The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a Washington D.C-based non-profit organization funded by the U.S. national budget, boasts that it is "supporting freedom around the world."

All of the above are logos of youth movements involved in removing governments undesirable to Washington. All have been organized and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, the Freedom House, and other CIA organizations.

The objective is to co-opt popular youth movements against a controversial government in order to open the country to Washington’s neoliberal interests.

On Wednesday, 22 June 2011, NED "will honor all those who have struggled and sacrificed for a democratic future in Tunisia and Egypt with the presentation of its annual Democracy Award. The award will be accepted by two individuals who symbolize this ongoing struggle: Zahraa Said from Egypt and Jamel Bettaieb from Tunisia. NED Chairman Richard A. Gephardt will preside at the award presentation."

“This award is very special because we’re not just honoring two individuals,” said NED president Carl Gershman. “Through these two young people, we honor all those in Egypt and Tunisia who struggled and even gave their lives for freedom and dignity. Because there’s a long struggle for democracy that still lies ahead, it’s important that we demonstrate our solidarity with all those who continue to fight for democracy in Egypt and Tunisia and throughout the Middle East.”

Carl Gershman, back in the 1960’s, was working in the research department of the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL defends Israel and attacks critics of Israel, and its research often amounts to espionage on critics of Israel.

Last year the National Endowment for Democracy honored the Green Movement for Democracy in Iran, which in 2009 had spearheaded the failed color revolution with funds from the NED and other CIA-linked agencies.

The full list of award recipients can be viewed here.