In the minor league of dictator worship

Freedom House on Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea:

"History is cluttered with the examples of academics, philosophers, renowned writers, and eminent advocates of humane ideals who have aligned themselves with or apologized for the world's most despicable tyrants," said Arch Puddington, vice president of research. "Given this context, Dennis Rodman's choice to pal around with a leader who oversees one massive, countrywide concentration camp is very much in the minor leagues of dictator worship."

Or, to put it another way:

In the 30s, serious intellectuals traveled to the Soviet Union to hail it as the future of humanity. In the 60s and 70s, writers, actors & other assorted glitterati went to Cuba to be schmoozed by El Jefe. And now North Korea has hauled in...a retired basketball player with a penchant for shock publicity. The quality of useful idiots is on a definite downward trajectory.

Here, in case you missed them, are Rodman's considered opinions:

At Pyongyang's Sunan airport on his way to Beijing, Rodman said it was "amazing" that the North Koreans were "so honest." He added that Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder, "were great leaders."

"He's proud, his country likes him -- not like him, love him, love him," Rodman said of Kim Jong Un. "Guess what, I love him. The guy's really awesome."

And, in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos back in New York:

Asked....about Kim’s threats to destroy the United States, and his family’s horrendous record on human rights, Rodman said: “I don’t condone that. I hate the fact that he’s doing that. … I didn’t talk about that. …I saw people respected him, his family. … “[He’s] only 28 — 28. He’s not his dad. He’s not his grandpa. He is 28 years old. … He’s very humble. He’s a very humble man. … He don’t want war – that’s one thing he don’t want. … He loves power. He loves control, because of his father, you know – stuff like that. But he’s just — he’s a great guy. He’s just a great guy. You sit down and talk to him.”...

Asked if he will to go back to Pyongyang, Rodman said: “Yes, I am. I’m going to back … and find out more what’s really going on.”

Stephanopoulos: “OK, next time you go back, you should bring this report from Human Rights Watch … maybe ask some questions about that. You might learn a lot more and it might press him, as well. But thank you for coming on this morning and sharing your impressions.”

Rodman’s final words on the show were: “Don’t hate me.”

Really, more sad than bad. A has-been basketball star - once engagingly eccentric, now embarrassingly out of his depth - exploited by cynical politicians and media moguls. Nothing to see here...

Comments

[Bob-B]

You know you are dealihg with a dictator when someone says 'the country loves X'. Nobody ever says that where X is a democratically elected leader. When you have elections, it's crystal clear that many people don't like X, and when you have free speech, they can say so. Of course it is different where there are no elections and no free speech.

[Dom]

It's interesting to compare the minor and the major league among the dictator worshippers. If Rodman (the minor league) were to hear the testimony of NK refugees, I believe he would change his mind. Chomsky (the major league) had the full testimonies of the Cambodian refugees; he considered them too uniform to be taken at face value.

[Mick H]

Right. Chomsky and the like have their ideology to protect them from the facts. Rodman may not be the smartest, but, as you say, you'd back him to be suitably shocked if he knew the truth.