For decades the United States has backed Middle Eastern dictatorships in the name of “stability.” But as recent years have shown repression-created stability is illusory. To push back against the destructive impact of brutal regimes that disregard human rights and to defeat violent extremists who exploit sectarian tensions and popular grievances to fuel conflict and unrest, the United States should put protection of human rights as a cornerstone of its Middle East policies. It should confront violent extremism, call on its allies to condemn hateful ideologies that denigrate people of other sects or religions and prioritize urging allies such as Egypt, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to turn away from repression and towards respecting basic rights and freedoms.