Even after promising freedom of expression last week, Tunisia’s interim government took the predictable step Monday of closing the largest privately owned TV channel. Can you guess that the channel, Hannibal TV, was carrying messages critical of the direction of the caretaker government?

Here is a report from The New York Times.  And another from Reuters-Africa that reports that the owner of the TV channel has been arrested for treason. The government says Hannibal TV was not supporting the revolt and was, in fact, obscuring things.  Which makes us wonder: To whom was the channel showing treason? To the people in power in the interim government or to the protesters in the street who are objecting to the make-up of the interim government?

Given that the TV channel was about to interview a major critic of the old government — and he was not fond of the chemistry of the interim government — we can guess why the owner was arrested and the station shut down.

Watch for strong top-down initiatives from Arab leaders to improve the quality of life in many of the troubled Middle East nations.  Those initiatives, though, may not include much in the way of more lenience for free speech.  Giving critics public platforms to rally protesters may be a little too dangerous.

The report captures a common line about the tensions in Lebanon: the country is vulnerable because outside powers are involved in a so-called proxy war.  Among the outsiders supporting some factions: Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and, yes, the United States and other Western powers.

And, of course, interested neighbors Israel, Turkey and Jordan have a stake in the outcome, since violence has a way of spilling beyond borders and inviting secondary consequences.

Once again here, the line gets blurry between media organizations and sponsoring (or protecting) political/cultural groups.