Oil and The Amazonian Guard

There are some amazing things happening in the Middle East, that's for sure. Not sure how it will all shake out but it's good that something is happening. Some people over here are nervous because we tend to think about the oil first (Libya is the largest oil producer in Africa), but for the people of these countries, this is the first time many of them are able to get out and protest in public. As one Libyan protester said "The fear wall broke", people aren't scared to come forward and challenge tyranny anymore.

 

I think the globalization of culture has done much of this. They see on the internet and in the movies how people in other countries live and they want some of that freedom. It's no accident that dictators tend to want to suppress these cultural views from reaching their people in the same way religious leaders want to suppress opposing religious views - doubt leads to free thought and that is dangerous and they know it.

 

Protests are ongoing now in multiple countries in the Middle East and North Africa and the pressure is on. It will be interesting to see what happens. Each country is different and I wonder how Libya will shake out. The Colonel is clearly insane, but that never stopped anyone from retaining power, in fact it may just help - look at Edi Amin Dada. Ghadafi does have sexy bodyguards though so he can't be entirely whacked. Maybe only 99%.

 

Whatever happens I hope it's what's good for the people, oil be damned.