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2003-08-01 Africa: North

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Posted by Rafael 2003-08-01 1:03:02 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Damn. Should've changed the headline to Tunisia.... But y'all can figure it out.

Posted by Rafael 2003-8-1 1:22:34 AM|| 2003-8-1 1:22:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 couldn't get on rantburg last night, and read some AWESOME stuff on USS Clueless regarding why the Arabs are failing to make it in the modern world.

Tunisia is doing better than the others: they'd do better still if they move further towards these pillars of modernity:

loosened censorship
equal rights for women
secular government and education
restrained restrictive religion

Posted by Anon1 2003-8-1 4:16:36 AM|| 2003-8-1 4:16:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 And guess which European country exerts the greatest influence there?! It ain't GB or Germany--it's France--they even have a Club Med there! OK--let loose Rantgurgers!

Posted by Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 9:10:25 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:10:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 most rational states in the arab world - Morocco, Jordan, and Tunisia.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-8-1 9:12:02 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:12:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 NMM

why is that surprising - i mean unless you believe that France is in full alliance with Al qaeeda, which is a pretty moonbatty belief if you ask me. France wants to maintain itself as an independent great power and so maintains close relations with lots of its former colonies - including Tunisia, Algeria, and lots of west africa states. Its their "sphere of influence". And IN that sphere they are quite eager to minimize or cruch Salafist influence - look at their policy wrt Algeria. Where bringing improvement to the arab world might incidently enlarge the US sphere of influence, like in Iraq or Palestine, there they are not so concerned with battling extremism.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-8-1 9:16:37 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:16:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Thanks for making my point LH--I'm tired of seeing France demonized on this site for one

Posted by Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 9:19:19 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:19:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Anon1: Good morning, my lovely. Tunisia actually has a women's rights section as part of its constitution. As far as I know, headscarves are banned for those who work, public or private. How they feel in their hearts is another question. Re secular govt., Bin Ali hates Islamists and suppresses (SP?)them to the hilt. Islamic studies are part of their curriculum, but only a moderate sort.
You're right on re censorship. Bin Ali runs a tight ship, for sure. NMM, France considers Tunisia as part of the "precarre" (didn't do accents over e, sorry) and it's a bit of a stretch for you to think France exerts great influence there. They don't tell Bin Ali what to do; rather he tells them what he's gonna do, and they can stuff it if they don't like it. After all, he's on good terms with US, GB, Ger. and EU. My gosh, you sound like a real supporter of neocolonialism.

Posted by Michael 2003-8-1 9:46:07 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:46:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 No, but know for a fact Tunisia and France have a long relationship and many Tunisians live/work in France

Posted by Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 9:53:44 AM|| 2003-8-1 9:53:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 the fact that Tunisia has rid itself of the cancer that was the PLO also would seem to indicate that it has moved on past the corrupt policies and economy of France. France-bashing here on RB? Pshaw! BTW NMM - it's Rantburgers, not gurgers :-

Posted by Frank G 2003-8-1 10:37:43 AM|| 2003-8-1 10:37:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 Howsabout Rantbourgeois?

Posted by Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 10:45:55 AM|| 2003-8-1 10:45:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Uh...too French :-)

Posted by Frank G 2003-8-1 10:47:21 AM|| 2003-8-1 10:47:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 Now Frank, he TOLD you not to bash the Frogs :-)

Posted by Steve White 2003-8-1 10:59:43 AM|| 2003-8-1 10:59:43 AM|| Front Page Top

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