter Hitler, than he killed himself?

Because it's right.

He took disadvantage of people.

It’s best to get rid of the dictator because his existence is so great that it'll give more bad influence to other people.
We want democracy and republic.

Killing is bad, well in my opinion. Torture is better. Dying is easy, living is tough. Torture will make them want to die but they won't die. Maybe it's because I been hanging out with a lot of crazy people (try having your friend telling you ways she would kill you during history/S.S. class) but torture seems to meet measures of a dictator. I mean Hitler sent tons and tons of people to be tortured and be worked to death but some didn't die, they lived through it, through starving, through beatings, through mental scarring and etc.
"He killed himself in Berlin in 1945, when it became clear that the war was about to end in victory for the Allied Forces."-Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
Hitler killed himself because he was a baby, he didn't want to face the music. He didn't want to be put trough what he put others through. He took the coward's way out. Torture for a dictator, you're not killing him but getting revenge.

[sadolakced acid]

is the dictator cute, hot, and a woman?

if so, then absolutely not.

anyone else, then certainly.

[demolished]

Killing is bad, well in my opinion. Torture is better. Dying is easy, living is tough. Torture will make them want to die but they won't die. Maybe it's because I been hanging out with a lot of crazy people (try having your friend telling you ways she would kill you during history/S.S. class) but torture seems to meet measures of a dictator. I mean Hitler sent tons and tons of people to be tortured and be worked to death but some didn't die, they lived through it, through starving, through beatings, through mental scarring and etc.
"He killed himself in Berlin in 1945, when it became clear that the war was about to end in victory for the Allied Forces."-Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
Hitler killed himself because he was a baby, he didn't want to face the music. He didn't want to be put trough what he put others through. He took the coward's way out. Torture for a dictator, you're not killing him but getting revenge.

it depends on what kind of torturing, are you talking about.

if you're talking about a real physical abuse like a mother did to her child, that's really harsh.

or ... a man who got trap in the deep and dense canyon.

[sadolakced acid]

is the dictator cute, hot, and a woman?

if so, then absolutely not.

anyone else, then certainly.

i'm serious about this.

[sakaitone]

it depends on what kind of torturing, are you talking about.

if you're talking about a real physical abuse like a mother did to her child, that's really harsh.

or ... a man who got trap in the deep and dense canyon.

Um...If the dictator tortured and killed millions of people, wouldn't you want him to suffer for being so evil? Maybe you think it's going to be harsh on the evil dictator if we beat him up everyday or left him in a deep and dense canyon but after what he put the millons of people through, he deserves it. Don't you think so? Or it killing still an opinion?

is the dictator cute, hot, and a woman?

if so, then absolutely not.

anyone else, then certainly.

i'm serious about this.

Lmao. Honestly, there haven't been a lot of female dictators. How about an evil female dictator was cute and hot but killed millions and worked another million to death? It's not like anyone would want to sleep with someone who did evil things like that......RIGHT?

[demolished]

i'm serious about this.

no matter who is that person, that person will deserve the same penalty.

she could be worse than hitler.

Um...If the dictator tortured and killed millions of people, wouldn't you want him to suffer for being so evil? Maybe you think it's going to be harsh on the evil dictator if we beat him up everyday or left him in a deep and dense canyon but after what he put the millons of people through, he deserves it. Don't you think so? Or it killing still an opinion?
Lmao. Honestly, there haven't been a lot of female dictators. How about an evil female dictator was cute and hot but killed millions and worked another million to death? It's not like anyone would want to sleep with someone who did evil things like that......RIGHT?

what if he escape ? we must kill 'em right away !

Anyways, i really dont mind what kind of penalty.

As long he's going to die.
Torture him, kill him, left him in the desert, drop him in a deep ocean, trap him in the maze, or whatever. I don’t mind.

[sadolakced acid]

no matter who is that person, that person will deserve the same penalty.

she could be worse than hitler.

doesn't matter if she's worse than hitler. if she's hot, she's not to be harmed.

you've got a problem with my double standard?

[*Statues/Shadows*]

Was Hitler hot?

[demolished]

doesn't matter if she's worse than hitler. if she's hot, she's not to be harmed.

you've got a problem with my double standard?

hitler is hot too.

but sadly, he went to hell.

you've got a problem with my double standard, sexist?