Our Man In Cairo

If you haven't read it yet, here's the link to an appropriately pressing editorial in WaPo today on our relationship with Egypt's Hosni Mubarak.

The numerous outrages committed by Mubarak and his thugs during the recent elections---including murder, the closing of selected polling stations after uncomfortably strong opposition turnouts, and finally the jailing of activist Ayman Nour on a fabricated charge---show in stark relief the perilous course we're on by continuing to support this outlaw regime. After Israel (and Iraq, obviously) the largest recipient of our tax dollars in the form of aid is Mubarak at $1.8 billion a year. Pinching this tyrant's wallet seems an appropriate place to start---but then again, that would mean doing something utterly sensible and cost-effective like using our existing leverage with allies before invading alleged "enemies." That's assuming, of course, that our real motive is spreading democracy in the Middle East.

There's nothing about realism that demands the mindless pursuit of a dead-end policy that will inevitably backfire, undercuts our efforts elsewhere, and makes us look like hypocritical fools. Can we really afford to relearn the lessons of Tehran-1979 right now?


Update: Mubarak's rampage continues.