With revolution sweeping through the Arab world dictators supported by the US are falling to the people in the street.  We have tended to support stability over freedom and as a result we get neither.  Marcos in the Philippines, The Shah in Iran and Batista in Cuba are examples.

Here is a simple idea.  The US should not support anybody who stays in power more than twelve years.  If someone stays in power more than that they get corrupt or start to feel omnipotent.  Examples:  see above plus Castro in Cuba, Hugo Chavez and Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

If we make it clear we expect changes of leadership if countries want our trade, aid and military support, perhaps we can, in the margin, get a few more countries to have governments that do what is best for their citizens.

BTW I predict that Jordan will be the next one to go.