"We heard that [US Assistant Secretary of State] Jeffrey Feltman visited Tunisia.  This is a bad omen.  The Tunisian people should be on guard: when Feltman wants to discuss processes and elections with the interim Tunisian government,^* it definitely means an American conspiracy in the making.  Wherever this sorcerer Feltman appears, strife and ruin follow him." -- Hassan Nasrallah

*  Editor's Note: Regarding the kind of work done by the "NGOs" mentioned by Mr. Philip J. Crowley below, consult, for instance, <rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/National_Endowment_for_Democracy>.

QUESTION: Now, you said something about helping Tunisia transit to democracy.  How will you do that?  In what --

MR. CROWLEY: Well, clearly, the elections that Tunisia is beginning preparations for will be vitally important.  We have some expertise, and I think part of what Assistant Secretary Feltman will evaluate is to what extent we might be helpful in providing some of the support through NGOs who have worked with a number of countries around the world for -- to prepare -- help them prepare for elections, where obviously, there's not a history of free and fair elections.  (emphasis added, Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Daily Press Briefing, Washington, DC, January 24, 2011)