US Presidency
2011

Not every country will follow our particular form of representative democracy, and there will be times when our short-term interests don't align perfectly with our long term vision for the region. But we can, and we will, speak out for a set of core principles â€“ - principles that have guided our response to the events over the past six months: The United States opposes the use of violence and repression against the people of the region. The United States supports a set of universal rights. And these rights include free speech, the freedom of peaceful assembly, the freedom of religion, equality for men and women under the rule of law, and the right to choose your own leaders - â€“ whether you live in Baghdad or Damascus, Sanaa or Tehran. And we support political and economic reform in the Middle East and North Africa that can meet the legitimate aspirations of ordinary people throughout the region. Our support for these principles is not a secondary interest.