Blaise Compaore Must Go

Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, who killed his friend, former president Thomas Sankara in order to become president, should go. In response to the army mutiny that has rocked his country, he has now appointed himself Minister of Defense, because he does not trust the army any more. So, in addition to being president of the country, he is also the Minister of Defense. How can he alone carry on the responsibilities of such important offices. Is Compaore saying that there is no one in his country good enough to run that ministry. A president who holds such distrust of his own people is not fit to lead. He does not trust his people because his people do not trust him. When trust has thus broken down, one can only rule a people through dictatorship. And this is what Compaore has been doing with the help of the French who brought him to power. It is now time for him to go so that the people can choose someone they trust.

Update from the NYT: Protesters want Compaore to go.