Tag: tunisia

News Stories/Events/Opinion

Deplorable Conditions in UN Relief Camps, and a Libyan Civil War Refugee’s Story

As the media reports on links between the deadly cholera outbreaks in Haiti and a strain of the disease that was most likely introduced by UN peacekeepers, I am reminded of my visit to Tunisia and Libya last month. I photographed the UN refugee camp in Tunisia, about four kilometers inside the border, and interviewed several English-speaking refugees. Although I am not an expert on the transmission of infectious diseases, I received basic instruction on this topic when I became a Navy Corpsman. The situation I saw at the UN… Read More

News Stories/Events/Opinion

Notes on Tunisian Military and Police Forces

While in North Africa last week, I had the opportunity to observe and examine the security forces of Tunisia. For those who don't know, the Tunisian revolution - largely organized on Facebook - was the spark that set off half a dozen or so other major revolutions or revolts, including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, etc. The military and police presence in the city was very heavy. This was apparent to me even when arriving at the airport, where Steyr AUG A1s were fairly common. It was also apparent that firearms… Read More