Populaces are evolving. Governments seek to sustain the status quo. This creates gaps that can be exploited by both internal and external actors seeking change.

Now is not the time to push for concepts of American brand democracy, nor for "universal" values as currently defined by the US government (which frankly find little universality within the US, let alone without); nor for foreign leaders to step down.

Now is not the time for governments to cling doggedly to dated forms of foreign policy or to equally dated forms of domestic policy or concepts of governance. Now is the time for governments to listen very carefully to those they seek to influence or govern. Now is the time for governments to become far more flexible in their ability to tailor and implement small changes that target directly at the most important concerns of these evolving populaces.

Change is scary, and for those governments who focus on "control" as the measure of success there will be frustration and increasing challenges. For those who can embrace the uncertainty of approaches that are less controlling and more influential, there will be continued success.

Remember, ideology does not create these gaps. Insurgents do not create these gaps. Trans-national terrorists do not create these gaps. These are the tools and agents of opportunity. States also have opportunities in this evolving environment if the politicians possess the courage and vision to assume reasonable risks to reach out and take advantage of the same factors that these illegal opportunists leverage currently.

We should not fear instability, as it is a metric of progress. But there are risks. The greatest risk, however, is to fear change and to cling to artificial stability imposed through "rule of law" and "increased security force capacity." Seek justice, not law. Justice is blind, but the law can be a directed tool of the state and quickly lose it's justice component, particularly in times when states feel threatened. Current forms of government are threatened. Current politicians are threatened. States and nations are not at risk here. We must ask these leaders what it is they truly seek to protect?

We live in exciting times of dynamic change. But to overly seek to resist or control that change is the most dangerous course of all.
Thanks for neatly encapsulating one of the most important challenges facing the Arab World and Africa. The US, on the other hand, really needs to look beyond counter-terrorism and energy security.