# Will Tunisian revolution inspire actions in other nations? (Now following Egypt.) \[ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703 "2011-01-15T09:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/441 "2011-02-11T11:26:54Z")
Military is now, if confusingly, possibly backing Mubarak. This is not going to end well. The people will not give up. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/442 "2011-02-11T14:50:36Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Military is now, if confusingly, possibly backing Mubarak. This is not going to end well. The people will not give up. It appears that there will be blood. First, it will be blood of protesters but I`m sure it will end with Mubarak`s blood – that damn son of a bi\*\*h. And, unfortunately, blood means mass fear and in fear I would be worried that most extreme fractions might take over. If that SOB wants any legacy he should step down right now because possibility of infamy increases every day. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/443 "2011-02-11T15:10:13Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > If that SOB wants any legacy he should step down right now because possibility of infamy increases every day. Infamy is a legacy. For my part, all I want out of life is a chance to make a name for myself. A name that will be used to frighten small children for a thousand years to come. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/444 "2011-02-11T15:32:29Z")
[Mubarak leaves Cairo for the Sharm El-Sheik resort.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/11/501364/main20031477.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/445 "2011-02-11T15:36:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Mubarak leaves Cairo for the Sharm El-Sheik resort.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/11/501364/main20031477.shtml) Well, he’s had a hard couple of weeks and deserves a nice holiday. 🙂 I’m sure the fact there’s now 250 miles of desert between him and assorted angry mobs is coincidental. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/446 "2011-02-11T15:41:28Z")
Heh…[Garry Trudeau](http://www.doonesbury.com/) has been spot-on with his take on the MENA uprisings the last week or so. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/447 "2011-02-11T16:05:57Z")
Mubarak has resigned, the crowds reaction is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/448 "2011-02-11T16:10:37Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Mubarak has resigned, the crowds reaction is amazing. A ‘military council’ is taking control. A military coup in effect. Hopefully keeping their word to facilitate the transition to democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/449 "2011-02-11T16:17:13Z")
Two down. Who’s next? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/450 "2011-02-11T16:19:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Two down. Who’s next? I suppose the House of Saud would be too much to ask for . . . ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/451 "2011-02-11T16:20:50Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I suppose the House of Saud would be too much to ask for . . . Maybe not. But it WOULD be too much to ask for the US to stay at arm’s length on that one. There’s no way we don’t send in troops if it looks like the Sauds are going to topple. They’re our linchpin in the ME, even more so than Israel, because they have the most oil _and_ their ruling family is pretty touchy-feely with DC. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/452 "2011-02-11T16:22:22Z")
Could you give me Assad first? We can alternate - one pro-Israeli regime, one anti. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/453 "2011-02-11T16:23:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Maybe not. But it WOULD be too much to ask for the US to stay at arm’s length on that one. There’s no way we don’t send in troops if it looks like the Sauds are going to topple. They’re our linchpin in the ME, even more so than Israel, because they have the most oil _and_ their ruling family is pretty touchy-feely with DC. Conservatives here are always banging on about oil being fungible. We can let the Saudi people rid themselves of the vile dictatorship and buy the stuff on the open market like the good non-imperialistic capitalists they pretend we are. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/454 "2011-02-11T16:24:25Z")
It’s not a victory until there are fee and fair elections. Until then it’s just a military coup. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/455 "2011-02-11T16:25:12Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Two down. Who’s next? Oppressed peoples! Step right up! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/456 "2011-02-11T16:26:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Could you give me Assad first? We can alternate - one pro-Israeli regime, one anti. Which are the Sauds? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/457 "2011-02-11T16:28:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Which are the Sauds? Good point. I suppose it’s a matter of degree. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/458 "2011-02-11T16:33:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Which are the Sauds? Given the choices, the Sauds are more pro-Israeli than Assad. It seems like the countries that don’t border Israel (and therefore don’t have permanent camps of Palestinian refugees dotting their land) tend to be anti-Israel more for “street cred” and to throw out as a distraction to their restless poor. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/459 "2011-02-11T16:47:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Given the choices, the Sauds are more pro-Israeli than Assad. It seems like the countries that don’t border Israel (and therefore don’t have permanent camps of Palestinian refugees dotting their land) tend to be anti-Israel more for “street cred” and to throw out as a distraction to their restless poor. Dunno. Jordan is the most ‘Palestinian’ of states, but it is reasonably pro-Israeli. Iran has very few Palestinians, but it is the most relentlessly anti-Israeli state there is. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/460 "2011-02-11T16:51:24Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > It’s not a victory until there are fee and fair elections. Until then it’s just a military coup. I don’t think it counts as a military coup if the previously existing government was _also_ a military junta. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=24)