The uprising that overthrew the Tunisian dictator, Ben Ali, was an authentic rebellion. The corruption and abuse of power were so pervasive, impossible to defend even by the most committed supporters of the regime. However, the way the Tunisian uprising was used to galvanize social movements against other regimes was an overreach. Each Arab country had its own circumstances. But geopolitical interests decided the path the wave of protest. The result was devastating for many communities.