U.S. Ally Tunisia Cracks Down on Rights, U.S. Media Yawns
ABC News reports on a Tunisian court suspending prominent human rights organizations, framing it as a straightforward 'crackdown.' What they omit, naturally, is the playbook. This isn't an isolated incident; it's a staple in the region for leaders consolidating power. Consider President Kais Saied's power grab since 2021, moving Tunisia from a nascent democracy back towards autocracy. Where's the
U.S. outrage, the swift condemnation, the 'democracy promotion' funding? Oh, right, it typically only arrives when the autocrat in question isn't deemed a 'partner.' One might wonder if the U.S. finds a 'stable' strongman more convenient than a genuinely democratic (and potentially unpredictable) system, especially when regional stability is prioritized over pesky human rights. The silence from
official Washington, echoed uncritically by much of the U.S. media, speaks volumes. It appears some crackdowns are more equal than others in the eyes of alleged democratic champions.