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Some may argue, that there is a similarity between the 89/90 uprisings and todays arab revolutions:

- 20 years ago the superpower USSR stopped to side with the opressors

- nowadays the united states (and europe) stopped to side with the oppressors

in both cases it might be out of weakness and/or a change in policy.

In Europe, the Soviets stopped backing the local princelings before the 89/90 revolutions happened. This time around, the relevant powers seem more to be backing whoever wins and congratulating themselves after the fact for supporting freedom/stability (as appropriate).

i think the relevant powers have used the same diplomatic tone back then as they do nowadays, because of the uncertainty of how things might turn out to be.

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