A member of Romania's ethnic German minority, Mueller knew persecution under the rule of the Ceausescu regime.

VOA: standard.2009.10.08

The Romanian economy was plundered by the Soviet-style nomenklatura, and by the corrupt family of Romania's cruel, idiosyncratic dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: From Bucharest to Baghdad

Pacepa's memoir Red Horizons formed the basis for the indictment and conviction of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who was executed in 1989.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Opportunity is knocking on Israel's door

In 1989, Romania's National Salvation Front named a new government headed by President Ion Iliescu, a day after announcing the execution of deposed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

CNN: Thursday,