So the democratic government of Mauritania--the only democracy in the Middle East and North Africa if you don't count Cyprus--was overthrown. I am suspecting U.S./Israeli/Saudi hands in this, and my suspicions increased when I watched the coverage on Al-Arabiyya TV. Israel was not pleased with the democratic change as it reflected public disgust with Mauritanian-Israeli ties (forced on the regime by the U.S., as usual). But then again: this would not be the first time that the U.S. overthrows a democratically elected government. But then again: the U.S. supports democratically elected thugs, crooks, thieves, and gangsters like `Abd-us-Sattar Abu Risha and Muhammad Dahlan. That should count for something, no?