After the election, I dreamt of a grinning Barack Obama as Commander-in-Chief. He was wearing a military uniform, like a South American dictator.

Every dream about him — before, during, and after the election — was about war. I fear there will never be peace in my lifetime.

DS, November, 2008, San Francisco

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Is a smiling Barack Obama, Commander-in-Chief, the friendly face of a U.S. military empire? Is a smiling Barack Obama, Commander-in-Chief, the friendly face of a global military dictatorship?

Totalitarian rulers — dictators –- assert authority and create intimidation clad in pompous military uniforms adorned with medals and ribbons, signifying conquest. Whether installed in a rigged election or a bloody military coup d’ etat, the message is the same: I control the military. I have the force of the military with me, against you.

Whether politically right or left, dictators repress political opponents and their own citizens, surging or revolting to reclaim their country. Dictatorial leaders use spying, repression of civil liberties, and brutal paramilitary tactics like kidnapping, torture, death squads, and assassinations to retain their power.

The U.S. Constitution establishes civilian control of the military. An American president scorns military garb (unless he is G.W. Bush dressed up in a codpiece and faux flight jacket).

Dreams, nighttime messengers, reveal hidden truths. These morning glories confer insight. They wake us, the citizenry, duped by media, moguls, and monarchs to authentic facts. They empower us to recognize the truthfulness of a candidate who promises change you can believe in.

To understand what the Portrait of a President dream reveals about U.S. President Barack Obama, let’s examine the details, where meaning resides.

NEXT ISSUE: Why is the dictator in the dream a U.S. President?

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