The Bullpen

When the bill comes due

America's support of Hosni Mubarak was a convenient compromise, says Editor William Falk in this edition of The Week

William Falk

Ideally, I'd be an idealist, but reality keeps getting in the way. You know how it is. As you grow older and take on responsibilities, certain compromises must be made, dreams deferred or abandoned. And so it’s hard not to feel a twinge of sympathy for our leaders in Washington, who also would like to act on their highest ideals but just can’t, goldarnit. Take, for example, the problem of Egypt. For three decades, U.S. presidents have looked the other way as Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt like a pharaoh, suppressing dissent, jailing opponents, stuffing billions into private bank accounts; he was a dictator, but human rights in Egypt were not our concern. After 9/11, President George W. Bush proclaimed a new Freedom Agenda in which the U.S. would liberate Arabs from tyranny. But when Mubarak rigged another election, Bush said not a peep; in fact, he gladly borrowed Mubarak’s dungeons to conduct "enhanced interrogations" of terrorist suspects. In a speech in Cairo in 2009, Barack Obama made some noises of his own about freedom and democracy, but continued to send aid and arms to Mubarak right up to the moment when it became clear he would fall.

So it goes. Name a problem, and idealism loses to the brutal pragmatism of short-term self-interest every time: The massive federal budget deficit, the soaring cost of Social Security and Medicare, our foolish dependence on foreign oil, our heedless emission of greenhouse gases. We’ll do better — mañana. Ideally, I'd like to escape the consequences of such pragmatism, and move my family to a beachfront hut in New Zealand. Realistically, I can't — not until I deal with certain responsibilities. You know how it is.

More From...

Picture of William FalkWilliam Falk
Read All
The photos we don't see
people visit the memorial set up near the Allen Premium Outlets mall.
Editor's letter

The photos we don't see

The gender wars
a chalkboard with a list of gender pronouns.
Editor's letter

The gender wars

Destroying court credibility
Supreme Court building in New York.
Editor's letter

Destroying court credibility

The worship of weapons
A woman looks up and prays at the Memorial held at The Covenant School after the shooting.
Editor's letter

The worship of weapons

Recommended

Boris Johnson shocks UK by resigning from Parliament
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
So Long, Boris

Boris Johnson shocks UK by resigning from Parliament

10 things you need to know today: June 10, 2023
A White House protest against former President Donald Trump.
Daily briefing

10 things you need to know today: June 10, 2023

Regions around the world are adapting to climate change in real time
Flooded cemetery in Jakarta
In depth

Regions around the world are adapting to climate change in real time

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive
Flooding in Kherson after dam failure
A wash

Ukraine says Kahkovka dam destruction won't derail counteroffensive

Most Popular

Ban the Bible?
Holy Bible.
Briefing

Ban the Bible?

Apple fixes its 'ducking' autocorrect problem
Girl looking down at iPhone.
duck yeah

Apple fixes its 'ducking' autocorrect problem

DOJ reportedly tells Trump he's a target of criminal investigation
Donald Trump
Famous Firsts

DOJ reportedly tells Trump he's a target of criminal investigation