Legitimate is as legitimate does. Mao was terrible, but Nixon shook hands with him and paved the way for US recognition of the PRC under Carter. There are some

Legitimate is as legitimate does. Mao was terrible, but Nixon shook hands with him and paved the way for US recognition of the PRC under Carter. There are some nasty people in charge of nations, and it's not clear to me that not acknowledging them as the de facto leaders of their countries makes the world a safer place.