My view of the United States as perennial good guys was shaken this week as thousands of Egyptian protesters moved into the streets to oust their dictatorship of almost 30 years.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has long been an important ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. He has cracked down on terrorists and Al-Qaeda in his country and even sent his army to fight alongside ours in the 1991 Gulf War. While Mubarak has been friendly to our country, his reputation among Egyptians is less than stellar. He has imposed martial (military) law since 1981, denied basic rights to his people and often wins 99 percent of the vote in rigged elections, among other questionable activities.

Though Mubarak has proven himself an important ally in the region, how can the U.S. expect to win the hearts and minds of those in the Middle East when we lavish nearly $2 billion in military aid, according to Reuters, to prop up this illegitimate regime?

When protesters go into the streets they are greeted with tear gas from canisters that read “made in U.S.A.” while American M1 Abrams tanks roll through the streets and F-16 fighter jets circle above them, how could they possibly look favorably upon the United States? And how can we claim to be a beacon of freedom to the world when a dictator is using the stuff we give him to suppress his own people?

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart suggested printing “Made in China” on our tear gas from now on, but a better way to improve our standing is to stop supporting rulers who are in power undemocratically.

I suggest that all foreign and military aid should be contingent on how democratic a country is and how free its citizens are. America should use its aid money to promote democracy and human rights, not to undermine that which we stand for simply for the sake of stability. Linking foreign aid with free and democratic societies will pressure countries like Egypt and Sudan to change their ways for the better because it will be in their own self interest.

In addition, the U.S. would be seen as helping only countries that support our ideals of freedom and democratic governance instead of being seen as we are now, helping countries who support our interests regardless of their governmental problems.

[email protected]