by EMAD MEKAY
CAIRO, Jan 15, 2011 (IPS) – “Where can I find a Tunisian flag?” The question flooded Egyptian blogs, tweeter and Facebook pages minutes after news that popular protests had forced out long-time Tunisian dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.
Egypt is feeling the ripple effect from Tunisia already. Egypt’s 85 million people constitute a third of the Arab population. Until Tunisians ousted their autocratic ruler Friday evening after his 23 years in power, Egypt, a regional trendsetter, was seen as the first candidate for regime change by popular uprising in the Arab world.
John R. Bradley penned a book in June 2008 predicting a revolution in Egypt. He said the country was slowly disintegrating under the twin pressures of “a ruthless military dictatorship” at home and a flawed Middle East policy in Washington.
In his book, ‘Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution’, Bradely argued that Egypt was “the most brutal Arab state where torture and corruption are endemic” and it would therefore be “the next domino to fall” to popular anger. The book was banned in Egypt.
Inter Press Service for more