Jun 2012 - A study conducted by the International Labor Organization declares that the Arab Spring has not helped Arab youth in terms of jobs.
The number of unemployed youth, especially university graduates, has risen.
Youth unemployment is now nearly 30% in both Egypt and Tunisia.
Ben Ali made Tunisia the most successful country in Africa, but he was not cooperating fully with the USA.
Tunisia supported neither the 1991 Gulf War nor the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Ben Ali supported the Palestinians.
Ben Ali in Tunisia had to be demonised and toppled.
Ben Ali was popular, until there began a campaign of demonisation. (We have been to Tunisia).
1. In September 2010,
Tunisia ratified the international treaty banning cluster munitions, becoming the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to do so.
Tunisia, under Ben Ali, is not believed to have used, produced, stockpiled, or transferred cluster munitions.
2. The 2010 Corruption Perception Index was released by Transparency International on 26 October 2010.
The report shows that Tunisia was the least corrupt country in North Africa.
August 2010: The 2010 report of the Oxford Business Group on Tunisia referred to the stability and social peace prevailing in Tunisia.
4. September 2010: Tunisia held the top rank in Africa (and the 32nd world position out of 139 countries) of the most competitive world economies, according to the report on world competitiveness 2010-2011 published by the World economic forum of Davos.
It thus moved ahead of numerous EU member states such as Spain (42nd), Portugal (46th), Italy (48th)....
Tunisia's ratings in 2010.
5. January 2010:
Tunisia was ranked best Arab state as regards quality of life with 59
points out of 100, moving up 3 points compared with 2009, by "International Living'' magazine , out of 194 countries.
Tunisia's ratings in 2010.
Starving ragged tools of the CIA?
Tunisia had a very low crime rate. In 2002 Tunisia's murder rate stood at 1.22 /100 000, the lowest in Africa.
(Country Profile: Tunisia)
We are being lied to about Leila (above)
Leila Ben Ali founded the Basma Association in 2000 to help secure employment for the disabled, and 'has chaired the organization ever since'.
Under her leadership the association has provided micro-finance
loans, secured employment for many and opened a center for the disabled in October 2010.
[5]
The center provides technical training in a number of fields including
computer science, embroidery, carpentry, theater and music.
[6]
The First Lady also started SAIDA, an initiative to improve cancer treatment, in 2010.
Mrs. Ben Ali was active in S.O.S. Gammarth and El Karama, which provide care for orphans and promote and protect human rights, respectively.
[7][8]
Leila Ben Ali established the Arab Women’s commission for International Humanitarian Law which serves to promote international humanitarian law by increasing awareness and providing
training programs for governments and humanitarian organizations.
Sarkozy, alleged agent of the CIA, refused Ben Ali entry into France.
The first lady has also made domestic violence prevention a major priority of the AWO, and has called for greater public attention and reporting of violence against women in the home.
[9]
In a recent interview in Trends Magazine, the First Lady asserted the importance of Arab women in sustainable development and bettering the Arab women’s image were her main objectives as president of the AWO.
[6]
The first lady has been recognized for her contributions to these organizations in a variety of publications.
In 2000, she was selected as the "World Family Personality" and in 2003 deemed "Person of the Year" in the Russian magazine The World of the Woman, for her activities to promote social welfare and women's rights.
More recently, the first lady was chosen as one of the world's 50 most influential Arabs by Middle East Magazine, a publication based in London.
[10]
She has been commended for her work with the AWO to increase women's capacity in all fields and positions, and for increasing cooperation among Arab states on women's issues.
[9]
The first lady has also been recognized by the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM) for her role in empowering women in economic development.
[11]
According to Google: not many people have read: TUNISIA R.I.P. - THE CIA'S JASMINE REVOLUTION
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.
~~
TARPLEY ON TUNISIA & CIA COUPS
TUNISIA, ROBERT GATES, GRIRA, ISRAELIS, A SHOOTING...
TUNISIA R.I.P. - THE CIA'S JASMINE REVOLUTION
Aangirfan.blogspot.com’s Regional Traffic Ranks