When Egyptians rose up against Mubarak in January, they were confronted by weapons paid for with borrowed money.

The Islamic Republic of Iran was born of a movement based on the pure, primordial nature of a people who rose up to regain their dignity, esteem and human rights.

Inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, the Libyan people rose up spontaneously against four decades of repression by Col. Muammar el Qaddafi.

As the protests got out the regime's control, Jihadists from around the world, bankrolled by money from oil rich Gulf countries, rose to protect their Sunni brothers against the onslaught of the Alawite rulers of Damascus.

Meanwhile, in Syria, the people rose up, were fired upon, took up arms, were manipulated, and began a cycle of sectarian killing and revenge that can only fracture them further.