I've written briefly on the liberalization of America's long-standing, dictatorial ally Egypt twice before (here and here). The bilateral relationship is both nonprovocative and unstable. Egyptian leaders have, since Anwar Sadat, aided benevolent American interests in the Near East. But successive reigns through force have left Egyptian society no less stagnant than the rest of the region, and current strongman Hosni Mubarak could see the country move towards democracy or sink into state-controlled or proletarian-borne violence. My previous comments have involved possibilities for broad reform; like all dictators, however, Mubarak is loathe to humble himself. What to do? Joe Katzman has background, thoughts and suggestions.