this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
502 points (97.0% liked)

World News

57859 readers
1818 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world

Ask Historians !askhistorians@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Nurgus@lemmy.world 23 points 4 hours ago (7 children)

Unpopular opinion: We should offer all dictators and their friends a safe retirement package.

Cornered dictators are dangerous. They will always keep escalating because the alternative isn't just their neck on the block, it's all of their friends and family too.

[–] heartSagan5@lemmy.zip 1 points 14 minutes ago

Wait, prison isn't a retirement package (of sorts)?

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Putin had that posibiblty by not doing what he did, giving this option to them mans they have no reason to not try this shit, I disagree fermly with this idea

[–] abc@suppo.fi 4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think most of them would do it if they had to give up their power and wealth.

[–] Nurgus@lemmy.world 1 points 33 minutes ago (1 children)

It's not for when things are going well. It's for when their backs are against the wall. They are very heavily incentivtized to fight to the last no matter the cost.

[–] braxy29@lemmy.world 1 points 6 minutes ago

this assumes rational motivation and decision-making.

[–] skaffi@infosec.pub 5 points 3 hours ago

I absolutely agree. What good is retribution, in the face of all the untold future injustices and suffering that could be prevented by allowing dictators and their ilk to simply... stop being dictators?

At the end of the day, "just desserts" really aren't all that they're cracked up to be. Tasty as they may be, they are just desserts. Have a strudel or a pudding instead.

[–] AmphoePai@lemmy.world 6 points 4 hours ago

Agree. We all hate Putin, but he is the only person with the power to stop the war.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

tried that with Napoleon - didnt stick

[–] Smoogs@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

he was exiled. not exactly chopped.

[–] Furbag@pawb.social 10 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yes but that was supposed to be the magnanimous and merciful "safe retirement package" as an alternative to certain death at the hands of an executioner. Exile wasn't a death sentence. Life definitely wouldn't have been easy, but he had servants who joined him in exile to help keep him alive and happy.

Instead, he found a way back to France and the first army that arrived to intercept him immediately put themselves under his command again. That's the danger of allowing warmongering dictators to have their cushy exit strategy - they may not see it as a way out of ultimate punishment, but as a reset button.

[–] ThrowawayPermanente@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I'm less worried about that in this case. Napoleon was one of the greatest generals in human history, he was inspiring. Putin has been failing to conquer the poorest country in Europe for over four years.

[–] Furbag@pawb.social 1 points 1 hour ago

With the frankly shocking number of Americans who espouse their unwavering support for Trump, no matter what he says or does, I have very little faith in humanity's collective ability to judge leaders objectively.

[–] Krumm@lemmy.world -4 points 4 hours ago

Holy whoosh batman.

Gotta chat with air traffic controllers for how much airspace there is between you and this comment chain.

[–] ThrowawayPermanente@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I don't know man, this sounds good at first but think of how many thousands of lives would be saved if we let a handful of evil people go unpunished.

[–] abc@suppo.fi 4 points 2 hours ago

The most probable "punishment" that Putin is going to get at this rate is dying while sleeping without any pain.