There's another one that we told ourselves was "a necessary evil for the sake of stability". He said he'd call elections within 2 years, and sanctions were slapped on him. Then 9/11 came about and all he became a useful dictator.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides

What happened in Algeria as far as I understand it: The generals started a bit of democratization. The people voted for FIS in the first round of elections.
The generals then ended the democratization project.

Now, after a more than a decade of war and hundreds of thousands of deaths, Algeria had elections, that were considered not so bad. Not perfect democracy, but more free and a fair than in many other Arab countries.