Our governments are highly selective when it comes to democracy. They use as an excuse to depose out-of-favour leaders like Saddam, manipulate it to keep stability in troubled regions like Rwanda, where Kagame rules with an iron fist and wins "democratic" elections by 95%, or downright ignore it when it comes to allies like Mubarak. Grumbles about the Middle East Peace Process being threatened are nonsense - the only achievement so far is that Israel hasn't nuked anyone, and quite frankly that's all that will ever be achieved. A small state of Zionists surrounded by angry Muslims, some of whom have been displaced is never going to be peaceful. Suck it up.
There is a fear that Islamic extremists will take over countries like Tunisia and Egypt, but I don't think this will be the case. This generation have lived under autocratic and undemocratic governments all of their lives and groups like the Muslim Brotherhood do not offer the freedom and equality they crave. It is becoming harder and harder for regimes to cut off their populations from the outside world and control communication. Twitter and Facebook have proved instrumental in these protests and given soul to these generic fluffballs of social networking.
Protests are mounting in Yemen and Algeria, and all eyes are on who will fall next. I'm rooting for Iran and Saudi Arabia. How I would love to watch the Saudi Royal Family fall. This is one of the most exciting periods in political history in years; in a year's time the whole of the Middle East could be under new rule.
I hope our governments will embrace these movements more, and relish the opportunities they bring, but will resist the temptation to meddle in them. These movements must be the will of the people, after decades of domination, it is finally their time.
