Solving a Modern Riddle of the Sphinx

Image via WikipediaWhen a leader of a country has been in power for a long time and people are getting tired of the act, what happens?  If this were the United States, that leader would be voted out every four years.  If this were a country where said leader rigs elections and crushes whatever opposition there is, you'd start taking taking to the streets.

Emboldened by the overthrow of the government in Tunisia, the people of Egypt are trying the same thing with President Hosni Mubarak, who is desperately hanging on to power in the face of anti-government rioting that has so far killed 74.  His response has been to shut down social media services and Internet access, as well as kicking the Arab TV network Al Jazeera out of the country for allegedly inflaming the situation.  Just a thought:  Why hasn't China, Iran and other authoritarian regimes thought of that instead of merely restricting the new mediums?

Obviously, the United States would like every country to be as democratic as they are.  Since that's not possible, they've had a history of holding their noses and supporting whatever leader with a dubious reputation will keep them safe from the evils of the world.  Once upon a time, it was communism.  Now it's terrorism, particularly when it comes to Al Qaeda.

For President Barack Obama, the choice (if there is one) boils down to this:  Either stick by an ally who has more or less kept the peace between Egypt and Israel since the treaty was signed more than three decades ago, and who has helped keep terrorists from America's doorstep.  Or accede to the wishes of the Egyptian people and try to work with whatever government succeeds Mubarak, even if it happens to be run by Islamic fundamentalists.

What's important to note is that so far, the Obama administration has declined to take a side in this crisis.  Which is understandable since this is the first world situation the President has had that wasn't inherited, or that involved Mother Nature.  To solve this modern riddle of the Sphinx, he must walk a fine line.

For the people of Egypt, seeking to topple a pyramid that they believe has been making their lives miserable for decades, it's not enough to say that things would get better if they succeeded in getting Mubarak out of the way.  They also have to make sure they're not just replacing one pharaoh with another.