SALEM — David Williams, 55, had a good feeling when he was asked to go to Egypt as part of a team of Americans dedicated to teaching that country's new democrats just how politics works.
Today, he's less positive about a process that has seen revolution followed by elections and then, to his shock, the prosecution of Americans and others working to assist in the creation of a stable democracy.
"It came as a huge surprise to me," he says from his office in Salem. "In none of the programs I've been involved with has this ever happened."
Williams' friend Sam Lahood, son of the U. S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood, is currently sheltered in the American embassy as elements of Egypt's military seek to prosecute him and 18 other Americans for crimes that could lead to a five-year prison sentence.
The number of Americans receiving sanctuary has not been revealed. The New York Times estimates "as many as five." Williams might have been one of them — "We don't like to think about that," he says.
Expressing concern for his friend, he adds, "Sam's a pretty strong guy. ... He just got married. I think his wife has gotten out. He's a young fellow, and he's been in the Middle East for a while."
Williams runs Williams & Associates, a Salem consulting firm that sends him all over the world, places like Eastern Europe, the West Bank and Pakistan, all as part of the effort to help fledgling democracies.
"I do mostly public opinion research," Williams says.
He started his career by working for Pat Caddell, pollster for President Jimmy Carter. Since he's mostly served GOP candidates, including former Gov. Bill Weld and former Congressmen Peter Torkildsen and Peter Blute.
He first responded to the so-called Arab Spring in Tunisia. It went well in the country where the Arab rising began. In March, shortly after dictator Hosni Mubarak surrendered power, Williams was called to Cairo. He expected this would be likewise positive.
He worked along with NGOs, nongovernmental agencies, to help Egyptians adapt to the demands of democratic government.
Williams was most closely associated with the International Republican Institute, which along with the National Democratic Institute receives federal funds and support from the two major political parties for nonpartisan work.
Seeing Egypt for the first time, Williams was charmed and encouraged by friendly people. He visited the pyramids and old Cairo, including ancient churches and the synagogue where legend holds Moses once worshipped.
"I was in Tahrir Square when it was still occupied by protesters, and it was an amazing scene," he says.
He made four visits, the last in October. Meanwhile, elections proceeded, and a people who had lived under generals as far back as anyone could remember began to vote. It's the results that may have caused the trouble.
"The Islamists (fundamentalists including the Muslim Brotherhood) have been doing very well," Williams says. "That may have been the catalyst. ... The military may have been unhappy with the results."
Ironically, the election of a huge Islamist majority has also raised concerns here in the United States as well as in Israel, a key American ally.
Yet, the Egyptian military may have traced the success of these groups, which were suppressed by Mubarak, as coming on account of NGO meddling.
"They raided all their offices," Williams says. "And they refused to let several Americans (including Lahood) leave the country."
Even so, he thinks the matter will be resolved.
Not only is roughly $1.5 billion in U.S. aid at stake, he explains, but so is Egypt's self-image as the most cosmopolitan of Arab nations. An even bigger concern might be the country's vital tourist industry.
"They're very sensitive to that," Williams says. "I think things will probably be fine. There will be some kind of diplomatic solution. ... I'm optimistic there is not going to be a bad ending."
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