IF THE REPLACEMENTS AREN'T REPRESENTATIVE THEY'LL BE OVERTHROWN TOO:

Echoes of Soviet collapse in Mideast revolt (Gregory Katz, Associated Press)

Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. The astounding pro-democracy domino effect in the Arab world evokes the shock waves of 1989 that toppled communism in Eastern Europe and eventually brought down the Soviet Union.

Two figures who helped shape the Soviet collapse — former Czech president Vaclav Havel and former Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze — are watching the Arab drama with excitement and nostalgia, but warn Cairo 2011 may not be Berlin 1989.

Rome wasn't Reformed in a day.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 6, 2011 8:04 AM