Egypt has torpedoed a US diplomatic initiative to expand democracy in the Middle East:
In a surprise move, Egypt, which accounts for more than half the Arab world's population and is the second-largest recipient of U.S. aid, derailed the Forum for the Future by demanding language that would have given Arab governments significant control over which pro-democracy groups would receive aid from a new fund.
Fortunately, the US let the conference break up without agreement, rather than cave to Cairo on this one.
Why, oh why do we continue to believe that despotisms will ever support efforts to undermine them? I'm sorry, Mr. Morris, but the more Condi Rice acts like Brent Scowcroft, the less she looks like a President.
