Yikes ... in the words of Peter Rodino, "let us look before we leap."

While Tunisian President Ben Ali tonight promised not to seek a new term in 2014 & stated he would establish an independent inquiry into recent events, who can say what the next political national identity will be?

North Africa has seen the crazed violence that comes with elected regimes and elections that fail and falter, (Algeria) and such an out come in Tunisia would introduce great fodder for the radical Islamist virus that takes any weak host to its knees readily.

As is the case with anarchist behavior, Wikileaks has no world view; the consequences of acts that appear 'fun' and 'in your face' are that others get to die.
The regime may be "sclerotic" but a hard place transitions easier than a necrotic one. Beware of what comes from crisis here.

The Army has retreated from the cities and the burbs but 'special forces' remain and the cease fire that was promulgated over last night failed. Live rounds are being used and the word of mouth on the street is that manifestations will continue on.

We will see if the President's announcement will lance the boil(s) or fester them.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is about Tunisia and not India.

wasn't the catalyst the man who set himself on fire because the government took away his fruit cart, which led to people protesting in support? or were the protests happening before he killed himself?

I'm sure patriotic Americans will not have a problem with this.

http://hunchar.blogspot.com/2011/01/was-wikileaks-catalyst-for-tunisian.html

The only way democracy, tolerance, and understanding is by letting people know the truth. No weapon is more powerful than truth.

"WikiLeaks was blocked by the authorities and started seeking out dissidents and activists on social networking sites. "
Makes it sound like WikiLeaks was seeking out dissidents. In fact it was the Tunisian authorities who were spoofing FaceBook pages and collecting information from users, presumably to identify them.

This article seems to be cobbled together as a quick attempt to claim to be the first to "spot" a Wikileak revolution, but it only shows how ill informed and incapable of reflection the author is.

Here's an idea for Elizabeth: it's not the west, the western media, Julian Assange or Wikileaks that inspire people in opressed countries. The west and its opinions are not the centre of the world nor an inspiration for change. Do you think Mohammed Bouazizi gave a damn about anything like Wikileaks as he made the dramatic decision to take his own life? No: he thought close to home, he thought of the lack of the prospects, the lack of employment opportunities, the corruption, and the lack of voice for his peers.

The ensuing protests were inspired by his actions. After years of silence, the youth of Tunisia had found a symbol that embodied their frustration. They were shocked, moved and effected by the display of his despair. They took to the streets because they themselves had fought the same demons of despair. After his death, they rioted in anger and anguish to not let his death be in vain.

To suggest that this revolution is because of Wikileaks, twitter or anything but the power of the Tunisian people is an insult to proper journalism and an insult to the Tunisian people themselves.

Wikileaks sparked the Tunisian revolution? Please. This article is an ill informed puff job from an Assange sympathizer.

Bottom line: Assange is a public enemy, a terrorist who needs to be killed. As a soldier in the U.S. Army, I would be honored to be assigned the task of doing it. Otherwise, I'd be happy to pay for the munitions. It would be a rare, well-spent tax dollar.

My best wishes go out to the Tunisian people. I hope this works out well for them. But if it does, few will be deluded enough to belief that Julian Assange had anything positive to do with it.

People all around the world finally have a foolproof method to hold their particular government accountable. Wikileaks has opened a new paradigm that returns the power back to the people, and takes it away from the elite few who have refused for too long to allow the proper oversight into how they use our tax dollars, and how they operate in our name. No longer will the public be held hostage by back room dealings used to start wars, and execute decisions that are not of the common good.

Who elected you caesar, Julius? But seriously, it’s good to see that you take responsibility for the riots in Tunisia. It’s rare to see someone take ownership for the blood on their hands, as you have.

Look, if these Tunisia are as poor and struggling as we hear..... Just how are they able to afford internet, computers and such and if they are censored by their country leaders.......... How did WIKI...WIKI get to all of them and cause all of this trouble

This country is in the same state of being as Red China and our COUNTRY is right behind them.

The only way democracy, tolerance, and understanding is by letting people know the truth. No weapon is more powerful than truth.

This is the sort of half-baked observation that passes for wisdom. However, historical experience teaches us otherwise in the majority of cases when unpleasant realities are verified by well-meaning do-gooders----either the government reacts violently against its people or vice versa, causing the sort of catastrophe that the French Revolution and other uprisings resulted in. Those do-gooders are often the first to be killed----as in the Iranian demonstrations after the stolen election. Revolutions always devour their own children. Just ask Robespierre and thousands of other French revolutionaries.

I find it laughable that you consider yourself part of the everyone else mob. Do you count terrorists and other criminals as part of your crowd? You brag about never coming to my country as if I should care. If you are so threatened by the thought of free people who have the right to arm and defend themselves then I doubt you have the courage to do what is right. I hope you gain the wisdom some day to see the ignorance of your statement.

and ignore the message, ignore the real criminal and corrupt, that is the cause of the uprising. Wikileaks is the bad guy and whipping boy, ANYTHING but protest outlaw regimes, in Tunisa and elsewhere, including the USA.

If I outlive Assange, I will write to the Pope for a set of halo and wings for him. FINALLY REAL investigative jounalism. Those who stand against him prefer propaganda and the comfy zone called normalcy bias.

THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL much less acceptable about the outlaw regimes in power today. Good for the Tunisians staring down the devil and spitting in his face.

78 people are dead, 98 injured (so far) in the violence that ensued after WikiLeaks released this information.

This is what happens when amateurs play at diplomacy without regard for the consequences.

i think that the issue is not wikileads but the safty off our networks,