Reply #4: True only to an extent. Everybody in Tunisia surely knew already,

[Ghost Dog]

but seeing the veil lifted in front of 'Western' international eyes must have felt liberating, and new media have certainly provided some powerful tools.

Traditional professional journalism can work also. My printed copy of El País this morning (from their correspondent on the ground) in part reads:

""Esta es una revolución blanda, sin armas", se enorgullecía Keskes, quien sí acertó en otro pronóstico. "Ben Ali tiene que elegir entre el poder o su esposa". Ha optado por Laila Trabelsi, la odiada ex peluquera, cuya familia ha atesorado una fortuna incalculable." - which I'd translate as: ""This is a velvet, unarmed revolution," Keskes said proudly. Another of his predictions has also come true. "Ben Ali has to choose between holding on to power or his wife." He has chosen Laila Trablesi, the hated ex-hairdresser whose family has amassed an incalculable fortune."

The article goes on to say that, at the time of writing, most properties ("mansions and shops") that had been damaged or looted belonged to this Trablesi clan (like most of the Tunisian economy, apparently).

Tunisians of course already knew all this.

So, yes: Shades of Imelda Marcos there, and even worse. But, and this is very important, in the Maghreb, and in a very Arabic part of the Maghreb at that. Algeria being Algeria (and Kings of Morocco not usually being fools), all eyes will be on Libya and especially Egypt next. In the latter case, the US Embassy and State Dept. will no doubt be working overtime to maintain a semblance of status quo. But in the former...?