Saturday, March 05, 2011

Middle East and North Africa Political Revolution

Here were a handful of countries that were doing well, were peaceful and unassuming. Until something triggered a domino effect that started with Tunisia and shook the entire MENA. Tunisian big man bolted, left the country. Egyptian president stepped down. Other countries in the region quickly started providing consessions to keep their people happy, promising they would allow for leadership change.
Libya also found itself in this wave. I had been hearing that Qaddafi was so good for his people, everything was free and plentiful, why would anyone rise up against this person? Well, I do have a reason to believe that in this one case there could be some external coercing: The country is rich in oil, and many a power would like to lay its hands on that oil, they can't do it with Muamar Qadaffi in power. So when this godsend of turmoil in the region ensued, the agents went into an overdrive to see to it that something gets done. As the situation there is far from stable, with loyalists and militants still in running battles, time will tell.
I've also been thinking who might benefit most if almost all MENA countries changed governments or became lawless like the Somalia of today. I wonder if some little, cunning, non-arab country in the region is behind this caper!

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