Politics: Democracy's Tiny Victory in Egypt

The New York Times editorializes on the release this week of Egyptian democracy advocate Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim from jail after more than a year of harrowing imprisonment. Ibrahim's arrest was one of the most jarring examples that Egypt had a long way to go to achieve real democracy. (Read about another recent chink in the democracy machine, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's apparent plan to hand over control -- despite the presence of a nominally democratic system in Egypt -- to his son Gamal.) The Times editorial mentions that the Egyptian government pursued Dr. Ibrahim, who has spoken out on the failings of Egypt's democracy, like a terrorist or a drug dealer. His trials were essentially military tribunals, and his defense was significantly hindered as a result.

Also mentioned, but not with enough irony for my taste, is the fact that the White House spoke out against Ibrahim's imprisonment by halting some aid to Egypt. This sort of subtle, tactical, diplomatic maneuver is what the State Department was once best at accomplishing. Of the many past and future casualties of tonight's war in Iraq will be our ability to successfuly execute such actions within the delicate and complex world of international relations. We've chosen our diplomatic weapon: the hammer. But in abandoning the more graceful tactics of negotiation and encouragement, we've surely weakened our ability to achieve meaningful change in our (one-time) allies.

It will be a long time before we can say for sure that it was worth it. But I'm afraid that smart money is on a disappointing return on our investment.