from the
point of view of America and many of its allies, the most menacing symbol in
the Arab World today is not Osama bin Laden but another Arab who recently met a
violent death - Mohamed Bouazizi, the 26-year-old Tunisian fruit vendor who
chose to set himself on fire after being harassed by corrupt local police.
His act, of
course, ignited the storm that has spread across the Arab World and proven a
much more serious threat to America’s allies in the region than al Qaeda ever
was. Ironically, his sacrifice probably also dealt a far more devastating blow
to al Qaeda’s fortunes than the assassination of Osama bin Laden.
Though Osama
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda have yet to be credited with overthrowing and Arab
regime, the spark provided by Bouazizi has already led to the downfall of
American-backed tyrants..., and continues to threaten other despots.
Ironically,
most of the leaders overthrown or desperately trying to hang on to power had
declared themselves implacable enemies of al Qaeda.
viril arabic
spring
dark age of
despotic powers
US and al Qaeda
quot: Lando, Barry, “Osama Bin Laden - Everyone’s Missing the Point”, i The
Huffington Post, May 17, 2011