Operation Tunisia

[Magda Hassan]

If they take it up it will show a lot about who is behind much of this.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\02\22\story_22-2-2011_pg4_5

Reuters
February 21, 2011

US offers Tunisia security aid for model' revolution

* Senator John McCain says Tunisia has become a model for the region

TUNIS: Washington has offered Tunisia help in shoring up security following its "model" revolution, US Senator John McCain said on Monday.

A popular uprising in the North African state last month ended president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's 23 years of rule, sending shock waves through the Arab world and inspiring further revolts, one of which toppled Egypt's president 10 days ago.

"The revolution in Tunisia has been very successful and it has become a model for the region," McCain, the leading Republican on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told Reuters after meetings with Tunisian government officials.

"We stand ready to provide training to help Tunisia's military to provide security," he said.

Elections to replace Ben Ali are expected by July or August. But new protests have erupted in recent days against the interim government tasked with organising the vote for failing to address rising crime rates and lingering poverty.

Tunisia's ouster of Ben Ali...inspired Egypt's uprising and has also encouraged mass demonstrations elsewhere in the Arab world, including in neighbouring Libya where scores of people have been shot dead by security forces.

US Senator Joe Lieberman, travelling with McCain, said the situation in Libya was "tragic".

"The Tunisian military played a constructive role... but the military in Libya has been against the people," Lieberman told Reuters. "That is unacceptable."