I remember when Mubarek was a hero after Sadat was assassinated and he became a very liberal leader; likewise I remember the early days of Ben Ali - again a terrific liberal leader compared with Bourgiba, bringing in reforms and good changes.

What went wrong and did it? Aren't ANY leaders tempted by corruption, power and cash and don't they ALL lose their way? And was everything they did bad? I doubt it; the media and the mob love simplistic slogans and extreme pictures. That's why I hate the NATO interference in Libya and worry that Egypt and Tunisia are in trouble (women friends in Tunisia told me they are already suffering Muslim repression - one mooted idea is to stop all women working - a great idea if you're an unemployed male and thus popular with a big chunk of the population).

The media (including online) has a lot to justify.

JK2006 wrote:
What went wrong?

No opportunity to change the (corrupt) leadership, perhaps ?

In The Know wrote:
JK2006 wrote:
What went wrong?

No opportunity to change the (corrupt) leadership, perhaps ?

I really don't understand these people. Don;t you just rip off ..say $50 million, get a beautiful estate and yacht in the South of France and just piss off at the right time?

obviously complete power does corrupt.

fancy ending up on a stretcher in a cage in court

veritas wrote:
obviously complete power does corrupt.

fancy ending up on a stretcher in a cage in court

Still room in the cage (and at the ICC) for Assad, too, veritas !