President of Mauritania overthrown

[ilikeverin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4741243.stm

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Nice going ousting the theocrat.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Too bad that we already voted Taya off in the World Leaders Survivor.

[John Dibble]

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Let's hope they fulfill that promise.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

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Let's hope they fulfill that promise.

Judging by history in Africa the odds of that are probably about 10% or so. Probably will be like Pakistan.

Still this guy was just a Islamic-forcing dictator anyway, I'd take the military junta over him.

[John Dibble]

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Let's hope they fulfill that promise.

Judging by history in Africa the odds of that are probably about 10% or so. Probably will be like Pakistan.

Still this guy was just a Islamic-forcing dictator anyway, I'd take the military junta over him.

Yeah, that's why I said 'let's hope' - not a good chance, but you never know.

[minionofmidas]

Taya'd taken office in a similar coup 21 years ago.
Coupists now struck during his absence, away to bury King Fahd.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Coupists now struck during his absence,

Classic

[M]

Actually, he really was more the type who used Islamism in place of communism as an excuse to jail or "diappear" enemies. In fact, the new junta is more likely to be Islamist.

The good news is that Nigeria and the AU are pissed. The bad news is that despite a surprisingly coordinated and forceful verbal response to recent events in Togo, these same entities failed to prevent the rise to power of the late dictator's idiot son.

[WMS]

'The African Union said it "strongly condemns any seizure of power or any attempt to take power by force".'

Yeah, how dare force be used to overthrow a tyrant.

Maybe this will be a good thing, maybe not...not certain yet.

[Jake]

Perfect timing

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

He wasn't the worst of tyrants.  He at least went through the forms of democracy and there is some evidence that in local elections he even allowed it.  It's doubtful that this will matter much outside of Mauritania.  In the unlikely event that Mauritania goes off the deep end and tries exporting militant Islamic fundamentalism elsewhere either Morocco or Algeria has the capability to take care of Mauritania without outside assistance, and both would have the motivation.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Coupists now struck during his absence,

Classic

Just like Qaddafi and the regime Pol Pot deposed.

[WMS]

He wasn't the worst of tyrants.  He at least went through the forms of democracy and there is some evidence that in local elections he even allowed it.  It's doubtful that this will matter much outside of Mauritania.  In the unlikely event that Mauritania goes off the deep end and tries exporting militant Islamic fundamentalism elsewhere either Morocco or Algeria has the capability to take care of Mauritania without outside assistance, and both would have the motivation.

Hell, Senegal can - and has - kicked Mauritania's ass before.

[Max Power]

Coupists now struck during his absence,

Classic

Just like Qaddafi and the regime Pol Pot deposed.

If you think Pol Pot was better then his predecessor, you seriously need to rethink your priorities.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Coupists now struck during his absence,

Classic

Just like Qaddafi and the regime Pol Pot deposed.

If you think Pol Pot was better then his predecessor, you seriously need to rethink your priorities.

I never said he was.

[Lunar]

'The African Union said it "strongly condemns any seizure of power or any attempt to take power by force".'

Yeah, how dare force be used to overthrow a tyrant.

Maybe this will be a good thing, maybe not...not certain yet.

The AU seems to be very blatantly condemning every shift of power.  It's almost like they're worried about the same crap happening to their countries or something .... nah.

I just wish the military had combined its efforts with popular support or some civilian institution.  The military is inherently an anti-democratic organization (officers aren't elected), which would make me doubt its effectiveness in being able to implement democracy before even considering the fact that this is Africa we're talking about.

What's done is done, I hope the military opens up the country to investment and whatnot, or the people of Mauritania will suffer.

[John Dibble]

'The African Union said it "strongly condemns any seizure of power or any attempt to take power by force".'

Yeah, how dare force be used to overthrow a tyrant.

Maybe this will be a good thing, maybe not...not certain yet.

The AU seems to be very blatantly condemning every shift of power.  It's almost like they're worried about the same crap happening to their countries or something .... nah.

I just wish the military had combined its efforts with popular support or some civilian institution.  The military is inherently an anti-democratic organization (officers aren't elected), which would make me doubt its effectiveness in being able to implement democracy before even considering the fact that this is Africa we're talking about.

What's done is done, I hope the military opens up the country to investment and whatnot, or the people of Mauritania will suffer.

Yeah, if they at least open up at least a somewhat free market with free trade things should go fine.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I just wish the military had combined its efforts with popular support or some civilian institution.

had that happened, the plan would've probably been uncovered and thwarted. Whatever the case once the announcement was made reports say that there was celebrations in the streets and all passers-by to the capital honked their horns in support. So they have the support of the people now.

BTW, the Bush admin has condemned this coup. Ah, Bush the old dictator lover!

[WMS]

'The African Union said it "strongly condemns any seizure of power or any attempt to take power by force".'

Yeah, how dare force be used to overthrow a tyrant.

Maybe this will be a good thing, maybe not...not certain yet.

The AU seems to be very blatantly condemning every shift of power.  It's almost like they're worried about the same crap happening to their countries or something .... nah.

I just wish the military had combined its efforts with popular support or some civilian institution.  The military is inherently an anti-democratic organization (officers aren't elected), which would make me doubt its effectiveness in being able to implement democracy before even considering the fact that this is Africa we're talking about.

What's done is done, I hope the military opens up the country to investment and whatnot, or the people of Mauritania will suffer.

Yeah, the AU member governments aren't worried at all about being overthrown.

Too early to tell with the military-civilian bit.