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Christophe Ena / AP
A demonstrator throws a stone at police during clashes in Tunis, Friday, Jan. 14. Tunisia's president declared a state of emergency and announced that he would fire his government as violent protests escalated Friday, with gunfire echoing in the North African country's usually calm capital and police lobbing tear gas at protesters.
NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services
UPDATE: TUNIS, Tunisia -- Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said late Friday in a televised address that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has surrendered power and left Tunis.
Ghannouchi said that he would serve as interim president and will meet representatives of political parties on Saturday to form a government. "Tomorrow will be a decisive day," Ghannouchi told a private Tunisian television station in a telephone interview, Reuters reported.
Al Arabiya said a six-member leadership council would be formed to rule the country until elections. The council will be led by the head of Parliament and will include the defense minister.
Ben Ali had reportedly fled to Malta and was traveling under Libyan protection, Reuters reported. His exact whereabouts were unclear
Video: Ben Ali steps down amid protests
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to give Ben Ali permission to enter France, French media reported, citing government sources. Some members of his family have arrived in the country, the newspaper Le Monde reported. France controlled Tunisia as a protectorate until 1956.
Later, Al Jazeera television reported Ben Ali was flying to the Gulf.
The shakeup was certain to have repercussions in the Arab world and beyond — as a sign that massive public outrage could bring down a leader as entrenched and powerful as Ben Ali.
He had tried vainly to hold onto power amid riots, declaring a state of emergency, dissolving the government and promising new legislative elections within six months. A day earlier, he slashed prices on key foods such as sugar, bread and milk.
In other developments, Ben Ali's son-in-law, Sakher Materi, a prominent businessman, was in Dubai despite TV reports that he was under arrest in Tunis, an aide told Reuters.
"He has been in Dubai since midday today," the aide, who did not want to be named, told Reuters after he said he telephoned Materi to check his whereabouts.
Tunisia's private Nessma television station reported that Materi had been arrested along with several relatives.
Materi's wealth and business interests have been the focus of suspicion and anger from some Ben Ali opponents, who have accused the former president of nepotism.
President Barack Obama condemned the violence against protesters. He called on the Tunisian government to respect human rights and hold free and fair elections in the future.
Slideshow: State of emergency in Tunisia
-----------------------------------------------------
Gunfire in the capital
Earlier, gunfire was heard in the center of the Tunisian capital, as well as the popping of tear gas pistols as police fired on protesters. Police have repeatedly fired on crowds during nearly a month of riots.
Tunisia's official news agency said that Ben Ali had declared a state of emergency as riots escalated in his North African nation.
The government also imposed an overnight curfew and banned gatherings of more than three people state television reported. "Arms will be used" if Tunisians refuse to heed the orders, the state media reports said.
Ben Ali announced earlier in the day that he would dismiss his government and call new legislative elections after thousands of protesters marched through the capital to demand his ouster.
Protesters mobbed the capital of Tunis on Friday, fueled by pent-up anger at high unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt. Marching through the city, they demanded Ben Ali's resignation and some even climbed onto the roof of the Interior Ministry — a symbol of his repressive regime, which has been criticized as having enriched Ben Ali's family.
Many shouted "Ben Ali, out!" and "Ben Ali, assassin!" Another poster read "We won't forget," a reference to the rioters killed, many by police bullets.
Ben Ali promised that the early elections would take place within six months, the official TAP news agency reported. He made no reference, however, to any resignation of his own.
Helmeted police were seen kicking and clubbing unarmed protesters — one of whom cowered on the ground, covering his face. A few youths were spotted throwing stones at police.
Protesters shout slogans during a protest against Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali , in Tunis, Tunisia, on Friday.
'The people rose up'
The demonstrators were of all ages and from all walks of life.
"A month ago, we didn't believe this uprising was possible," said Beya Mannai, a geology professor at the University of Tunis. "But the people rose up."
The new unrest came just a day after Ben Ali tried to quell the uproar by going on television to promise lower food prices and new freedoms for Tunisians.
Ben Ali, 74, had maintained an iron grip on Tunisia since grabbing power in 1987 in a bloodless coup, repressing any challenges. He had locked up many opposition figures, clamped down on dissent and kept tight control over the media but had not been able to resolve the country's rising unemployment, officially at nearly 14 percent, but higher for educated youths.
The unrest began after an educated but jobless 26-year-old committed suicide in mid-December when police confiscated the fruits and vegetables he was selling without a permit. His desperate act hit a nerve, sparked copycat suicides and focused generalized anger against the regime into a widespread, outright revolt.
The official death toll in the riots is 23, but opposition leaders put the figure at three times that, and medical workers on Friday reported another 13 new deaths and over 50 injuries from late Thursday alone. Police have repeatedly fired on crowds with bullets.
U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks have calledTunisia a "police state" and described the corruption there, and social networks like Facebook have helped spread the comments. Many ordinary Tunisians who have complained for years felt vindicated to see the U.S. diplomatic cables.
Fethi Belaid / AFP - Getty Images
Tunisian demonstors gather in front of the interior ministry in Tunis demanding President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to resign on Friday. Thousands of protesters demanded President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resign in marches across the country on January 14, emboldened by his dramatic pledge to step down in 2014 in a bid to quell weeks of unrest. "No to Ben Ali, the uprising continues," hundreds shouted in a march down the main boulevard in central Tunis while thousands more took to the streets in other towns shouting "Ben Ali Out!".
Foundations 'sinking into the sand'
In a speech on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned countries across the Middle East to shake up corrupt institutions and reinvigorate stagnant political systems or risk losing the future to Islamic militants.
Wrapping up a four-nation tour of U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf with unusually blunt remarks to a regional development conference in the Qatari capital of Doha, Clinton said economic and political space must be opened up for the Arab world's exploding youth population, women and minorities.
Without that, respect for human rights, improved business climates and an end to pervasive corruption, she said young people and others will increasingly turn to radicalism and violence that will bleed outside the region, threatening not only Middle Eastern stability and security but the rest of the world.
"In too many places, in too many ways, the region's foundations are sinking into the sand," she told officials at the Forum for the Future conference. "The new and dynamic Middle East ... needs firmer ground if it is to take root and grow everywhere."
Clinton made her comments after visiting the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and Qatar. During her trip, civil unrest continued unabated in Tunisia and Algeria, Egypt remained tense after disputed elections and a political crisis hit Lebanon, underscoring what Clinton said where deep concerns about trends in the Middle East.
"While some countries have made great strides in governance, in many others, people have grown tired of corrupt institutions and a stagnant political order," she said. She appealed for leaders to heed calls to rein in rampant graft and offer all of their people a better way of life.
"Those who cling to the status quo may be able to hold back the full impact of their countries' problems for a little while, but not forever," Clinton said. "If leaders don't offer a positive vision and give young people meaningful ways to contribute, others will fill the vacuum."
"Extremist elements, terrorist groups and others who would prey on desperation and poverty are already out there appealing for allegiance and competing for influence," she said. "This is a critical moment and this is a test of leadership for all of us."
WikiLeaks: 'Chorus of complaints is rising'
U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeakshave described the corruption in Tunisia, and social networks like Facebook have helped spread the comments. Many ordinary Tunisians who have complained of corruption for years felt vindicated to see the U.S. cables.
Many Tunisians respect Ben Ali, but many also have grievances with him and members of his family, some of whom have prominent roles in business and public life.
The U.S. ambassador to Tunisia at the time, Robert Godec, wrote about the president in a July 2009 cable published by the WikiLeaks website: "He and his regime have lost touch with the Tunisian people."
"Corruption in the inner circle is growing. Even average Tunisians are now keenly aware of it, and the chorus of complaints is rising," the cable said.
Tunisia's style of government, say some analysts, sits uneasily with the growing sophistication of its people. Tunisia has a large middle class, people are well-educated, and many have close ties to Europe.
"In Tunisia, the educated middle class is exasperated. Hence the involvement of lawyers and academics in the protests," said Benjamin Stora, a leading French historian of the Maghreb region that includes Tunisia. "This (the wave of unrest) looks like a real
social movement to try to unlock the system."
And social media has played an impotant role: For example, Facebook users make up 18.6 percent of the population, according to Internet marketing consultancy socialbakers, a higher penetration than in Germany.
"The whole story would not have been the same without Facebook and Twitter and other new media," said Ahmed Mansoor, a UAE-based rights activist and blogger. "It played a vital role in bringing what's going on there [in Tunisia] to the world."
'Clearly something going on'
The unprecedented riots that have shaken Tunisia have been closely followed on regional satellite television channels and the Internet across the Middle East where high unemployment, bulging young populations, sky-rocketing inflation and a widening gap between rich and poor are increasingly of concern.
"There is a danger in ... getting a bit too comfortable with the 'Arab state will muddle through' argument," said Stephen Cook of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations in a blog this week. "It may not be the last days of Ben Ali or (Egypt's President Hosni) Mubarak or any other Middle Eastern strongman.
"But there is clearly something going on in the region."
"This could happen anywhere," said Imane, a restaurant owner in Egypt who did not want to give her full name. "The satellite and Internet images we can see nowadays mean people who would normally be subdued can now see others getting what they want."
While in recent decades democracy has supplanted despotism in regions once plagued by dictators, governments in the Arab world are almost uniformly autocratic and heavily policed.
Yet some think the concessions wrung from Ben Ali, as well as efforts in Algeria to appease anger over price increases, have punctured the fear factor that has long kept discontent in check across the region.
"Perhaps all the Arab governments are monitoring with eyes wide open what is happening in Tunisia and Algeria," columnist Abdelrahman al-Rashed wrote in Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
"Much of what prevents protest and civil disobedience is simply the psychological barrier," he said. "Tunisia's president has promised all he can to stop the trouble and Algeria reversed price decisions, but the psychological barrier is broken."
Travel alerts
In Tunisia, the demonstrations started in mid-December after an educated but jobless 26-year-old committed suicide when police confiscated the fruits and vegetables he was selling without a permit.
The riots this week reached Tunis, the capital of this North African tourist haven on the Mediterranean.
The unrest was taking a heavy toll on the key tourism industry there, which is known for its wide sandy beaches, desert landscape, ancient ruins and bustling bazaars.
British tour operator Thomas Cook said it was asking its roughly 3,800 British, Irish, and German customers in Tunisia to leave the country, while some 200 Dutch tourists were repatriated Thursday night via a chartered flight.
U.S. and European governments have issued a series of travel alerts warning citizens away from nonessential travel to Tunisia.
The unrest was having diplomatic consequences as well.
Tunisia's ambassador to the U.N. cultural and educational agency resigned amid the deadly riots. Mezri Haddad, ambassador to Paris-based UNESCO, said on France's BFM television Friday, "I am resigning today."
He said he is resigning because he doesn't want to contribute to something that "is the opposite of my convictions and my conscience."
Leave a Comment:
coming soon to America !
To compare America's problems to Tunisia's is nothing short of retarded.
If they had a constitution like ours, they wouldn't have these problems.
Isn't Luke Skywalker from Tunisia?
yeah they wouldn't have riots like the ones in LA and detroit and Harlem and Watts.Our constitution prevented them from happening.I say let them kill each other.
Welcome to the future , fewer army's , fewer deaths and change brought on by men/woman standing (or running) together for the children who they are very aware, have no chance unless they speak out in a focused cohesive manner.. OH and of course a camera to record history, an face to post it on immediately ,,,,,,,,
Long live Gandha and the spirit of democratic reform world wide thru peaceful progressive ways
Human rights over corporate rights, human responce-ability has come nearly of age, about time, about time and space an as the song goes life in the human race
No, silly... Everyone knows that Luke Skywalker is from Ireland.
The constitution lives in the hart of each American and as such we the people validate it and grant it our power. If those that wield that power rip, tear and burn the harts of the American people then you will see the same thing in the US as your starting to see in other parts of the world.
In fact, I thing the we would have a lower tolerance than most parts of the world. We would be quicker to riot and our government would have less support from police officers and enlisted personnel.
Hmmmm...
(opens journal, grabs pen and writes)
"Arab people are fighting for MORE freedom"
(closes journal)
No, no, no. Luke Skywalker is from England. Luke McSkywalker is from Ireland.
History of this country reads like the way the Shah of Iran ran his.
Just wait a bit. Our constitution is being dismantled piece by piece...from liberal courts to executive orders. It won't be long before we see something similar...
Yeah, if wasn't for GW we'd all be living in a communist state!!!
Pfft...moron.
travis it is you who is a Fool if you don't think all the left liberalism isn't bringing the American people to thier knees
All the scare tactics all the policical correctness the sold out politicians afraid to stand up for Americans we are losing our country to capet baggers by people like you
I didn't really see too much U.S. involvement mentioned in the article. As long as we don't send troops in to "stabalize" an area that's been unstable for years, I'm just fine.
When one cannot calmy state their opinion without progressive name calling, that underscores the the type of behavior that erupts in violence. Tonight, a statement incites flaming. Tomorrow, it induces riots.
And here come the completely irrelevant comparisons to the Obama Administration....
No @!$%#, right?
High unemployment( 14%, comparable to our own), especially amongst educated youth, corruption and greed in places of power, widening gap between rich and poor, rising prices for basic needs - explain now why comparing America's situation to Tunisia's is "retarded"...? Doesnt matter the language you speak or the rhetoric of your nation - joblessness, poverty, and idled youth - no matter how opulent or legendary a nation's history is - is a recipe for riots. USA is not immune, and its the ones busy wrapping themselves in the flag that will be caught most off guard when people take to the streets in large numbers here. It will be the jobless youth that will start rioting. That is what history shows us again and again. Rob the future of the youth, and look out.
Why can't this country mind it's own business? Every time the USA sticks it's nose into other countries business or problems it always comes back to haunt us and more people around the world hate us and want us dead. The USA will never learn.!!!!!!
Maybe because the United States is a true democracy and not a backwards dictatorship disguised as something else.
I tend to agree with you,the youth of today are far less patient than when I was 20 some 30 years ago.
No It isn't ONLY the administration who put us in a scenario worse than Tunisia's, It's those who don't practice Economic Logic and continue to ask for more cash to supply social waste and entitlements and pensions and union (auto industry) bail outs........
Actually the US is a republic, not a democracy. A democracy is where everyone votes on all issues. A republic is where representatives are elected to vote on issues. The only true democratic state was Athens Greece about 2000 years ago.
That said, comparing the US to Tunisia is not "retarded". The US is headed down that road and we will get to that point if whats happening here continues. We are not quite there yet, but it is definitely possible. The Constitution is a major shield, but it has been run over rough-shod in recent times including a certain someone saying that it was just a peice of paper.
lol, yeah, someone is going to compare the health care law to authoritarianism.
There is a Supreme Court of Canada file #31539 and a companion file from the Federal Court of Canada T-2027-06 which is posted on an independent website www.law.avva.ca. Both of these cases show influential people can abuse or ignore our well written laws to harm ordinary people. Ordinary people expect our legal and/or political representatives to put the "public interest" before self interest because that is what they are paid to do....
However, it isn't happening and assets are taken and lives willfully destroyed (il)legally. Courts, right up to the SCC, do not order the verifcation of paperwork when requested through Court Motion Records, subpeonas and warrants by Ind. Forensic Auditors and U.S. authorities. This isn't much different than those countries being reprimanded/rebuked for corruption, nepotism and justice systems that needs repair!!!
Democracy is fragile.... and our leaders ought to make sure their finger pointing isn't just a diversion to enable them to keep doing what they are doing to their own people. Allowing an ever increasing gap to grow between those who have, and those who do not have access to basic necessities, including a working justice system, is one sure way to repeat history's examples.
Hate to bust your chops there Travis, but there's nothing "True" about our Democracy, never has been, never will be (it's been owned since before day one). It's just smoke and mirrors, baby! It has nothing to do with entitlements abatta-whatever, thats miniscule to the 10's of trillions of dollars that our real masters posess, and they ain't the government, and are way past politics, which is just a tool for them to keep us distracted.
Fire Krotch, The name "Travis" should have clued u in to not respond to his opinion. It will fall on deaf ears and blind eyes, He is one of the sheeple.
Travis read more than the Main Stream Media Please http://www.zerohedge.com/article/four-financial-farces%E2%80%A6-all-which-will-end-disaster
Hahahahaha you got a bad way of looking at things, go watch the children play an come back when your willing to act like a grown up in 2011 not 2001.
Might doesn't make right nor money buy happiness, pity the ultra wealthy they do.
Please, Get over the info shock an be part of the solution or part of the problem.
USA is not the end but rather the beginning, not the worse but the best is yet to come.
Dream on Gerry!! Better check what's in your water, you're nearly incoherant!
Fire Krotch.......It's just smoke and mirrors, baby! It has nothing to do with entitlements abatta-whatever, thats miniscule to the 10's of trillions of dollars that our real masters posess, and they ain't the government, and are way past politics, which is just a tool for them to keep us distracted.
You are obviously someone like myself, who has been through the looking glass and seen the hidden truth. Did you notice the "us" and "test of leadership" that Hillary used in her statements? Who is the "US" she speaks of?....
"Extremist elements, terrorist groups and others who would prey on desperation and poverty are already out there appealing for allegiance and competing for influence," she said. "This is a critical moment and this is a test of leadership for all of us." SO.... rather than have the so called terrorist groups prey on the underprivileged by offering them at least a stand up fight, "US" will allow the underprivileged cake to eat and make them go quietly.
I have a tax statement here says I live the one percent lifestyle with homes in three nations, one without a real national debt one without a complete school system an one with a bunch of men who act like only there opinon matters. Refusing to grow up or in shock about the information they gleem in a instance of sanity, that appears to send them off on some ego trip.
no @!$%# it anit great, however the conservation way of blame an shame my god is bigger or better than you god with my way or the highway military spending off budjet wars etc etc an corp banking interests running free an totally incharge you spout out you are doing something for the common folk, the poor or those who have less.
All u need to do is get off the pc an blogin n find a rec center or third world country and go there. Your presence will change the neighborhood an the neighborhood will change you.
I fought for the USA, live learn and laugh often, ususally I stay as brief as i can.. not into your rant style but I shall again stay on bit incoherant for your comment..which has very little to do with Tunisa.. (((a place of great people with a great culture history and future ,esp if they to do take the nation futher ahead and show the rest of the arab world))))
The best is yet to come, like it or not the common man has never been more important or able to witness more or have any connection to the rest of the world in which we all live. We are more alike then different. So so sorry if that lowers your ego and dims your view of me, the world or the future an your place in it.. I dont' care. the topic was revoluton in Tunsia we already had ours.
This anit no dress reherasal, this is life liberty an the pursuit, there is no money back: no luggage racks on a hearse, nobody gets out alive.......alwasy going to be about the others in your life . Get over yourself an as the song says find something to love.
In a speech on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned countries across the Middle East to shake up corrupt institutions and reinvigorate stagnant political systems or risk losing the future to Islamic militants.
Myself, i'd just like to see a shake up of OUR corrupt institutions and reinvigoration of OUR stagnant political system here in the US. Sometime I feel like we stick our nose in everybody's business and let our own country go down the tube.
Amen to that debtfree-1174430. As the saying goes: "why do look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
It is much more convenient to go around lecturing the world about democracy and equality of opportunity and human rights etc... while those same principles a being stumped upon daily here at home.
Let's look at just these three principles:
Isn't democracy supposed to be a government by the people for the people?, Not here anymore, now it's by the corporations for the corporations
How about equal opportunity:it is simply hypocritical from the secretary of state from a country where the top 1% is illicitly richer than the bottom 80%
And human rights. what a joke, how can she even utter these words with a straight face when we spend more dollars on correctional facilities than on higher education?
There is no Democracy. Money talks. Crap walks. Just ask the Masons. I better be careful. I could end up in a burning car somewhere.
Anarchy always follows when the politicial pondiff's in charge do not consider what is good, and fair, for "all the people!" Some believe that this could not ever happen in the USA - but it already has - anyone remember the Revolutionary War? Hillery Clinton, and Democrat's, need to heed their own advise!
It just happend last week in Arizona. One government official dead, one injured and a few civilians casualties. The Riot, caused by one person which has been labeled mentally disturbed. Maybe our gov. should take some responsiblity since every time a new law is passed it affects people differently.
I agree that comparing the USA with Tunis or any other Middle East country is not toally correct. it is true that if unemploymnet rises too hight, as do prices, and the cost of other important goods and services that you will see some "push back". However, We are a different people -- Those who blame President Obama and the Democrats simply have a 'short-sighted' if not toally wrong-view of history. The "clash between the classes' is not due to democrat polict -- but instead GOP plicy . The rich should not pay taxes and force wages down. That does not work, While pundits on both sides -- but easpeically people like Rush, Hanity or Palin claim to be speaking for the "real Americans" -- how can they/ they don't work real jobs and have to worry about making a living -- how many of you out there make 6 or 7 figure imcomes for talking a few hours a day and few days a wee a nice studio? Don't let those who havew much to personal gain on your backs tell you they are one of you. Think and reserach and use your own brains. Don't forget: "ditto" is an out of date cheap copy that stinks!
You're exactly right, Chris. But how did he get into power to begin with? Hitler rose to power by demonizing the banks and the government they had in power when the bottom dropped out (even though their economy had been heading downhill for many years - the current German "administration" was solely blamed). Also, he painted himself as a man "of the Germanic people". In some of his early speeches, he aligned immigrants and anyone not "natively German" (by his definition) as part of the problem. He demanded the German people take back what was "rightfully theirs" by any means necessary. I see many of these same parallels in US politics today and it makes my skin crawl.
I have seen it every week on Glenn Beck. That guy seems to have a real love of NAZI stuff. That is scary. He is doing the same thing --demonizing the "powers that be" and calling for "real Ameircans' to take back what is their from the evil ones (read: immigrants, blacks, jews, anyone who does not allow him to achive his personal mission).
Why should the Democrats and Hillary need to worry about revolution. You think only Republicans are pissed about whats going on? More Democrats have lost good jobs than Republicans, apparantly, as it's Democrats that are being demonized by the right for being unempoyed "freeloaders". Enjoy your job for now as you're next!!
God bless "Ameirca"!!
And our first class education system!
I kan speel gud!
Why is it when one blogger doesn't want anyone to really think much of another's blog they mention spelling. Is that supposed to negate what he said. I know as far as your concerned you won. Must be another Neoclown.
this has got to have Qaddafi shaking in his boots
At least the Tunisian people decided to overthrow their government instead of blame their problems on capitalist America like some other predominate Arab countries I know of...I hope everything works out for them, no one has immediate fixs to the problem but at least it's a step.
i agree with tamaralh.tunisian people love america.do some research.they are good people.hope they make it.and to yu ingrate americans im a babyboomer and it doesnt mean a thing.pay your taxes and obey the law.this is a great country.
RIGHT ON! "OUR GOVT" does stick it's nose in everyone's business but can't (won't) get it's own business straight!
"Coming soon to America" The professor there said he didn't think it was possible until the people rose up.
I wonder how long it will take Islamic Fundamentalists to fill the void.
Maybe obama will follow and leave the United States....
It will take more than one elective term to make all the changes Obama suggested...give him a chance. He took office during one of the worst economical times in history.
WRONG! He's done the opposite of almost everything he promised! No second term will help that.
We don't want all of the "changes" he has suggested. Thank God he can only serve 4 years before he is up for re-election or in his case if he stays to the left he will get the boot like those in Congress did.
comeonthink-1819153==
And, I'd imagine your other opinion is, if McCain/Palin would have won, we'd all be gazillionaires, with a grizzly on every table, Salmon stuffed in every freezer, and Moose antlers hung at every front door.
Maybe this time the far right lets palin run for president,that will certainly guarantee 4 more years for whomever the dems run
I agree Michelle.
@Tracy1973 - I hope you feel real stupid when he gets re-elected. You might want to specify who "we" are because I couldn't disagree with you more.
Lionel - No more stupid than you if he DOESN'T get re-elected.
Right on MS
conservative values of greed and my way or the highway.my god is better than your god. created by Nixonfordreagunbuswackers, (with help from conservative demo)
We feel human rights is something american's can build on .. . We tired your way, military industrail complex/corp banking has been tried an failed . 17 trillion and counting..
amen Trent Balzar,the 9/11 answers are a joke,
If no one would take over years ago who will do it now?
This man obviously was doing a job no one else wanted to do and it will be interesting to see what will eventually become of the governments postion on unemployment.
mubarak you are next
you are so right ever since the murder of anwar sudat no one had a clue of the real deal !!!
I enjoyed vsiting Tunisia very much and fear this uprising is a more than clear indication of how much unrest there is worldwide. Tunisia was always peace loving and excellent in the ways of diplomacy, yet nobody's fools. The country is beautiful and we felt safe at all hours of the day regardless of where we walked. I made a friends there whom I have kept to this day. We rarely spoke about politics over the years, but they semed content and indicated the rest of their nation was also prospering, yet not without its normal difficulties. I must call them over the weekend as this article was my sole alert to the riots.
When a nation like Tunisia resorts to this action one MUST beleive how very dangerous matters are, elsewhere, worldwide.
Other African leaders have a lesson to learn from the experience of Tunisa. You may not be able to fool people all the times. Time is running out, impact your citizens in a positive way before the force you to change course.
good, now freeze his assets.
Well, yeah, except that the Tea Partiers are by and large privileged, white, over-upholstered reactionaries...their beef at the end of the day is with the end of white supremacy in the USA and is in no way comparable with what is going on in Tunisia.
majimportax - I think you are a racist.
A Veteran, as a fellow veteran, quit embarrassing us veterans or change yor name.
Fire Krotch - I served 3 years in Vietnam, at the DMZ to earn the right to say whatever the "F" I want to, and neither you or anybody else is gonna stop me, got it? Other than that, thank you for your service and welcome home. Go to www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html
FK is no veteran
Because comparing America's situation to Tunisia seeks to implicate our current legislative body in this debauchery. Our country's demise began TEN YEARS ago under the rule of George W. Bush. We are now cleaning up his mess...
I'm with you except I think it's four decades as opposed to just one. The mess that is today's American economy began with St. Ronnie Reagan.
or was it 98 years ago when Pres Wilson gave our country to the federal reserve
Did Hillary include the corrupt regime of Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and not to forget Kuwait?
Here's a toast to people power. Bravo.
Obama is next.
No, Peter, you are. Hey everybody, Peters IP address is 46.142.24.109. Have at him!
You are no Assange there FK....don't fool yourself.
EWS100%: I also visited Tunisia recently and the town of Hammamet where the unrest started. There are upsides and downsides to this. Yes, the country needed to get rid of this dictator and his family who were looting the country. The downside is that the economy and personal rights can't be restored until things calm down.
It is so sad to read all the posts that show the incredible ignorance of U.S. citizens who prattle on about conditions in other countries and try to draw parallels where none exist. Try to follow news from sources that are truly international. That means: not faux news (FOX for those who can't figure this out). Use the BBC. Use Reuters. For heavens sake - travel a bit and talk to real people who work every day. remember that Fascism is right wing. The righties would like you to believe otherwise so they can continue to weave lies.
Papa Smurf... you seem to be the only one on this blog I wouldn't consider "certifiable".
Papa Smurf couldn't have articulated things better. I have lived in Tunisia for seven months and am witnessing this historical event first hand. As far as the past few days, the fact that the protesters got as far as central Tunis meant that the police couldn't contain the situation. "Disaffected youths" are the worst kind -- they have nothing to lose, so they lose touch with any kind of moral compass that may keep them in touch with some kind of desire for actual diplomacy. Then again, I'm living in an African nation which was pillaged and ruined by a European superpower for many years -- that breeds a deep kind of resentment that only needs a few inches to explode in all directions. The unfortunate response by police was to open fire into crowds of people on the street when no immediate threat to them was being displayed, while many innocent bystanders were shot. A colleague of mine and an American - being one of them.
Today, I have been a basket of tears - but they are happy tears. It is the beginning a revolution here, history in the making and witnessing it has been an overwhelming experience filled with supreme joy for the people of Tunisia. It was the first day of true peaceful protests - where police/militia were forced to NOT use their guns or tear gas pistols and allow thousands all of over the country to chant and cheer. They are tasting what we Americans take for granted - freedom of speech. The chit chat I've grown to understand from my Tunisian friends about President Ali and his family has finally surfaced . I am truly hoping that this continues towards a positive and peaceful conclusion.
This is the problem with a totally open press. It is very difficult to keep the population under control when folks like Wikileaks undermine everything by exposing the truth.
China has it right. Censor everything anybody sees, reads, and hears. Only the government should be in charge of information. This is the only way to guarantee that men like Ben Ali will not have ruled in vain.
I'm not going into Tunisia to try to restore order. "Bullet the Blue Sky," U.S government, Ronald Reagan should have never have went into that Central American country in the 80's. This is MSNBC, so I can safely say that I hated all that Reagan stood for!
This guy comes up to me
His face red like a rose on a thorn bush
Like all the colors of a royal flush
And he's peeling off those dollar bills
Slapping them down
One hundred, two hundred
And I can see those fighter planes
And I can see those fighter planes
Across the mud huts where the children sleep
Through the alleys of a quiet city street
You take the staircase to the first floor
Turn the key and slowly unlock the door
As a man breathes into a saxophone
And through the walls you hear the city groan
Outside is America
Outside is America
"He tried vainly to hold onto power.." Don't you mean, "He tried in vain...?"
Or was he holding up a mirror to his well-coifed hair while attempting to govern?
Obviously not a piece of top journalism here if you can't even get the cliches right!
I'm laughing right now but this actually makes me feel a little sad. YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL WRITER!!
Actually, K, I believe that is proper usage. Vainly becomes an adverb modifying the verb 'tried'.
He tried to hold onto power. The definition is contextual. In some ways either definition would do. He either tried to hold onto power through conceit, or his attempt to hold onto power was useless. I think the latter is the most definitive of the thought. Maybe both. This may have been a well thought out construction.