What Is The Impact Of Tunisian Unrest On The Middle East?

January 23, 2011 C-SPAN http://MOXNews.com/
Michael Koplow, Georgetown University, Department of Government shares the latest on the unrest in Tunisia, what that means for the stability of the region and what role should the U.S. play

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• What
• Is
• The
• Impact
• Of
• Tunisian
• Unrest
• On
• Middle
• East

[expresso58]

@democratichypocrit

Generalizations on all Arabs ? I' m not sure I'd want them to generalize all Americans.

[Vebinz]

@expresso58

As I stated, the US supported these regimes, and thus it's call for democracy is hypocritical.

But aside form that, in theory, no nation is obligated to push its values onto others.

And again, I question your use of 'freedoms". It's a relative term. Liberals call abortion an important freedom, but to conservatives it is murder.

[expresso58]

@Vebinz

The simple point is that it is the Tunisians that want the freedoms (We supported Ben Ali...simply read the wikileaks cable). They made the revolution happen. It was not the U.S.

Maybe the real rub is that we cannot control the people in MENA region...to simply do our bidding ....lock stock and barrel. But if you think living under a dictatorship is fine...then do go live in one and try it out and give me your feedback !

[democratichypocrit]

Not 2 sure why the Arabs r worried. It just doesnt make sense that they have taken 2 the streets. They drive at 100 mph, n fog, dust storms, day or night. They r not worried about dying, saying "enshala". If u r not worried about dying at 100 mph down the road n the fog, why cant u say enshala with what the govt does? Afterall, how u drive on the highway can & will effect u directly. Yet what govts do will only effect u indirectly the majority of time. Arabs r actually comedians dont u think?

[Vebinz]

@expresso58

Well, putting aside the fact that I question "universality" of these values, there is still nothing that shows why the US or any other nation is morally obligated to push its values onto others.

What if a nation was pushing onto others values you don't find so "universal",would you still support such a practice?

[expresso58]

@Vebinz

1) Average Tunisians actually do want freedoms that many take for granted in the U.S. Many that I have met in Tunisia noted that they would have hoped that the U.S. reps would have been seriously engaged in pushing for at least some basic human rights, freedom of speech..etc. Values that are universal !

2). "Proof is in the pudding" - majority of Tunisians do want a democratic nation, with similar freedoms. Clearly as evidenced by this "revolution". Why not get on with it ?

[Vebinz]

@expresso58

How is it anti-American?

I agree it is hypocritical, but only because the US verbally pushes for these things, but if it didn't, then there would be no hypocrisy. nations aren't obligated (nor should they be) to push values they themselves believe in.

[expresso58]

Koplow, the stooge,continues to push forward wrong policies that puts the U.S. interest on the wrong side of history.

Hypocrisy really comes through when on the one hand freedom and democracy (right to free speech, practice of religion, freedom of assembly..etc) is embedded in the U.S. constitution, but on the other hand there is this resolute and unmitigated support of thugs, dictators and authoritarian regimes who will not allow their people basic rights or dignity . How anti- American !

[EncompassedRunner]

very informative, though I wish he would have mentioned Libya

[Churchx77]

I loled too.