THE MAN WITH THE MOUSTACHE

By TERRY PHILLIPS

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The Western world knows comparatively little about the Man with the Moustache. His name has been heard all around the planet. His picture has been seen by millions. But how did he become so powerful?

The dictator to the east was bom in relative obscurity. He struggled to survive when he was growing up. He wasn't a very good student and became a revolutionary as a young man. He lived in tough times and had to fight for everything. Perhaps that's what made him so ruthless.

"Ruthless" is a word even his countrymen would use to describe their nation's absolute ruler. He was reputed to have personally murdered (if not actually executed) his political enemies. He was certainly responsible for the horrible deaths of many thousands of his own people.

Political dissent is not tolerated in his country. His secret police have managed to terrorize everyone. Telephones are assumed to be tapped. Journalists have been arrested as spies.

Ethnic unrest is a national embarrassment. Jews have been especially ill-treated there. And although that nation shares no borders with Israel, their relationship has been among the worst in history.

People there were always very devout. Historically, spiritual leaders have held great power in that country. Houses of worship are among the most prominent buildings in the capital city. But the government is officially secular, and the men of the cloth could not rule the Man with the Moustache.

This shadowy figure, rarely seen personally by anyone other than close allies, rose to power through brute force and sinister manipulation. Although he used the army to get what he wanted, he always climbed the rungs of the political ladder.

That country's system of govemment purports to be designed in the best interest of all the people. More accurately, the legislature has served primarily as a rubber stamp to endorse the irrefutable decisions of the nation's leader. An inner circle of advisors from the ruling political party always had more clout than so-called representatives of the people.

It's never clear to outsiders what the rules are. Legal documents are more of a convenience than anything else. Secret tribunals and summary executions are more in keeping with that country's traditions. In any case, the final decisions are made by the Man with the Moustache.

This head of state fostered an enorrnous personality cult. His image was enshrined in cities and buildings, institutions and monuments. He was made to be all things to all peoplemilitary leader, father figure, diplomat, scientist, laborer, lord.

His country's economy has never been very healthy. They have grudgingly imported food and technology from the West. But they haven't had much to offer in exchange (although they do produce a lot of oil). Much of the problem is directly related to their large military budget.

America once treated the Man with the Moustache as an ally. The U.S. supported him to fight a mutual enemy. But he was not above making secret deals. He was quite a horse trader. No one was sure on whose side he was . And when that war ended, he quickly lost his place of friendship. He suddenly was "worse than Hitler."

Under his leadership, a neighboring independent nation was taken over by force. He declared the smaller country a part of his own, using the excuse that he was asked to "liberate" the vanquished state.

In fact, the invaders imposed their nationality on the conquered land. They replaced local currency with their own money. They brutally murdered resistance fighters. Many reported unspeakable acts of torture and barbarism.

The reason for the invasion was not too clear. Some say it was simply a power grab. Others believe that it was to control an important natural resource. Perhaps the real motive was to acquire access to the world's waterways.

There were Congressional investigations. There were newspaper editorials. There were summit meetings. World leaders tried to exert their influence. Even the most respected international body couldn't pursuade the dictator to remove his troops.

But in the end, when naked aggression was committed by the Man with the Moustache, no war was declared.

Eventually, Stalin died. Lithuania remains occupied. T-erry Phillips, contri\lting ryriter to Alll, is a correspondent for NBC radio and the Mutual Broadcasting System