Updated Title: World Revolution 2011

How fantastic is it to see these countries making changes? I love that we're seeing these types of changes from the people that live there rather than going in and forcing it down their throat.

Not only are these people ready for a change, since they've done it themselves they're going to work even harder to make sure it sticks and makes their country better.

Lets just hope these changes are for the good and don't turn out like Iran did back in the 80's (I think it was the 80s).

Lets just hope these changes are for the good and don't turn out like Iran did back in the 80's (I think it was the 80s).

Iran overthrew the Shah in 1979 through a movement led more by religious leaders and less by democratic leaders. The slogan of the Iranian revolution was "vilayat-i-faqih," or "let the religious leaders rule." Given that the leaders of movements in places like Tunisia and Egypt have hoisted the flag of democracy rather than religion, it seems reasonable to expect that the revolutions will turn out differently.

Besides it's not 1979 any more. There are plenty of folks in Iran today who wish that their revolution had worked out differently.

Lets just hope these changes are for the good and don't turn out like Iran did back in the 80's (I think it was the 80s).

Good point. It is a bit of a concern in places like Yemen, where Al Qaeda has a presence there and could take advantage of the instability to take over. Although, I feel that the rhetoric behind these protests are not in line with Islamic fundamentalism.

Does anyone else find it amusing that Iraqis are protesting for change/freedom now given that we brought them change/freedom back in 2003?

I was reading about the Yugoslav Wars recently and about the student led movement that contributed to Milosevic's ultimate surrender and two things stand out to me.

One, that they were doing much of what the youth in those countries today are doing. But without the benefits of social networking. And two, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the CIA were covertly assisting these students with their overthrows much like they have in years and decades past

Movements and Campaigns (http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/index.php/movements-and-campaigns/movements-and-campaigns-summaries?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&sobi2Id=16)

Does it make sense for the U.S. to do so? I could understand Libya a little bit but Egypt/Jordan/Yemen where they have a friendlier regimes in place?

Only on a web board could someone speaking of current conditions be told to "give it a rest" and have that followed up by slamming a president who has been out of office for over 2 years. I actually laughed out loud.

Are you kidding? A president's actions/consequences don't disappear when his term ends.

Are you kidding? A president's actions/consequences don't disappear when his term ends.

Again, I was not saying that Pres. Bush's actions as president aren't relevant. But to tell a person who is commenting on a current president to "give it a rest", while bashing a former president (probably for the thousandth time) is hilarious to me.

It's amazing how everyone just basically got up the balls to express how dissatisfied they are with their current regimes. In those countries it's damn scary to speak out, you can get killed for it. But en masse, they're doing it.

Just goes to show how the people there are not at all different from us (except for the religious nutjobs). They just want to be heard and to be free.

Social media played a role too. Good job Zuckerberg.

In some weird parallel universe, I suppose Zuckerberg should get a Noble Peace Prize. Without the advent of facebook (and Twitter), I just don't see this happening. Certainly not as swiftly with the whole world watching.

Best part about the viva la revolution is Al Qaida and Ole Bin Landen are pissed.

A. They arent playing any part in it
B. These protest and revolutions are literred with democratic and power to the people rhetoric. Not the usuall military, violent regime changes people are used to in that region. They are really pissed about that.

This has to be the largest benefit to the U.S. and other countries as it relates to the threat of terrorism.

The protesters have essentially snatched away the anti-west message from al- Qaeda and their operatives, which was a prime recruiting tool. Now young people see that non-violence works. That they do have a voice, that opressive regimes can be overthrown. AQ is significantly weakened by these turn of events in my opinion.

Again, I was not saying that Pres. Bush's actions as president aren't relevant. But to tell a person who is commenting on a current president to "give it a rest", while bashing a former president (probably for the thousandth time) is hilarious to me.

Good point, how 'bout we stick to the topic, and quit bashing current and former presidents.