has a long history of supporting powerful leaders to curry flavour, creating blow-back as a result. how can the u.s. be sure that interests. >> david polak, no guarantees. >> i agree on this point, the u.s. track record is actually quite good. there are some examples of unintended consequences. a backlash or a back fire. there are many other examples when american support for governments or for gurr illas, as the case may be had a long-term positive effect. not only for the united states, but the people of those countries. in egypt that's been the case and i think it will continue to be the case. >> i think what david is talking about here is a dilemma that american policy makers face. the long run is made up of a lot of short runs. until they figure out how to secure american interest over that short run, until we get to the longer run where we believe democratic countries are more stable and more in line with american interest, until we figure out how to do that and during transitions to democracy or one government to another, countries are unstable. until they answer that questio