After a meeting with Tunisian President Beji Essebsi, President Obama announced he will formally name Tunisia as a “major non-NATO ally.”
Obama dubbed the move a “critical time in world history,” and a reflection of Tunisia’s Arab Spring revolt, and “change to a more open and competitive economy.”
Major non-NATO ally status is historically granted only to a few of America’s largest allies, and will include major new military ties and $500 million in loan guarantees for Tunisia.
That the tiny country of just 10 million people is considered a “major” anything by the United States is somewhat puzzling, particularly as the two nations have limited ties of any sort.
The timing is also bizarre, coming amid talk of adding Saudi Arabia and other GCC members to the list. Tunisia is not a GCC member nation, and that they’re behind Tunisia on the list may further irk the Saudis.
Have to be able to "legally" flood the area with American made weapons…to keep things safe for democracy, of course.
It looks to me like a redo of 1900-1913 when Kaiser Willy of Germany tried to make friends everywhere.
You're sure he didn't say minor?This means when the Islamists attack Tunisia we'll assist them in every way possible.A death knell for Tunisia.
This is all New World Order sh-t!!
The last time anyone attacked Tunisia, it was Israeli troops landing in the capital of Tunis. They were trying to kill Arafat in his HQ there. Missed, but they shot the place up.
So, who would we help?