Even as the Communist world emerged into freedom, President Nicolae Ceausescu stood firm and iron-fisted. Bathed in delusions of grandeur, he wholeheartedly believed his people adored him and Romania would remain the last bastion of Communism in Europe. As late as November 1989, he said triumphantly after being "reelected" to another five-year term, "Romania will change only when beech trees bear apples and reeds bear flowers." Little did he know...