Tunisian Revolution: Now with Egypt! Twice the protest, half the tyrant!

[Jehuty]

Is anyone following the Tunisian Revolution? Its a small country ran by a tyrant/asshole named Ben Ali.

The people have been rioting for a few days now, Ali has fled the country, and the Military have sided with the protesters. All during this week.

http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2...obody-watched/

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/auslan...739642,00.html

Why is this a big deal? All media was heavily censored. The protesters used Twitter and facebook to communicate and organize.


Students have been the driving factor, and the protests have been entirely secular.

Edit: Check Wikileaks, Ben Ali was actually supported by the US governmetn until just recently.

Edit2: Anonymous has claimed responsibility for hacking the Ali Governments websites and mucking about with their censors.

[Stormy]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

Good for them. I just wish it had worked out this well for Iran last year.

[orius]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

It's not a huge problem if it stays secular. The biggest problem with revolts in Arab countries is the possibility of a power vacuum which lets militants like al-Qaeda come to power.

[marcus]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

Ben Ali wasn't necessarily supported, he was tolerated because the country was an important player in Africa, European Union, and the Middle East. Prime Minister Ghannouchi, who has "taken control" was supported by the US as a technocrat and firm believer in supporting the country's infrastructure. Ben Ali made a bad impression all around in 2009 with blatant corruption in the election (look, if your ballots are unobserved and you end up with 89% of the ballots then something fishy is going on).

As for the "revolution" it wasn't, really. The president literally ran away a day after people were protesting. Prime Minister Ghannouchi is the de-facto president for now and it's probably for the better. Ben Ali is in Saudi Arabia, probably living it up in a mansion with all the money he likely stole.

[orius]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

In other words, he's a greedy little coward. If he was more of a militant tyrant, he'd have probably opened fire on the protesters. Like Iran (for example) would do.

[Cutter De Blanc]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

A much better solution, for sure.

[The Toecutter]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

Wikileaks is largely responsible for getting out the information that started this, although I imagine it would have eventually happened either way. Don't be surprised if a lot of similar events occur in the future as a result of their efforts; governments around the world are not pleased(especially the U.S.).

[Shard]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

After days of rioting and the return of high profile dissidents, it looks like Egypt's headed down the same route.

The three decade authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak is in jeopardy of falling. A motorcade of luxury vehicles was escorted by security to a private airport, where three private jets left the country. No reports yet about who was on board.

Mubarak has fired his cabinet and is desperately trying to retain power.

[Jehuty]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

It's not a huge problem if it stays secular.

Didn't say it was, I think its a good thing that Religion had nothing to do with this.

Edited the topic title. Yay Egypt!

[IamPinhead]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: The revolution you never heard of

Wikileaks is largely responsible for getting out the information that started this, although I imagine it would have eventually happened either way. Don't be surprised if a lot of similar events occur in the future as a result of their efforts; governments around the world are not pleased(especially the U.S.).

If that's true then I'm actually on the side of Wikileaks (the sky is falling and hell is frozen over).
But I hope that countries overthrow tyrants like Ali in the future w/o needing Wikileaks.

[The Toecutter]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: Now with Egypt! Twice the protest, half the tyrant!

Just keep an eye on the Suez canal. *IF* that gets shut diown for a week or more, oil prices will have a superspike. Can you imagine $15/gallon gasoline?

Protests are spreading all over the Middle East. We may get a chance to once again see how much freedom Saudi Arabians really have...

[IamPinhead]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: Now with Egypt! Twice the protest, half the tyrant!

I just hope this doesn't spread TOO quickly. The region is unstable enough, and with most 1st world countries pulling out/already out there isn't going to be anybody to prevent a slaughter. Of course I wholeheartedly agree with overthrowing a despotic tyrant, but when thousands have to die and I have to pay $100 to fill a tank of gas, screw that noise.

[The Toecutter]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: Now with Egypt! Twice the protest, half the tyrant!

I just hope this doesn't spread TOO quickly. The region is unstable enough, and with most 1st world countries pulling out/already out there isn't going to be anybody to prevent a slaughter.

It's already been a slaughter, at least in part thanks to the input of these 1st world nations.

Of course I wholeheartedly agree with overthrowing a despotic tyrant, but when thousands have to die and I have to pay $100 to fill a tank of gas, screw that noise.

Eh? Our spoiled society could do well to dramatically reduce our oil consumption, especially on the government's end. The power elite just need to get out of the way.

[IamPinhead]

Re: Tunisian Revolution: Now with Egypt! Twice the protest, half the tyrant!

Eh? Our spoiled society could do well to dramatically reduce our oil consumption, especially on the government's end. The power elite just need to get out of the way.

I still don't want to spend $100 a tank. But you're right, the 'power elite' need to remove themselves from the situation at this point. This is an Egyptian problem to be solved by Egyptians.