U.S. Government's "Delicate Balance" During Arab Spring

"The administration has tried to balance its ties to Mr. Mubarak with expressions of concern about rigged elections and jailed dissidents in his country."(New York Times, 1/26/2011) [1]

"The upheaval in Egypt has put the United States in a delicate diplomatic situation: pressing for a more democratic Egypt, but wary that too much change could threaten the stability that Egypt helps bring to the Middle East." (USA Today, 2/1/2011) [2]

"The chaos in Egypt posed a delicate diplomatic challenge for the United States: appealing for democracy without alienating an ally."(Margaret Warner, PBS NewsHour, 1/31/2011) [3]

"Is it a bit of a tightrope that the U.S. has to walk here, though, in terms of wanting to promote democracy on the one hand, but being a longtime ally of the Mubarak administration?" (Kate Snow, NBC Nightly News, 1/29/2011) [4]

"As an ally and benefactor, the United States has helped prop up the 82-year-old strongman since he took power 30 years ago, and today it is in a unique position to impress upon him the importance of democracy." (L.A. Times, 1/28/2011) [5]

"The implications are really big because this is very fundamental. Egypt receives the most American aid, more than $1 billion a year. It has the same goals as the United States against radicalization and terrorism, pro the Israeli peace process. But the United States, many people are saying, needs to get ahead of the curve, because otherwise it might be left behind as the people demonstrate their will." (Christiane Amanpour, 1/26/2011) [6]

"The Washington Post published a January 27 piece headlined 'As Arabs Protest, U.S. Speaks Up,' which declared that the White House was "openly supporting the anti-government demonstrations shaking the Arab Middle East," adding that the administration had 'thrown U.S. support clearly behind the protesters, speaking daily in favor of free speech and assembly even when the protests target longtime U.S. allies such as Egypt.'

"The Post's evidence, however, was thin: a quote from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stating that the Mubarak government should "respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people." The strongest support for the notion that the U.S. was backing the street protests came from an anonymous administration official--hardly an indication of 'speak[ing] up' in 'open support.'" [7]