The trials of Egyptian opposition candidate Ayman Nour demonstrates the difficulty of achieving genuine democratic reform in the Middle East.

The year 2006 has reverberated with sobering reminders--Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority--that democracy's progress in the Middle Eastwill be no easy thing.

The Egyptian government has moved to shut down its opposition, and while there is no guarantee authorities will allowopposition candidateson the ballot, Washington does have leverage.

The Egyptian government has moved to shut down its opposition;while there is no guaranteeopposition candidates will be allowedon the ballot, Washington does have leverage.

As the Obama Administration's reaction to the protests have reached the streets of Egypt, the perception has taken hold that the United States is siding with Mubarak.

If there is one success story since 9/11, it has been the efforts to combat terror finance. If military action is sometimes akin to conducting surgery with an axe, efforts to dry up sources of funding are like wielding a scalpel.

A Middle East policy resting on Egypt is a house built on sand.

The track record of the Bush White House is to use Arab liberals, but eschew any long-term commitment.