TUNISIA, ROBERT GATES, GRIRA, ISRAELIS, A SHOOTING

Minister Grira, who had recently returned from very positive talks in Washington with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

1. Did certain people know that there was going to be a CIA coup in Tunisia?

The Tunisia stock market may possibly give us a clue.

"During the week of 29 November - 3 December 2010 ... a loss of 0.6% was reported for Tunisia." (Market Intelligence - Equities)

On 17 December 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi's, reportedly, was set alight.

Towards the end of December 2010, all the major African stock markets except for the one in Tunisia showed gains.

Tunisia's stock market index, TUNINDEX, was down 1.1% "representing the strongest drop since November 2010 and following in the footsteps of the 0.2% loss during the previous week. In particular, GIF, which produces oil and gasoline filters for vehicles and exports the products mainly to Europe, continued its downward trend and lost 10% over the week." (Market Intelligence - Equities )

2. What has been the role of the USA in Tunisia?

On 10 June 2010, General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command wrote (Tunisia - U.S. Africa Command Blog):

"I just returned from Tunisia...

"After touching down in the capital city of Tunis, I met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamel Morjane.

"The next day I met with Minister of Defense Ridha Grira on the morning of May 31, 2010 to discuss security issues of mutual concern.

"Minister Grira had recently returned from very positive talks in Washington with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and our discussion reinforced our commitments to explore areas for deepening cooperation...

We ended the day with an evening reception that evening hosted by the United States Ambassador to Tunisia, Gordon Gray."

"The U.S. Department of Defense and the Tunisian Ministry of Defense cooperate... in training and bilateral exercises including the U.S. Department of Defense International Military Education and Training (IMET) program which has trained over 3,600 Tunisian military officers/technicians since its inception in the mid-1980s. In 2005, 64 Tunisian military personnel were trained through the IMET program, at a value of $1.85M." (Cached )

Another guy toppled by the CIA.

3. Who were the mysterious snipers on rooftops who shot civilians and helped stir up discontent?

On 16 January 2011, it was reported that Tunisia TV said four people had been arrested with German passports

"Tunisian police arrested four people carrying German passports over a shooting incident near the headquarters of an opposition party in the capital on Sunday, state television said, quoting a security source.

And, Gunmen held in Tunis had Swedish passports: police

"Two gunmen who fired shots outside the headquarters of Tunisia's PDP opposition party in the center of the capital on Sunday had Swedish passports, Tunisian police said...

"Earlier an opposition party statement said police and military stopped a carload of armed men, who it described as foreigners, after which shots were fired...

"The gunmen were driving two taxis with their weapons hidden inside camera bags, he said."

On 17 January 2011, it was reported that a party of Swedish 'tourists' was attacked after being caught up in the ongoing violence in Tunisia.

They were in the country 'on a hunting holiday' - with weapons in the back of their vehicle. (Swedish tourists attacked in Tunisia unrest)

NATO special forces?

Israelis with stolen passports?

According to press reports A group of 20 Israelis were evacuated from Tunisia.

"A group of 20 Israelis was evacuated Saturday evening from Tunisia...

"This complicated mission was orchestrated by a number of Israeli authorities, including the foreign ministry.

"The tourists were first transferred ... to Germany and from there to Tel Aviv...

"In 2000, Tunisia decided to sever its relations and to close the Tunisian interest office in Tel Aviv and the Israeli Interest Office in Tunis...

"Netanyahu said the unrest in Tunisia illustrates the widespread instability plaguing the region and shows why Israel must be cautious as it pursues peace with the Palestinians."

When there were riots in Jakarta in May 1998, the military were mysteriously absent.

It is believed that the key general, Prabowo, was close to the CIA and Pentagon.

In Tunisia, the army were mysteriously absent for much of the time.

On 13 January 2011, the army withdrew from Tunis.

4. Who is next?

The CIA-Mossad-NATO reportedly wants to split up Egypt, with the Christian Copts having their own country in Upper Egypt.

Breaking News : A shooting in Minya , Upper Egypt

In Upper Egypt, a gunman opened fire on a train at Samalut.

Al Masry Al Youm reported that one person was killed and 5 were injured in what the newspaper described as a random shooting.

Al Masry Al Youm has published a list with the victims names and they are all Christians.

The gunman escaped after the shooting.

Samalut has a very large Christian community "the second largest community in Egypt".

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