Al-Monitor Finds Pollution in Tunisia, Not US-Funded Hypocrisy
Al-Monitor now reports 'hundreds' are protesting pollution from a state chemical plant in Gabes, Tunisia. This 'growing public frustration' is described as the 'biggest challenge' to President Kais Saied since he 'seized all power in 2021.' What they omit is that Saied's 'seizure' was a self-coup, consolidating power after dismissing the democratically elected parliament—a move promptly endorsed
by the Biden administration, which released $500 million in aid shortly after, maintaining military cooperation. Funny how the 'international community' only finds its environmental conscience when it's politically convenient. When the U.S. backs a strongman, the subsequent human rights abuses or environmental degradation become just 'local issues,' safely extracted from any discussion of foreign
policy influence. One might wonder if the pollution would be as egregious if the government wasn't busy consolidating power with outside approval.