Tunisia

Thumbnail image for Roots of the Arab Revolts and Premature Celebrations

Roots of the Arab Revolts and Premature Celebrations

by James Petras March 3, 2011

Street-based movements lack the organization and leadership to project, let alone impose a new political or social order. Their power is found in their ability to pressure existing elites and institutions, not to replace the state and economy. Hence the surprising ease with which the US, Israeli and EU backed Egyptian military were able to seize power and protect the entire rentier state and economic structure while sustaining their ties with their imperial mentors.

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Thumbnail image for The Spectre of a Black Europe

The Spectre of a Black Europe

by SR Editor February 25, 2011

The fall of the African dictators will deprive Europe of valuable allies in the fight against irregular migration. The political vacuum and the social and economic instability that follows will create a new wave of desperate migrants daring the high seas to reach the coats of Europe.

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Thumbnail image for We Are the Arab Youth, We Know Not the Impossible

We Are the Arab Youth, We Know Not the Impossible

by Mohamed Khodr February 15, 2011

Within one month of each other Ben Ali in Tunis and Mubarak in Egypt fell, not by a military coup or assassination, but by millions of people from all walks of life, men and women, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, Muslims and Christians, the elderly and children, professionals and civil servants, even soldiers and police who abandoned their posts to join the greatest revolutions in Arab history.

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Thumbnail image for Palestine is the key to Arab democracy

Palestine is the key to Arab democracy

by Sam Bahour February 7, 2011

Egyptians would be well advised to learn from the Palestinians that the window of opportunity for real change comes all too infrequently. They should therefore be very clear on what they desire from this historic episode. I’d guess that the US state department already has more than a few scenarios in place and dealing with these is what the Egyptian people will really be up against in the coming weeks.

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Thumbnail image for We’re All Egyptians Now!

We’re All Egyptians Now!

by Stephen Lendman February 6, 2011

Uprisings are testing America’s Middle East iron grip. Matching homeland ones are now crucial, demanding real, not fake democracy, freedom, jobs, education, health care, and overall economic justice, the kind Franklin Roosevelt suggested in his last State of the Union address.

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Thumbnail image for Tunisia and Egypt: Why Now?

Tunisia and Egypt: Why Now?

by Lawrence Davidson January 31, 2011

If the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt tell us anything it is that predicting the beginning of mass unrest is very difficult. Indeed, it is probably easier to predict the stock market. What one can do, however, is describe conditions that are likely to create a context conducive to such unrest. What might those be?

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Thumbnail image for A Tale of Two Dictatorships

A Tale of Two Dictatorships

by SR Editor January 31, 2011

To hear them talk, Western governments would love nothing more than an unrelenting indigenous Arab people’s-led uprising against their corrupt dictatorships. Yet, when hundreds of thousands of Tunisians, Algerians, Egyptians, and Yemenis suddenly started revolting in the streets, risking very real threats of further repression, arrest, and even death, Washington seemed hesitant to acknowledge the political significance of the riots.

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Thumbnail image for The Downfall of Mubarak of Egypt

The Downfall of Mubarak of Egypt

by SR Editor January 30, 2011

This political unrest in Egypt might take a while, the stubborn regime of Mubarak might buy some time and concede to some of the protestors demans, he might announce that this would be his last term in office and he might want to drive his son – as rumours say-out of the country but what is certain is that the downfall of Mubarak will be -if not next Friday- on any given Friday.

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Thumbnail image for As The Dominoes Flow Toward Israel

As The Dominoes Flow Toward Israel

by William A. Cook January 30, 2011

How strange to watch our CNN talking heads, especially the Israeli trained Wolf Blitzer, former editor of AIPAC’s in house “Near East Report,” stuttering before the cameras as he recalled the fall of the Shah of Iran, America’s staunch ally for 25 years, as a direct result of similar riots by Iranian civilians, and the resulting loss of America’s control in Iran. He failed to mention that our friend had subjugated the Iranian people beneath the boots of his SAVAK mercenaries that protected his elegant life style while the people suffered under his despotic regime. Then as now our Presidents spoke of America’s support of human rights neglecting to mention the CIA’s overthrow of the elected nationalist (1951) Mohammed Mossadegh as Prime Minister.

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Thumbnail image for Middle East Intifadas

Middle East Intifadas

by Stephen Lendman January 29, 2011

So far, protests show no signs of abating. Across the region, events are truly breathtaking. Long-suffering people taste change and demand it. They’ve never had a better chance than now, but getting it won’t be quick or easy.

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Thumbnail image for America’s Faltering Search for Peace in the Middle East: Openings for Others? [Must read]

America’s Faltering Search for Peace in the Middle East: Openings for Others? [Must read]

by SR Editor September 3, 2010

Remarks to staff of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, separately, to members of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs Ambassador Charles W. (“Chas”) Freeman, Jr. (USFS, Ret.)* 1 September 2010, Oslo, Norway You have asked me to speak to current American policies in the Middle East, with an emphasis on the prospects [...]

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Miss Bahrain, Miss Arab World 2007 and Stereotypes

by Haitham Sabbah September 30, 2007

I admit I have missed the news when it was announced end of last July, but better late than never. Honored to be Bahraini by soul for living in Bahrain for the last four years, I am very happy to know that Wafaa Ganahi, a 23-year-old teacher from the Law Faculty of Bahrain University, won [...]

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Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006

by Haitham Sabbah November 2, 2006

In the fifth annual Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index, in between 168 indexed countries, our beloved Arab countries makes sure to be among the worst. Here is the list in order from “best” to “worst”: Kuwait – 73 United Arab Emirates – 77 Mauritania – 77 Qatar – 80 Morocco – 97 Lebanon [...]

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Technology and online activism

by Haitham Sabbah September 26, 2006

Tunisian Treasure Prison Map The first project is the brave, superb Tunisian Prison Map by Sami Ben Gharbia. Sami made a Tunisian Prison Map, which is madeup using a Google Maps API + GMapEZ + video YouTube + flash animations + the Yahoo Y !Q Beta. [Hat tip: Rachel] Link to the map: http://www.kitab.nl/tunisianprisonersmap Link [...]

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Tunisia Censorship

by Haitham Sabbah April 9, 2006

My friend Neila has got some good news (for change) from Tunisia. She just sent me this email: Censored since the WSIS on November 2005, the website of the Mediterranean Liberal Party has become accessible in Tunisia on April 8th, 2006. My personal Blog is also accessible after two years of censorship. We consider this [...]

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