[August 13, 2024] Leadership means many things, but ultimately, it means getting people to accomplish a goal. Leaders come in a range of abilities and outcomes in performance – great, good, bad and, yes, evil. But there is one category, evil leaders who walk in sheep’s clothing, which deserve special mention.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
Several years ago, I was presented with a DVD of recordings that contained TV broadcasts by Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq. What surprised me was his practical advice and positive comments about the people of Iraq. He came across as a highly respected, grandfatherly figure – guiding his children to do good things and teaching them the importance of family life. He was almost mythological in his abilities.
It struck me then that this was in radical contrast to his position as a strong-arm dictator versus his role as the father of his country. It got me thinking that evil dictators must have many of the same positive leadership characteristics as all leaders. They do. Most of them instill trust and confidence in those they lead. And those same evil leaders offer highly attractive things to those that follow them: status, wealth, or power.
Some will call this a contradiction by noting that leaders who do not have appropriate internalized values will not succeed. Yes, even the most evil leaders are trusted by the most numbers or powerful members of their group, organization, or society. This certainly does not make them good, for they are still evil leaders; the point is that regardless of how evil they are, there will be followers.
The most common flaw in the evil leader is not ignorance but excessive megalomania enabled by others who also desire power. It has been said that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The evil behavior of these leaders must be directed toward damaging or destroying an outside group, thereby exercising power for all to see – a visible demonstration of the evil leader’s force.
Saddam Hussein was ruthless with his enemies (which were many) yet kind to many in his country. Like Hitler against the Jews, Mao against the Capitalists, Saddam opposed the state of Iran, the Persians, and the Shia sect of Islam (and later America).
There are, of course, lesser evil leaders, those that do not necessarily kill and maim others but do destroy the livelihoods and families through their quest for power. These people are most frequently found in significant positions of authority within governments or control large amounts of resources via large organizations (legal and illegal).
Those involved in the production, transportation, distribution, and selling of illegal drugs, sex slaves, and other commodities (like gun running) are examples of an emerging evil enterprise. There are also the Communist and socialist leaders who offer attractive incentives to their followers but are hiding a secret that the point of such systems is the very destruction of the family, religion, and fraternal organizations that keep nations together.
The key ideas here are that evil leaders exist, can be very successful, and possess many key leadership traits found in our times’ best and most successful leaders. But they are still evil … and directly responsible for some of humankind’s greatest tragedies, and we should never, never forget. This is why we are morally obligated to study and understand evil.
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In America, we had better be like the frontiersmen and be vigilant and looking out for those who are dressed as compassionate people but intend on doing us great harm.
We may be obligated to study evil but we also need the tools to stop evil.
Exactly. Now that deserves an atta boy for your comment The Kid. Please Gen. Satterfield, what are the tools we can use to stop evil?
… and we can bring in the idea that it is okay now to have millions of people come across our borders without any vetting or attempt to integrate them into our American culture and value system. In fact, our current government has specifically and a matter of policy not addressed the idea of cultural integration and DISCOURAGES it, the opposite of what immigration to America once meant. The illegal immigrants today are just pawns to be thrown away by our politicians once they vote for them. And all the while, Americans suffer.
“Those involved in the production, transportation, distribution, and selling of illegal drugs, sex slaves, and other commodities (like gun running) are examples of an emerging evil enterprise. There are also the Communist and socialist leaders who offer attractive incentives to their followers but are hiding a secret that the point of such systems is the very destruction of the family, religion, and fraternal organizations that keep nations together.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield and nicely said. Don’t forget the cartels bringing over fentanyl and illegal aliens.
Good pickup, Scotty.
Good Biblical quote “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
Gen. Satterfield, thanks. I would hope you might develop this idea further. More examples and recent examples are going to make your ideas pop out more and help us all understand better. Just me thinking on my keyboard. Well done!!!!
Very excellent article, thank you sir.
Kamala Harris’s moment, indeed! The New York Post is skeptical: “The Time cover story depicted Harris with her supporters in the background on the cover with the phrase, “Her Moment.” Inside, author Charlotte Alter wrote that Harris “pulled off the swiftest vibe shift in modern political history.”
https://nypost.com/2024/08/12/us-news/time-profile-of-kamala-harris-ripped-for-worshipping-dem-nominee/
This woman is evil and it should be obvious to any one with a brain cell. How so many can swoon over her is disgusting. I can’t see how they cannot see her evil. Look at what she has done with Joe Biden. Look at America today with 20 million illegals, falling wages, high inflation, criminals being let out and commiting more crimes, and the list goes on and on.
I’m surprised that Time Magazine is still being published. It must just be to give jobs to liberal “journalists.” The magazine serves no other purpose but to support the democrat party.
Ha Ha, OUCH (as Gen. Satterfield often says) Time magazine was slammed Monday for publishing a fawning cover story featuring Vice President Kamala Harris — despite her refusing an interview with the publication in her long-standing dodging of the press.
Kamala (however she decides to say her own first name) is like Saddam. Just look at the TIME Mag cover. It will make you puke. The fascists artistic style is so obvious. And Gen. Satterfield has taken to writing more about art and evil and their junction when evil destroys good and beauty. What I don’t understand is why isn’t the media talking about Joe Biden, he is still the president, at least in name. But he has totally checked out other than being trotted out for a photo op. It’s like we are spending the weekend at Bernie’s.
Evil leaders don’t necessarily tell you what they want, but will tell you what you want.
YEP …… that is why Gen. Satterfield is calling them evil walking in sheep’s clothing.