Pro-Democracy Uprising Fails to Keep Washington From Backing Tunisian Dictatorship

[Better Believe It]

It looks like the Tunisian dictator has been forced to step down. No thanks to the Obama administration. BBI


Foreign Policy In Focus

Pro-Democracy Uprising Fails to Keep Washington From Backing Tunisian Dictatorship
by Stephen Zunes
January 13, 2011

In the course of some civil insurrections, like Iran and Burma, Washington has strongly condemned the regime and provided strong words of encouragement for the pro-democracy activists challenging their repression. In a couple of cases, like Serbia and Ukraine, the United States and other Western countries even provided limited amounts of economic assistance to pro-democracy groups. Most of the time, however, particularly if the dictatorship is a U.S. ally like Tunisia, Washington has either backed the government or largely remained silent.

Indeed, rather than praise Tunisia's largely nonviolent pro-democracy movement and condemn its repressive regime, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has instead expressed her concern over the impact of the "unrest and instability" on the "very positive aspects of our relationship with Tunisia," insisting that the U.S. is "not taking sides" and that she will "wait and see" before even communicating directly with Ben Ali or his ministers.

In addition, as the popular uprising against the Ben Ali dictatorship commenced last month, Congress weighed in with support of the regime by passing a budget resolution that included $12 million in security assistance to Tunisia, one of only five foreign governments (the others being Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Colombia) provided direct taxpayer-funded military aid.

Tunisia – more than almost any country in the region – has followed the dictates of Washington and the International Monetary Fund in instituting "structural adjustment programs" in privatizing much of its economy and allowing for an unprecedented level of "free trade." These policies have increased rather than decreased unemployment while enriching relatives and cronies of the country's top ruling families. This has been privately acknowledged by the U.S. embassy in a recently-released Wikileaks cable, which labeled the U.S.-backed regime as a "kleptocracy." The U.S. has also been backing IMF efforts to get the Tunisian government to eliminate the remaining subsidies on fuel and basic food stuffs and fuel and further deregulate its financial sector.

Read the full article at:

http://www.fpif.org/blog/pro-democracy_uprising_fails_to_keep_washington_from_backing_tunisian_dictatorship#

[villager]

1. What!? This administration on the wrong side of history!? (Again!!?)

And the surprise factor would be...

Well, sadly, there isn't any.

[DJ13]

2. $$$$$ for their corporate owners is all DC cares about

[DCKit]

3. I only hope the embezzled money hasn't all fled the country.

The people deserve to recover as much of the looted wealth as possible. Hopefully, without the help of their benevolent Uncle Sam.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. I grew up learning about what a wonderful country I lived in and what wonder principles it upheld

A complete, fucking lie.

[bvar22]

5. Democratic Party vs Republican Party....

....doesn't matter much when it comes to supporting Puppet Dictators and Death Squads.

[Catherina]

6. People around the world are rising up, especially against the for-profit food trade.

and social inequality while their wealth, the people's wealth, is transferred to international thieves. My guess is that what's happening in Tunisia and Algeria today is going to engulf most of North Africa and the Middle East. Poor people have nothing to lose from rising up and overthrowing the corruption. France can start shaking in her boots too.

Here is the take of the New York Times on Tunisia today

"The mounting protests threaten not only to overturn a close United States ally in the fight against terrorism but also to pull back the veneer of tranquil stability that draws legions of Western tourists to Tunisia’s coastal resorts."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/world/africa/14tunisia.html?_r=2&ref=global-home

Russian revolution and Tunisia

When the Russian Revolution erupted, it was said that the Socialist Revolution broke in the least likely of places. Similarly, this Arab uprising in Tunisia, was in the most unlikely of places--if only because the West, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and World Bank insisted that Tunisia is the model government for Muslims.

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/russian-revolution-and-tunisia/

The US

The US is now probably doing its best to save the regime and sacrifice Bin Ali. The Tunisian people should be on guard.
على الشعب التونس ان يحذر: الولايات المتحدة تسعى على الأرجح لإنقاذ النظام عبر التضحية ببن علي

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/the-us/

This is big: very big

The historical significance of what happened in Tunisia is huge. This is the first time an Arab dictator is overthrown by a popular uprising. It is too early to speculate whether this will or can spread, but I think one lesson is too obvious: the Arab people has realized that overthrowing a regime is much much easer than they had thought. If the Iranian Revolution had an impact on Arab politics, this will certainly has an impact.

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/this-is-big-very-big/

Obama administration and Tunisia

"QUESTION: Tunisia?

MR. CROWLEY: Tunisia.

QUESTION: Could you, one, share with us your latest assessment of the situation in Tunisia? And second, are you concerned that these events might actually reverberate across Tunisia’s borders into other friendly countries such as Algeria and --

MR. CROWLEY: Actually, as I think we talked about on Friday, we do not necessarily see a connection between what is happening in Tunisia and what is happening in Algeria. My understanding today is that the situation in Algeria has improved to some degree. We continue to monitor the situation in Tunisia. We continue to encourage everyone to exercise restraint. Our Ambassador Gordon Gray had a follow-up discussion with the Tunisian Government in Tunis today. We, again, affirmed our concerns not only about the ongoing violence, the importance of respecting freedom of expression, but also the importance of the availability of information, and we will continue that discussion.

QUESTION: Are you aware that the government recently closed all schools and universities until further notice?

MR. CROWLEY: We are concerned about – we understand and --

QUESTION: It’s a pretty drastic step.

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we – to the extent that we understand the government has a very legitimate right to ensure the safety of its citizens...

...

QUESTION: One more on Tunisia. President of Tunisia --

MR. CROWLEY: Michel, what are you doing all the way back there? (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Tunisian president has called the rioters terrorists. Have you – do you agree on this?

MR. CROWLEY: I’m sorry?

QUESTION: The Tunisian president has called the rioters terrorists.

QUESTION: Rioters.

QUESTION: The protestors.

MR. CROWLEY: I’m --

QUESTION: He called the rioters terrorists.

MR. CROWLEY: I don’t know that I want to get into competing labels here..."

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2011/01/154205.htm

[Better Believe It]

7. That's from an interview conducted on January 10th with Assistant Secretary of State, Philip Crowley

[Catherina]

8. Yes, thank you for pointing that out. My bad. n/t

[Better Believe It]

9. No problem. I sometimes forget to include vital info in posts.

[Catherina]

11. It's the excitement. I'm so delighted I could dance a jig right now

:hi:

[Catherina]

10. US government and Tunisia (Angry Arab)

This is how the New York Times described Tunisia in 2006

I did a quick search in the archives of the New York Times on Tunisia and found this from the Herald Tribune, October 30th, 2006 written by Stanley Weiss: "In Tunis, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali sticks to the "Tunisia model" - repressive politics alongside progressive economics. Claiming an absurd 95- percent victory in the last election, Ben Ali's regime argues that Tunisia's reputation as a leader in women's rights and the most open economy in the Arab world - with a robust middle class, low poverty and high literacy - show that you can give people dignity without democracy."

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/this-is-how-the-new-york-times-described-tunisia-in-2006/

US government and Tunisia

Do you think that people all over the Arab world are not noticing the complicity of the US government (and the EU) in the crimes of Bin Ali against the Tunisian people? And when the Tunisian people later express their rage at US and France, US pundits would exclaim in innocence: why do they hate us? What have we done to the Tunisian people?

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/us-government-and-tunisia/

How come the US media are not labeling the Tunisian Revolution?

I mean, you foolishly labeled Cedar Revolution and Orange Revolution and Green Revolution. You don't think that a Revolution against an ally of US and EU is worthy of a color label? Do you realize how politicized you nakedly appear in all your standards and coverage and labels?

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/14/how-come-the-us-media-are-not-labeling-the-tunisian-revolution/

Ceauşescu of Tunisia

I was watching the Tunisian dictator (beloved by Western governments) give his speech: he said that he would not seek another term in 2014. I have never seen him--or seen an Arab dictator--as nervous and hesitant as he was. He so much reminded me of Ceauşescu in his last days. He resorted to that line often invoked by Jordanian dictator, Khusayn among others, that he did not know what was going on. That his aides did not tell him what was going on and did not know that there was a dictatorship in the country. Theater of the absurd. The correspondent of the King Fahd's brother-in-law (Al-Arabiyya TV) must be in the employ of Bin Ali. He commented on the speech: and said that the speech will change "a lot" and that he seemed so close to his people because he spoke in colloquial Tunisian and that he made historic decisions that are expected by the Tunisian people. I heard from a Tunisian professor there: she said that there are shortages of food and there is nervousness and that most of the killing is committed by Bin Ali's militias which roam the streets (and wait on rooftops) and kill people.

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/13/ceausescu-of-tunisia/

Obama administration and Tunisia: damn the demonstrators

"MR. CROWLEY: But I would say yes, we’re concerned about government actions, but we’re also concerned about actions by the demonstrators, those who do not have peaceful intentions."

http://angryarab.net/2011/01/13/obama-administration-and-tunisia-damn-the-demonstrators/

[eomer]

12. This was before Obama said he wants us to live up to the expectations of our children.

The new policy is probably just not announced yet.

[dionysus]

13. You Better Believe You'd Make It About Obama Somehow!

FAIL

[Bobbie Jo]

22. +1

Lather, rinse, repeat....

[ProSense]

14. The coup is Obama's fault?

Foreign aid goes to a lot of governments for many reasons. This is a twisted perspective.

<...>

Zied Mhirsi, a 33-year-old doctor carried a sign that said, in English, “Yes We Can,” a reference to President Barack Obama, above “#sidibouzid,” the name of an online Twitter feed that has provided a forum for rallying protesters. On the other side his sign said, “Thank you Al-Jazeera,” in reference to the Arab news network’s month of extensive coverage.

more

I'm sure that's a sign the President supported the coup, huh?

[Catherina]

15. Epic fail in reading comprehension, epic fail. Obama supported the neoliberals

privatizing away the people's wealth. But I think you knew that.

[ProSense]

16. BS. n/t

[Catherina]

17. "fanatics and neo-Bolsheviks"

International Community Calls for Crackdown on Tunisia Violence
Lisa Schlein | Paris 13 January 2011

...

Mr. Haddad said President Ben Ali had no intention of stepping down. He must stay in power, he said, because Tunisia was threatened by fanatics and neo-Bolsheviks.

...

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/International-Community-Calls-for-Crackdown-on-Tunisia-Violence-113476029.html

Fanatics and neo-Bolsheviks, :rofl:

Arresting the head of the Communist Party doesn't seem like such a good idea in retrospect does it now Mr Haddad?

[Better Believe It]

18. neo-Bolsheviks? No. Just Bullshit.

[ProSense]

19. U.S. Condemns Violence Against Civilians in Tunisia

U.S. Condemns Violence Against Civilians in Tunisia

By Mike Dorning

The U.S. is monitoring reports that Tunisian President Ben Ali has left his country as the White House deplores violence against civilians there, an Obama administration spokesman said.

“We condemn the ongoing violence against civilians in Tunisia and call on the Tunisian authorities to fulfill the important commitments made by President Ben Ali in his speech yesterday to the Tunisian people, including respect for basic human rights and a process of much-needed political reform,” said Michael Hammer, a spokesman for President Barack Obama’s National Security Council.

Hammer said the administration believes “the Tunisian people have the right to choose their leaders and will monitor this latest development closely.”

Ben Ali handed power in the north African nation to Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi after Tunisia was placed under a state of emergency following demonstrations aimed at forcing Ben Ali to quit.

more

From the NYT

In his speech to the country, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said that “as the president of the republic is unable to exercise his functions for the time being, I have assumed, starting now, the powers of the president.”

“I call on all sons and daughters of Tunisia,” the prime minister said, “to show the spirit of patriotism and unity in order to enable our country which is dear to all of us to overcome this difficult phase and restore its security and stability.”

Mr. Ben Ali had dismissed his cabinet in the afternoon and called for new legislative elections to be held in six months.

That announcement followed an extraordinary back-and-forth between the government and protestors. After the president tried to placate the protestors Thursday with promises of more freedom, including a right to demonstrate, tens of thousands rushed into the streets of downtown Tunis Friday to take advantage of his pledge by calling for his ouster

<...>

[madrchsod]

20. the imf and the us government...yup, democracy builders

[Better Believe It]

21. Video of protests at:

http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish#p/u/4/BPyvrWblA0I

[Catherina]

23. Thanks. Algeria is hopping now too. n/t