Newsweek et le monde arabe :

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Lu dans Newsweek de cette semaine : "A dictator dispatched"

" The fall of Ben Ali has accomplished one thing nonetheless: it has exposed the corrupt common denominator of every regime in the Arab world. They are all, in effect, mafia states -entire nations run by families for their own benefit. Whether they call themselves republics or monarchies, whether they are allied to the United States or opposed to it, are on the list of states supporting terrorism or fighting it, have made peace with Israel or not, they are all family business. Whether they claim to be secular or follow Sharia or try to chart a course in between, their governance has less in common with the Magna Carta than it does with La Cosa Nostra."

C'est superbe, il n'y a rien d'autre à dire !

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Autre extrait : The Public's enemies

- Syria : The Assad family has been in power 40 years. Bashar, 45, inherited the presidency from his father, Hafez, in 2000. Other family members, also have influential roles - and sometimes violent rivalries. Last week the U.N. Special Tribunal for Lebanon handed down sealed indictments expected to implicate high Syrian officials and their Hizbullah allies in 2005 car-bom murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

- Egypt : Hosni Mubarak, 82, has been president of the Arab world's most populous country for the nearly 30 years. His willingness to share power continues to diminish as he ages, and he's now expected to have himself reelected rather than make way for his younger son, Gamal. His older son, Alaa, is known as a passionate football fan, but he handles the family's business interests and his connections are allegedly too shady even for Egyptian politics.

- Libya : The wildly eccentric Muammar Kaddafi, 68, has been in power 41 years. The day after President Ben Ali fell in neighbouring Tunisia, Kaddafi warned there could be chaos and slaughter. Many Tunisians took this as a veiled threat. Meanwhile, at least two of Kaddafi's sons are grooming themselves to succeed him.

- Yemen : Ali Abdullah Saleh, 64, has ruled in Yemen for 32 years. His government is crucial to the fight against Al Qaeda, but largely ineffective. One reason : close relatives hold most key positions. Saleh reportedly wants his son Ahmed, now head of the Yemen Republican Guard and the special forces, to succeed him eventually as president.

- Algeria : President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in office since 1999, had plans to name his younger brother as his successor. But Gen. Mohamed "Toufik" Mediène, head of the intelligence services since 1990, thwarted him. The dark intrigues by these competing capos include allegations of rural massacres, massive government fraude, and high level assassinations.