Leopoldo Galtieri vs Phibun

On December 22, 1981, Leopoldo Galtieri was appointed President of Argentina by the military junta, replacing Roberto Viola. Galtieri was a hardline general who sought to consolidate power and address economic problems through nationalist policies.

On April 2, 1982, Galtieri ordered the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The military junta aimed to rally nationalist support and distract from economic crisis. The invasion led to a 10-week war with the United Kingdom.

On June 14, 1982, Argentine forces surrendered to the British in the Falkland Islands after a decisive defeat. The war resulted in 649 Argentine deaths and the loss of the islands. Galtieri's gamble failed, leading to his downfall.

On June 17, 1982, Leopoldo Galtieri resigned as President of Argentina following the military defeat in the Falklands War. His resignation marked the beginning of the end of the military dictatorship, as public outrage and internal dissent grew.

In 1986, Leopoldo Galtieri was convicted by Argentine courts for human rights abuses committed during the Dirty War, including torture and forced disappearances. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was later pardoned in 1989.

Phibun (Plaek Phibunsongkhram) became Prime Minister of Thailand after a coup that ousted the previous government. He established a military dictatorship and promoted Thai nationalism.

Phibun officially changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand (Prathet Thai), meaning 'Land of the Free'. This was part of his nationalist campaign to unify the Thai people and assert national identity.

Phibun allied Thailand with Japan after the Japanese invasion of Thailand in December 1941. He declared war on the Allies and allowed Japanese forces to use Thai territory for their campaigns in Southeast Asia.

Phibun resigned as Prime Minister in 1944 as the tide of war turned against Japan. He was replaced by a civilian government, but he remained influential and later returned to power.

Phibun returned to power through a military coup in 1948, overthrowing the civilian government. He ruled as a military dictator until 1957, aligning Thailand with the United States during the Cold War.