Events speak for themselves: Egyptians head back to Tahrir Square, Khadaffi improbably outlasts Charlie Sheen, Newt and T-Paw while Assad’s pretense of being a covert reformer is toast.
The diverse participants in the ‘Arab Spring’ lost their inescapable innocent naivete the hard way. A painful recognition that can only be experienced first hand, not told. Sympathy for them does not extend to vapid American self-congratulatory, exuberant naivete. As if American self-love for our addiction to burps, tweets, etc. was the true causative narrative. Unlike the protesting multitudes challenging authority, Americans have no legitimate claim to innocence, just more of the same simplistic hubris.
Oh, and happy birthday South Sudan. Welcome to the party.