the blow of recent price hikes on commodities such as cooking
oil and sugar. Free school meals and healthinsurance cards will be
distributed to 30,000 students and their families.
This is a trend that will likely continue in the coming weeks
and months, as world food prices remain high andglobal economic
growth tepid. Arab countries that dont have the oil wealth of the
Persian Gulf states areconstrained economically from being able to
spend much on social development, but they will seek ways to doso
nonetheless, in efforts to garner good faith among those they see
as most likely to revolt. Grantingadditional freedoms to
populations used to living under an autocratic society is
historically much moredangerous for the ruling regime, but
depending on each countrys circumstances, these various
Arabgovernments may one day not have much of a choice. One thing is
certain: No Arab ruler wants a citizen tolight himself on fire on a
busy city street, for fear of the possible side effects.
