[mkramlich]

Agreed that it is non-ideal and unpleasant that the US backs Mubarak. However, you make a big assumption. Because in reality, the alternative to Mubarak is not necessarily democracy. It might be another autocrat. And it might be something even worse. Freedom does not necessarily lead to a bunch of shiny happy people living safely on a shining hill. Sometimes it leads to anarchy or genocide or war.

[michaelchisari]

However, you make a big assumption.

I make no such assumption, but I'm not willing to support dictatorship in order to avoid dictatorship. Straussian compromises of democratic values quite honestly make my blood run cold.

[teyc]

Mubarak was hacking the US in the sense that US needed an Arabian partner who was willing to be an intermediary between Palestinians and Israel. Reality is that Mubarak hasn't been of any use to Egypt. If he is disposed, he is just another old man who have achieved little despite of his power.