The upcoming Tunisian stage seems to be open to great mystery following the optimism which prevailed during its first days. The Jasmine Revolution is standing at a crossroads and is carefully deciding its next steps to figure out the direction it will take and the real identity it will bear. Is it a mere popular uprising to topple Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and the group of people who were closely connected to him, his contemptible wife Leila Trabelsi and her family members? Or is it a revolution with long-term goals aimed at eliminating all that which was represented by the previous regime, its president, government, party and institutions, so that Tunisia can be led in a new direction? Amid this mystery which was exposed by the schism that affected the first government of Mohamed Ghannouchi in the “new era” following the resignation of the ministers affiliated with the uprising, the Jasmine Revolution is threatened of being hijacked by many sides. This is due to the fact that those who were behind it – if there were indeed particular sides behind it – are insisting on ignoring the security mayhem which is still ongoing in the streets of the Tunisian cities. It would thus be better for the latter to become aware of that fact that the beginnings of popular uprisings are one thing, but their conclusions are a completely different thing. Many are awaiting the first train or plane heading toward Tunisia to hijack the Jasmine of the Tunisians. Some of them have arrived from Paris – such as Moncef Marzouki, the leader of the left-wing Congress for the Republic Party – others are packing their bags to come from London – such as Rashid Ghannouchi, the leader of the Islamic Renaissance Party - and some are living in Tunisia itself and awaiting the right opportunity. There are numerous and conflicting projects which the oppositionists whose political activity was banned by the previous regime and who are now trying to seize the opportunity are dreaming about. The left-wingers are raising the slogans of reform based on the fact that the ongoing presence of the faces of the previous era and the figures of the Constitutional Democratic Rally during the next stage, will obstruct the reform which in their opinion is needed in Tunisia. As for the Islamists, they are looking beyond that, i.e. looking toward the elimination of the civil and secular identity which Ben Ali made sure to maintain in continuation of the reforms of Habib Bourguiba, but which greatly damaged them to the point of eliminating the values of modernity and democracy without which there can be no civil state, thus causing the corruption and the oppression which characterized most of his lengthy rule. It is important for those awaiting their opportunity in Tunisia to pay attention to the fact that the old regime has not completely collapsed. What happened in Tunisia was not a revolution, and none of those who are now rushing to ride the wave had anything to do with it. It is important for the latter to remember that had the army wished to enter the confrontation arena and uphold the old situation, the change which they are now celebrating would never have been seen, and Ben Ali would have still been sitting in the Carthage Palace right this day. In other words, General Rashid Ammar would not have booked a one-way ticket for Ben Ali out of the country, and would not have – by use of the military – stood in the face of the gangs which tried to spread security mayhem during the last few days in order to regain their control. Moreover, the Tunisian army is recognized for having refused to abide by the orders to shoot at the protestors in the streets, considering that its role was to protect the country, not the regime. It is important for the oppositionists of the former regime to know that the foundations of that regime are still in place, at the head of which is the security protection provided by the army to the new rule. This army received a civil and secular education, and it would be difficult for it to allow any Islamic or left-wing infiltration to benefit from this opportunity or ride the wave of change. Unless they realize that, Tunisia will remain threatened, just like other countries in which the regimes had nothing left but the use of security power to protect themselves. In this case, the Jasmine Revolution will have smothered its dreams with its own hands.
