For a brief moment in the mid-2000s, it looked as if the regime of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt was on the back foot. Pro-democracy groups were stirring in the Arab-world. Islamist movements were strident.

The ramshackle state, ostensibly a U.S. ally, was coming under increasing pressure to allow a greater degree of political openness. Activists were emboldened.

Later, with murderous violence, the state prevailed.