U.S. Ally Imprisons Opponent For 'Conspiracy' With Familiar U.S. Silence
The arrest of Nejib Chebbi, following a staggering 45-year combined sentence given to dozens of opposition leaders for 'conspiracy,' is starkly reminiscent of other U.S. allies tightening their grip. Just as the Saudi Kingdom routinely imprisons dissidents on vague 'terrorism' charges, and Egypt's Sisi cracks down on any voice of dissent, Tunisia's President Kais Saied is dismantling any pretense
of democracy. Where is the loud condemnation from Washington we hear so often when it's convenient? Oh, right. Saied's government is a useful regional 'partner,' receiving various forms of US economic and security aid, making his authoritarian pivot a matter of strategic blindness, not democratic concern. One might wonder if 'conspiracy' is simply the polite term for 'disagrees with the president'
when your government is propped up by outside interests. The silence from Western capitals isn't just coincidental; it appears to be a tacit approval of eroding freedoms, so long as their 'partners' remain compliant. It's almost as if 'democracy' is a choose-your-own-adventure story, heavily edited by geopolitical interests.