No, Virginia, Mubarak was NOT the worst dictator the USA supports

International politics is always a combination of high ideals, and tough-minded realism. The tough question is always "When is it worth it to work with Evil, in order to server a greater Good?" Hosni Mubarak - the dictator of Egypt - has been one example of America's "tough-minded realism", but there are many worse men who are our friends. The best line from the linked article - that illustrates how much we compromise out values - has got to be this one.

The thing that makes Karimov so special is his penchant for boiling his political opponents to death.

Of course, there is nothing new about this. Iraq's Sadaam Hussein was once our ally as well.