The bomb that killed Harari finally woke them up all the way. The Bush Doctrine has made it safer for people to rise up and demand their government "do right".
So yes, although the bomb did set off this stage of the game, the atmosphere encouraged it.
"The bomb that killed Harari finally woke them up all the way."
Especially how brutal the assaination was. Not a bullet, but a huge bomb that the bombers must knew would kill many.
I imagine the thinking was the UN resolution was coming to a head with the upcoming election. The assassination changed things.
A big turn was France's dropping of Syria for Lebanon. One story postulated the assassination was partly a message to Chirac, Hariri's buddy.
You make a good point.
I just don't think euphoria is warranted and I don't think there should be delusions of a grand vision sweeping the ME.