A Bad Week for Genocidal Dictators

A couple of weeks ago I Netflixed General Idi Amin Dada, Barbet Schroeder's 1974 documentary about the Ugandan dictator. It's not a great film, but it has quite a bit of great film in it. Schroeder had exclusive access to Amin, who sort of took over the production at times, pontificating on all sorts of things. It comes through loud and clear that he knows that he's right about everything, a visionary, and the soul of wit, too. The obviously staged demonstrations of affection from his subjects don't seem to phase him.

I thought about Amin when I read about the president of Sudan,Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who, after being accused of genocide in Darfur by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, decided to go on tour amongst his, um, "admiring" subjects:

Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the president of Sudan who has been accused of genocide, is not especially well known for his dancing moves.

But on Wednesday, in front of tens of thousands of people packed into what appeared to be a mandatory pep rally in Darfur, the portly president jumped on a desk and did a little jig. He jutted his cane. He rolled his hips. Shadows of sweat bloomed under his arms. But the crowd did not seem to care.

Even when the stunts don't work, he rolled with it:

But on Wednesday, Mr. Bashir did not seem to be feeling too guilty. He focused on peace, development and pleasing the crowds. The minute he stepped off the plane here, a white dove was thrust into his hands.

Mr. Bashir threw the bird toward the sky. It flapped a few times, but did not really fly.

No bother. Mr. Bashir beamed and strutted down the runway.

Generally, being accused of genocide would be the worst thing to happen to a dictator in a week, but this has been quite a week. But Radovan Karadzic's week was even worse, as the former Serbian strongman was arrested in Belgrade after 15 years on the run. If the ICC judges issue a warrant for Bashir's arrest, will it take 15 years for Sudan to arrest him? Let's hope not.