Russ Feingold: We Cannot Look the Other Way at “Stable” Dictators

Mr. Feingold is thankful President Obama asked Mubarak to step down he goes on to say why human rights can't be traded for national security interests.... And I agree!

"Very serious foreign policy analysts talk about national security interests, and how they cannot be solely based on human rights. However, at this stage, standing on the side of local populations does improve US national security. An oppressed and alienated and poor society is easy prey for the likes of Al Qaeda. We do more damage to national security by propping up leaders that have no consent from their people than almost anything else. It sows as much hatred for the United States as it does for the dictators.

Our best foreign policy option is to stop this incessant meddling in the internal affairs of other countries. However, if we’re going to provide foreign aid, if we’re going to engage with the world, we’d damn well better do it in a way that doesn’t alienate the very people we’re trying to curry favor with."http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/04/russ-feingold-we-cannot-look-the-other-way-at-stable-dictators/

He's such a crank.