The Americans never learn

The Arab Spring, which began in 2011, was dubbed as the starting point in removal of dictators in West Asia and North Africa.

- HARSHA KAKAR

The Arab Spring, which began in 2011, was dubbed as the starting point in removal of dictators in West Asia and North Africa. The latest to face this change is Syria where Bashar al-Assad was recently overthrown by a loose rebel alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), after over fifty years of family rule. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has pledged governance as its intent. However, with the multitude of rebel forces involved, each with its own agenda, and sponsored by different foreign powers, the scenario is anything but normal.

The jubilation amongst Syrians at the removal of Assad was reminiscent of Saddam Hussain's dethroning in Iraq. The justification of the US in removing Saddam was possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction as also human rights abuses. The vacuum created post Saddam's removal opened doors for the emergence of ISIS which was subdued after years of fighting. It still exists in part of the country. While Iraq is a democracy, it remains fragile with sectarian tensions. Over 200,000 Iraqi civilians and over 4,500 US troops have been killed since Saddam's ouster in internal strife and attacks by ISIS.

Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began, transited to democracy and has since then been battling between democracy and authoritarianism. The economy has been sinking with international lenders demanding imposition of strict financial measures. The nation is now ruled by President Kais Saied, with absolute authority. Protests against him are ruthlessly suppressed.

Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown with US backing, is a nation split and in turmoil. Its armed militias hold sway backing the two centres of power which control the country, both opposed to each other. It is a nation with no shortage of weapons. Attempts at arriving at a ceasefire between the factions have failed.