For more than a week during the summer of 2009, hundreds of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Iran calling for the ouster of its oppressive, fundamentalist Islamic regime. Even though Iran was a demonstrable foe of American security interests, newly-minted US president Barack Obama dictated that American policy was to stand firmly on the sidelines offering no support to the down-trodden populace.

For more than a week during January 2011, hundreds of thousands of protestors filled the streets of Egypt calling for the ouster of its oppressive secular regime. Even though Egypt was a demonstrable ally of American security interests, and, following a brief dalliance on the sidelines of neutrality, third-year president Barack Obama dictated that US policy was to demand that the Egyptian leadership stand down.

Why support the enemy and undercut the ally?

John Peeples