Hillarysworld

Mrs. Clinton and the Obama administration wisely avoided giving into sentiment during the opening days of what clearly is a full-fledged revolution in Egypt. Even as commentators on the nightly cable shows pleaded with Washington to accept the inevitable by ditching Mr. Mubarak, Mrs. Clinton managed to put the practical matter of national interest ahead of romantic idealism. The U.S. and Israel have had good reason to support Mr. Mubarak, for he supported his nation's peace treaty with Israel and helped to isolate the rogue Hamas regime in Gaza. Mr. Mubarak has been far from a perfect ally, but he has been useful on life-and-death issues in a volatile region of the world. In the imperfect, practical world of international relations, Mr. Mubarak's behavior towards the U.S. and Israel merited some dispensation, however distasteful that may seem to purists.

So Mrs. Clinton had no small assignment last week. By acknowledging the grievances of impoverished, frustrated Egyptians, Mrs. Clinton signaled the administration's ambivalence about Mr. Mubarak's long tenure. By asking Mr. Mubarak to implement reform-a laughable goal now, and perhaps even then, but not an unworthy request-Mrs. Clinton made it clear that Washington still regarded him as Egypt's legitimate leader.