Greed of the Tunisian president's wife that drove a nation onto the streets to start a revolution

Daily Mail ^ | 1/16/11 | Nabila Ramdani

[Nachum]

Tunisia's angry protestors are shedding no tears for the downfall of ousted President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's greedy wife Leila.

The former hairdresser was likened to the Philippines' Imelda Marcos of the Arab world because of her love of wealth and its trappings.

While Ben Ali, 74, was granted refuge in Saudi Arabia, his wife, more than 20 years her husband's junior, was at first thought to be holed up in Dubai - a destination she is said to know well through shopping trips.

The woman who came from a humble background, was branded 'The Regent of Carthage' for her power behind the throne and her love of money, luxury cars and opulent homes.

This is why so much of the anger on the streets was directed at the family who were known as 'The Mafia.'

[Nachum]

Et tu Michelle?

[Venturer]

Yep: She sure sounds like a certain big butt traveler, and money spender we have as First Lady.

Michelle also loves the trapping of wealth, Our wealth as we pay for her plane trips to Spain and Hawaii.

[Vaduz]

I’ll be it sounds just like our first family who were known as ‘The Mafia too.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

She's lucky she didn't end up like Elena Ceausescu.

[texas booster]

Glamour shot of Queen Leila.

[Allthegoodusernamesaregone]

She's lucky she didn't end up like Elena Ceausescu.

Funny, I was thinking of the same...

[chadwimc]

Just a *little* bit easier on the eyes than the first Wookie...

[Palladin]

Now for all those other ruling despots in Libya and Egypt.

[Nachum]

Careful what you wish for. Many times the ‘democratic’ government is comprised of radical Muslim clergy.

[onedoug]

'The Regent of Carthage'

Now that´s funny!

[Moltke]

Yep, according to news accounts, exiled radical muslim leader Rached Ghannouchi is already talking about making a comeback there. It’s Persia 1979 all over again.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Greed of the president’s wife, that sure is a familiar theme here. What’s up with these DemonRats and their psycho wives?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

branded 'The Regent of Carthage' for her power behind the throne and her love of money, luxury cars and opulent homes.

Did she throw a million dollar party every weekend like our first family does? Talk about embarrassing!!

[SkyPilot]

Their two daughters have fled to the Disneyland Hotel in Paris, where they are holed up in £300-a-night VIP suites. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1347626/Tunisia-riots-Presidents-wife-Leila-drove-nation-streets-start-revolution.html#ixzz1BIqPG98g

"And I want to go to Disneyland Paris too Barack! Me, and my mother, and Valarie Jarret, and Oprah, and the girls, and my staff of 23, and my friends from Ebony magazine, and it better be in the VIP suites!"