An American reporter (who praised oil Gulf countries in the past) talks about Bin Ali

""In the process of my work covering the Middle East, I had several interviews with President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and I did not find him to be the authoritarian dictator that young Tunisians now claim. He is a husky, handsome man with a strong, square face who cares deeply about his country. He talked brilliantly about the need of culture to bind people to their half-formed countries in the developing world, and spoke movingly about putting in place the preconditions crucial for lasting democratic development."" That is what I call intelligent and thoughtful analysis. (thanks Mathew)

PS Notice that she refers to the French colonial country, as "the motherland" of Tunisia.