The Influence of Sea Power Upon the History of the Arab Spring

My $.02 regarding the maritime situation in North Africa, which essentially involves channeling things that Galrahn has said better:

NATO and other naval forces will also be required to manage the "normal" tasks of maritime management in North Africa until the revolutionary regimes in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt regain their sea legs. Criminal organizations and even terrorists may try to take advantage of the relative disorder in Mediterranean maritime affairs in order to pursue their usual ends. Naval forces remain key to projecting Western influence in the context of the Arab Spring, and to managing the consequences of potential disruptions.

The most visible and dramatic events will likely continue to unfold onshore. However, while the direct influence of seapower has thus far remained marginal and out of sight, many of the short- and medium-term consequences of the unrest will have maritime implications, and will be subject to influence by maritime assets. The long-term takeaway may be that the maritime influence of NATO, the EU and the United States can no longer be taken as a given, even in Europe's "backyard."