It is unfortunate that this coup attempt was foiled, as the combined reign of Obiang & Macias Nguema have been one of the most brutual in all of Africa (and the world). The USA Weekly has voted Teodoro Obiang Nguema as the 6th worst dictator in the world for the past 2 years (not that this is a solid source, but it gives an idea of his brutality). Since Equatorial Guinea gained "independence" from Spain in 1968, 1/3 of the country's population have either been executed or fled the country. There is no independent media, the hospitals don't provide food for its patients (the family has to bring it), no eletricity after 4p.m. Although there are "democratic" elections the current president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, kills or jails his political rivals (and he has been known to force people to vote for him at gun point). He discourages independent business ownership, and instead brings in foreigners to build stores & run institutions (Asians own most of the grocery stores for instance). Since oil was discovered in the country roughly 10 years ago, the foreign presence has increased. France, the US, and Spain have begun pumping millions into the country, with most of the funds going into the President's US bank account. While the President has become one of the world's richest men, he places a cap on what the people in his country can earn. The majority of the president's guards are now Arabic (mostly from Morocco) and they have begun raping women, girls, and boys. These are crimes which were extremely rare in the country before. Here is a link to a article where Obiang Nguema compares himself to GOD, and brags that he "can kill anyone he wants without being called to account", it is an inside look into the eyes of a maniac:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3098007.stm
If there was ever a Man that needs to go this is it, if Bush wants to get rid of "dictators" why not go after this guy, he treats his people worse than Saddam....oh thats right, he freely gives away his country's oil.....so there is no problem.