Almost a decade after the tragic attacks that changed the dynamics of power and sealed the fate of millions around the world, the prospects for democracy in Muslim countries remain grim. Despite tentative and superficial reforms undertaken at low impact levels, human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression and of opinion have a long way to go on the trajectory of political evolution in Muslim countries, especially those vulnerable to the Jihadist threat. Despite its pledge to protect freedom and democracy worldwide, the United States’ commitment to democracy promotion is limited by its perceived interests in different regions of the world.

President Bush linked extremism to tyranny; however, the tyranny practiced by his newly de-demonized allies such as Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and central Asian states, among others, has angered more than it has pleased and by many accounts has exacerbated anti-American sentiments and the radicalization of Muslim societies. Hence, the association of the United States with dictators often accused of fanning the terrorist threat in order to remain in power has stripped the democracy promotion project of its prospects to succeed despite the heightened rhetoric that has accompanied it. In a manifestation of good faith, the United States government has elaborated comprehensive plans to assist Muslim countries in reforming the systems widely designated as the main source of radicalism and by extension, terrorism. At the same time, the United States has made clear through contradicting decisions that any country that supports its anti-terrorism effort against Al-Qaeda will be exempt of any political or economic pressure to reform its undemocratic or tyrannical ruling.

The review of the history of the relations between the United States and the countries of Egypt and Pakistan and the analysis of the dynamics of power politics that have dictated the direction and the quality of those relations over time shows that the latter have consistently been delimited by strategies of balance of power and balance of threat. Evoking the noble values of freedom and altruism as a basis to promote democracy has only contributed a marketing significance to the project; the objective has been and remains focused on maintaining a certain level of stability in regions that are of strategic interest to the United States and its traditional allies.