The United States should spend billions to support Tunisia economically and protect its democracy.
It is a democratic bright spot and model in the Middle East/North Africa region.
The US has spent untold amounts on wars throughout the area. Supporting Tunisia would be less expensive -- and might even spread democracy throughout the area.
Ben Ali is history.
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@Bumpercar The US should spend trillions on itself and write off the Middle East. Good night and good luck.
The New York Times' article 'Slap To A Man's Pride Sets Off Tumult In Tunisia' was the paper's first article on the Arab Spring, and it refers to Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali as 'president', not 'autocrat'. Your coverage of the Arab Spring was patently awful. Per usual, you change your tune (and refer to him as an oppressive autocrat) when it no longer matters to anyone.
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@Tad R. Utter nonsense. “President” was his title at the time, and is what any sitting president would be referred to, no matter how autocratic his policies. All news coverage at the time paid plenty of attention to the repressive polices of Ben Ali, Mubarak, Qaddafi, etc. that were fomenting the Arab Spring.
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Why do all the corrupt Dictators find safe haven in Saudi Arabia? This is the country Republicans and Trump want Americans to die defending? Never....There will be a revolution before any American dies for that Dictatorship.
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@DSD. the Saudi regimes supports anti-democratic regimes all over the ME and North Africa and tries to undo any move towards democracy. Sudan being a case in point. But Pompeo love the Saudi regime? Why?
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And of course who supported and comforted this dictator? Saudi Arabia. They are the major problem in the Middle-East and for a great deal of the rest of the world - and never forget 9/11 and where those terrorists came from! So long past time to cut ties with them and globally sanction them. The faster we can get off oil on to renewables the sooner we can leave these barbaric countries to themselves.
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