With the world’s eyes trained on Egypt, the United States has found itself at an unexpected crossroads. The Obama administration has, thus far, maintained its support for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, while simultaneously attempting to show solidarity for the (mostly) non-violent protesters by calling for internal democratic reform.

The Egyptian people, however, have made it quite clear that, while the establishment of democratic governance is high on their priority list, they will not be satisfied until Mubarak is removed from power. Unfortunately, Mubarak has done nothing over the past week to indicate that he genuinely intends to change his ways. Ignoring the elephant in the room, Mubarak heralded the firing and replacement of his entire government as representative of the people’s will. Understandably, after Mubarak appointed his chief of intelligence of 20 years to the new post of vice president — a spot that hasn’t existed in 30 years — the waves of protesters on the streets of Cairo did not diminish.

And so, the United States has arrived at a moment of decision: It can either continue to sacrifice long-term ideological principles for the sake of its short-term geopolitical strategy, or it can throw its support behind the Egyptian people’s demands for the disposal of Mubarak and the beginning of truly democratic elections.

Before we propose a course of action, it is important to examine the case against Mubarak, which is both lengthy and full of glaring issues. Mubarak has kept Egypt under emergency law for his entire three-decade-long reign. As a result, constitutional rights in the country are suspended, censorship is legalized and citizens can be imprisoned for long periods of time for any reason and without a trial.

Egypt, however, has long been a political ally of the United States. This relationship has also greatly benefited Mubarak and his government; Egypt is currently the second-largest non-NATO recipient of U.S. military aid, after Israel. In 2009 alone, Washington funneled $1.3 billion to Cairo. In the same year, Egypt benefited from $200 million in non-military economic assistance.

Egyptand the U.S. also share strong commercial ties. Our relationship with Mubarak has led to nearly unlimited and protected use of the Suez Canal, a major thoroughfare for oil on its way to the United States. The Suez Canal is a critical juncture of commerce as it currently carries 8 percent of all global sea trade.

Of course, Mubarak’s is not the first authoritarian regime to enjoy ties with the U.S. But the recent and much publicized popular protests in Egypt have placed the Americans in a precarious position. While our strategic partnership with Mubarak has traditionally been vital to commercial and political stability in the Middle East, throwing our weight behind the people of the largest Muslim nation in the region would surely improve the perception of America abroad. Furthermore, the United States was founded on the notion that sovereignty lies in the people and that governments exist at the will of the people. The protesters’ commitment to government reform is serious and needs to be regarded as such by other states.

As the U.S. moves forward, we need to ensure a proper balance between our ideological principles and our strategic goals for the Middle East. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for gradual regime change and new elections within six months to avoid a power vacuum that could jeopardize stability in the region. This stance is not only aligned with our founding principles, but is also a positive gesture toward the youth of Egypt. The challenge in this strategy, though, is ensuring that a legitimate democratic election takes place.

For the United States, the first step toward progress is the withdrawal of its symbolic and literal support of Mubarak’s regime. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have endorsed political and economic reform in Egypt. Now they must follow through on these commitments by providing any assistance needed in this transition and distancing U.S. policy from the current leader, who is a symbol of disgrace for the Egyptian people.

Whether or not the aging Mubarak falls in the coming weeks, the young guard filling Cairo’s streets is poised to take command of the Egyptian government in the near future. It would be better for the U.S. to demonstrate support for these advocates now rather than face their resentment in the future. There’s no room to hesitate during their revolutionary moment.