Sceptics point out that, while promoting pan-African democracy, some AU nations are run by autocrats.

BBC: Profile: African Union

Not surprisingly, these judicial autocrats have threatened to sue the Parks Department for infringing on their self-awarded perks.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

Why indeed have they dealt with autocrats and kings across the Middle East only to see the people rise up?

ECONOMIST: Qaddafi and his ilk

But perhaps the biggest factor is that Arab autocrats' skill at keeping their seats has by now been bolstered by custom.

ECONOMIST: Arab democracy

But the faith is invoked on both sides of this quarrel, by Islam's democrats and modernisers as well as by its autocrats and traditionalists.

ECONOMIST: Much has been achieved, but things are now going badly

Obama's seeming contrition before an avalanche of vicious attacks on the U.S. will simply discourage democratic allies and reconfirm the views of the autocrats that he may be weak and perhaps feckless.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Obama goes south: An analysis of the Summit of the Americas

The autocrats in Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

ECONOMIST: A country's welcome rise

Few expected Bahrain's autocrats to release him.

ECONOMIST: Bahrain