Despots Dictators & Tyrants

I've been to all the North African countries except Algeria. I've also been to a lot of countries in the Middle East including Yemen. So I'm really interested in the current political situation. Several things amaze me:-

• The bravery & power of ordinary people.
• The speed of the "domino effect" across country boundaries as they realise that they can do it.
• The fact that they are so similar to us & want democracy & freedom
• The mind boggling corruption of the leaders who have robbed their people of not just millions, but billions of dollars. How much can one person / family / tribe spend?
• The lengths that these men will go to to retain power.
• Their ability to repress their citizens & deprive them of their human rights.
• The fact that Western politicians, particularly America & the UK, have supported these unspeakable tyrants for their own self interest for decades.
• Our complicity in allowing our governments to support these regimes.

I so admire what the people - old / young, rich / poor, educated or not, of different religions & political beliefs - are achieveing. We should support them in any way we can, without self interest, namely their oil wealth. They should be allowed to decide their own future & follow their own path to it.

We should stop our arrogant interference thinking that our way is best. We have a lot to learn about co-existance. We have made enough of a mess of it over the years. History is littered with the mistakes of the Western Powers & America which have led to many of the problems the world now faces.

It's about time we learned the lessons. Sadly I don't think we will & future generations will pay the price.