What is going on in Zimbabwe and Sudan begs the question: What does the world do with dictators?

It’s a given that western-style democracy does not work everywhere but some concepts of it like the rule of law, justice and freedom should apply everywhere. It is somewhat hypocritical for the world to sit by and watch (like the neighbor who never reports that the guy next door beats his wife daily, till she’s killed). On the other hand outside military intervention does not have a very good track record – Iraq comes to mind – and one is hard pressed to find proponents these days.

Sanctions come to mind. They often hurt the masses more than these despots who have more means at their disposal. They also take a while to finally kick in. Then is the little matter of countries that do not keep these sanctions (remember the Oil-for-Food program?).

Hoping that the oppressed people will somehow rise up and tear of the yoke of dictatorship is a long shot. Most of the citizens of dictatorships are too demoralized, hungry and afraid to do anything. The potential leaders are dead, in jail or have fled the country. The military or police is too powerful, brutal and all-knowing to miss much. It’s no wonder that the sudden death or removal of a dictator leaves a power vacuum. It’s also one of the reasons outside military interventions fail.

I think a combination of measures may be the answer and none of them is a sudden fix.

An early recognition of a potential dictatorship is important. An organization could follow the leaders of all nations and see which of them has the tendency to become a despot. On recognition that a leader has effectively turned dictator, a move should be made to initiate sanctions that hurt this leader and his family. Potential leaders who have fled this nation should be encouraged to form a shadow government in exile. This provides an alternative government should things change drastically. Lastly, the merits of outside military intervention should be weighed on a case-by-case basis and well prepared for.

“Man was born to work hard.” – Michael E. Debakey MD

One of my all time favorite Jesus’ parables is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. It talks about about a man who before going on a trip called his 3 servants and entrusted property to them. The first two doubled what they were given whereas the last one, unhappy with the amount he received, just buried the money. The man, on his return, was unhappy with this last servant.

On Friday, Michael E. Debakey died at the age of 99 and he more than doubled the “talents” he received. In a career spanning over 70 years, he single-handedly changed the face of cardiac surgery. He did so much with his life, reading about him makes you want to get up and invent something.

What a life!

In a world today where people are unhappy with their lives and never want to take personal responsibility, a life like Debakey’s is really a beacon of hope and example.

Debakey Classification, the carotid endarterectomy, the roller pump, Boris Yeltsin, the Debakey VAD and so on.

May he rest in peace and my condolences to his family and all his loved ones.

We obtained this video from the bronchoscopy of a 7-year-old boy who aspirated a piece of meat.