Wikilution

Tunisia is not a country most of us spend a lot of time thinking about.  In ancient times, it was the site of Carthage, which was famously delendoed by the Romans after their little attempt at invading Europe with elephants proved to be an embarrassing failure.  I know a few people who’ve been there on vacation and, per their reports, they have lovely beaches.  However, nobody ever speaks of its geopolitical importance or its strategic location.  I don’t think they even have oil.

So, the fact that they are currently having a revolution, dictator for life (since 1987) Zine el-Abidene Ben Ali has fled the country and there is total confusion and uncertainty has not even made the front page headlines.  Admittedly, there is some other crazy stuff happening in the world.

Potentially a Mediterranean Paradise

The interesting thing about the “Jasmine Revolution” as they are calling it, is that it is the first political upheaval which was inspired, at least in part, by Wikileaks.  That is, everybody in the country knew that Ben Ali was crookeder than a dog’s hind leg, but it was some American diplomatic cables which pointed out that the president’s wife Leila made a ton of money building an exclusive school that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

Of course, we don’t know what the final outcome will be.  This could be the beginning of a golden era of peace and democracy for Tunisia, or it could lead to a government worse than the one which just fell.  It could lead to revolutions throughout the Arab world and beyond, or it could fizzle out.  However, it is a change, and where there is change, there is hope.

Keep the information coming, Wikileaks.  The people are watching.