The party then hemorrhaged influential members, particularly in the north.

The Arab Spring drained away whatever spurious legitimacy that style of governance ever had.

In spite of the Middle East's vital historical, geographical and economic importance, it has not enjoyed stability for many decades, owing to the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories an occupation that has depleted the resources, capacities and capabilities of the Arab States and their peoples.

But it moved too rapidly, making acquisitions in the United States and Europe that were financially draining, so that it nearly went bankrupt.

In the meantime, the central bank hemorrhaged reserves defending this slow correction, while commercial banks have been holding on to dollars in anticipation of the ruble s further decline.

Moreover, these regional conflicts have disrupted service, transit and exchange activities, thus draining away vital State revenues, and this has harmed the implementation of many priority development projects.

The Arab Spring drained away whatever spurious legitimacy that style of governance ever had. But, in Pakistan, delegitimation of military rule had actually occurred three years earlier, and the pressure for change came from much the same source a restive and mobilized new middle class.