The United States is committed to promoting democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. "We are not simply acting in our self-interest," said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "Americans believe that the desire for dignity and self-determination is universal." Moreover, democratic governments tend to be more stable, peaceful, and prosperous. Secretary Clinton continued by stating, "In the Middle East today, the greatest single source of instability is not the demand for change. It is the refusal to change. That is true in the case of Syria, where a crackdown on small, peaceful protests drove thousands into the streets and thousands more over the borders. It is true in Yemen, where President Saleh has reneged repeatedly on his promises to transition to democracy and suppressed his people's rights and freedoms. And it is true in Egypt. If, over time, the most powerful political force in Egypt remains a roomful of unelected officials, they will have planted the seeds for future unrest," said Secretary Clinton, "and Egyptians will have missed a historic opportunity."