President Obama attempts to put us on the right side of this successful revolt:
"I condemn and deplore the use of violence against citizens peacefully voicing their opinion in Tunisia, and I applaud the courage and dignity of the Tunisian people," said U.S. President Barack Obama.
Other Arab autocrats aren't likely to appreciate that sentiment:
The violence and rapid turn of events sent shockwaves across the Arab world, where similar authoritarian rulers are deeply entrenched, but face mounting pressures from growing young populations, economic hardship and the appeal of militant Islam.
"The fall of Ben Ali marks the first ever collapse of an autocratic regime in the face of a popular uprising in the Arab world," said U.S. political risk consultancy Stratfor.
"Leaders across the Arab world, and especially in North Africa, will now look to the Tunisian example with concerns about how the situation could be replicated in their own countries."
This requires balancing on our part. Practically speaking, we have to deal with autocrats who control their country. But we should not turn our backs on the people who endure those governments. I still don't understand why President Obama turned his back on Iran's dissidents when they stood up to the mullahs. Luckily for us, this took place too quickly for us to decide to stand on the wrong side of the struggle.
Hopefully, we take this clear opportunity to promote democracy and rule of law in a Moslem country after it forced the strongman to flee. Ali's departure is only the first step if this is to mean anything. It would be a major fail if a new strongman takes over or Islamists manage to leverage power out of this uprising.
Hopefully, we can revive the winds of freedom that blew across the Middle East in 2005, before Iranian- and Syrian-sponsored violence surged inside Iraq to squelch that brief political spring.
Funny enough, Iraq--already free--has no need to fear ripples from this political earthquake.
I hope Washington won't let this crisis go to waste.
