It sounds as if Shiite Bahrain is undergoing a popular revolt against it's Sunni elite. The government response is predictably violent, just like in Iran and other Middle Eastern states. Curiously, the Obama administration is silent on the events in Bahrain.
I wonder why?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_bahrain_protests
Bahrain's military says it has taken control of most of the Gulf island's capital and banned protests, just hours after riot police swarmed a main square where anti-government protesters were camping out.
The military said it has "key parts" of the capital, Manama, "under control."
The announcement was read on Bahrain's state TV Thursday, after a pre-dawn raid of Pearl Square. Medical officials said four people were killed.
The developments marked a major crackdown by the island nation's rulers to put an end to days of protests inspired by Egypt's revolt against Hosni Mubarak.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/17/bahrain-protest.html#ixzz1EE9QRPib
Does it really matter whether Obama speaks?
Yes, as the US navy has a major port in Bahrain.
Imagine that...
We all know he's this 'leftist' , 'socialist' , 'muslim' , 'Hitler incarnate'..
Which explains his 'socialist' budget that will cut social programs,increase military spending and tax cuts to the rich.
Or his 'leftist' idea of charging Canadians entering the United States a fee.
Or his undying support of muslim faith in the face of revolution in the muslim world.,.
'Change you can believe in' indeed.
Oh,the audacity of HYPE.
Bahrain's demonstrators want wide-ranging political reforms and had been camped out in the capital, Manama, since Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed Washington's "deep concern" in a call to the Bahraini foreign minister on Thursday.
Mrs Clinton "urged restraint moving forward. They discussed political and economic reform efforts to respond to the citizens of Bahrain," a state department official told the BBC.
Security forces fired tear gas on thousands of pro-reform protest marchers in Bahrain's capital on Friday in a violent clampdown on demonstrations calling for an end to the Gulf nation's monarchy.
Demonstrators moved in the direction of a major downtown square in Manama, a day after riot police swept into the area to drive out an Egypt-style protest encampment. At least five people were killed in that attack.
Witnesses said they saw some casualties in the clashes Friday.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/18/bahrain-monarchy-protests.html#ixzz1EKEHQgIz
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone will wait for developments in Bahrain before deciding whether the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix can go ahead.
Concerns about the race on 13 March follow unrest which has seen three people killed and 231 injured.
Ecclestone initially told BBC Sport on Friday that he had been told there were "no problems" in Bahrain.
But he later admitted the situation had deteriorated, adding: "We should wait and see what happens over the weekend."
Ecclestone added that a decision could be made next Tuesday or Wednesday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9402227.stm
the US doesn't care only because they still have confidence the tyrants in bahrain can crush the protests.
watch, if the protests continue and look like they will succeed, the US will change it's tune. If they lash out with violence and crush the protesters, the US will continue to support them.
They only flipped on egypt when they were sure the protesters would win.
Well, I remember Obama voiced his displeasure over Bahranians getting shot at last week, but my view is that he's mostly trying to stay out of it all as much as possible.
Judging by the reaction of the leaders in the mafia family of nations, I would not want to be a citizen of those countries manifesting on their streets! It would be quite amusing being shot by your own armed forces!
It sounds as if the United States is now putting pressure on Bahrain to refrain from using excessive force against the protesters. Better late than never I suppose. Perhaps they are recalibrating their Middle East posture to be on the right side of history. As they say on wall Street, the trend is your friend.
It sounds as if the United States is now putting pressure on Bahrain to refrain from using excessive force against the protesters
How do you define "excessive"?
Bahrain's army deliberately kills peaceful protesters with live rounds (video)
"We are getting shot by American weapons fired by American-trained Bahraini soldiers with American-made tanks," a medical orderly told me on Friday. "And now Obama wants to be on our side?"
— [url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/20-2]Robert Fisk[/url]
"We are getting shot by American weapons fired by American-trained Bahraini soldiers with American-made tanks," a medical orderly told me on Friday. "And now Obama wants to be on our side?"— [url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/20-2]Robert Fisk[/url]
Yeah, never mind the guy pulling the trigger... if he had an AK he would have pulled the trigger, right babblers? 
Never mind about USian support for the most brutal regimes on the planet. Look over here.
Robert Fisk in Bahrain: 'They Didn't Run Away They Faced the Bullets Head On
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/robert-fisk-in-bahra...
"A doctor who gave his name as Hussein stopped me leaving the emergency room because he wanted to explain his anger. 'The Israelis do this sort of thing to the Palestinians - but these are Arabs shooting at Arabs,' he bellowed above the din of screams and shouts of fury. 'This is the Bahraini government doing this to their own people. I was in Egypt two weeks ago, working at the Qasr el-Aini hospital - but things are much more fucked up here!"
Formula One organizers called off the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Monday because of the anti-government protests sweeping the tiny Gulf kingdom.
"We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain's Formula One race to a later date," Bahrain's crown prince said in a statement.
Eight people have been killed since the unrest began last week and demonstrators planned to use the March 13 race to highlight demands for the ruling monarchy to give up its near-absolute control over key policies and positions.
Much of the protesters' anger had centred on Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who owns the rights to the grand prix. He notified F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone by telephone on Monday that the event would not go ahead.
"After the events of the past week, our nation's priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together; reminding the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united," the crown prince said in a statement.
Not so fast!!
"Obama urges restraint" in Bahrain > http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-bahrain-usa-idUSTRE71H5L420...
Also, I refer you to the "News by the rest of us" Babble forum where my "Obama the Liberator of the Arab World" article is posted.
My hope is that Obama is facilitating the Arab Uprising behind the scenes. He has to keep up the appearance of a warmongering American President, but in fact it could be that his "agenda" was to do good where he could. The Republicans are stopping him from "doing good" legistlation, but behind the scenes on foreign policy he just might have room to work!!
Not so fast!!
"Obama urges restraint" in Bahrain > http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-bahrain-usa-idUSTRE71H5L420...
Also, I refer you to the "News by the rest of us" Babble forum where my "Obama the Liberator of the Arab World" article is posted.
My hope is that Obama is facilitating the Arab Uprising behind the scenes. He has to keep up the appearance of a warmongering American President, but in fact it could be that his "agenda" was to do good where he could. The Republicans are stopping him from "doing good" legistlation, but behind the scenes on foreign policy he just might have room to work!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha! Good one!
There's not much evidence to suggest that his intentions are good. And a lot to suggest they are not. As always, business is business.
US Slammed for Pro-Dictatorship Policies
http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/166384.html
"If you take for example Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, America is not going to sacrifice its sixth-fleet base in Bahrain, which would almost certainly happen, if there were to be a Shia government there. The US has stopped short of condemning deadly crackdowns on anti-government protests in Bahrain..
Bahrain: Days of Rage, Decades of Oppression
http://original.antiwar.com/rannie-amiri/2011/02/20/bahrain-days-of-rage/
"The civil, political and human rights of Shia citizens have been trampled on for decades by the monarchy. This wholly belies the oft respected claim that Bahrain is a beacon of democracy and reform among Persian Gulf nations (this rosy picture is also promulaged by the Royal family's stalwart ally, the United States)
Robert Fisk in Manama: Bahrain - An Uprising on The Verge of Revolution
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/robert-fisk-in-manam...
"The US has stopped short of condemning deadly crackdowns on anti-government in Bahrain.."
Stratfor Dispatch: Bahrain Protests As A Proxy Battle (and vid)
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20110217-dispatch-bahrain-protests-prox...
"Analyst Kamron Bokhari explains how the sectarian-driven civil unrest in Bahrain could serve as a proxy battle between Iran and Saudi Arabia.."
There's not much evidence to suggest that his intentions are good.
LOL, well certainly not on the web sites you frequently post from anyways.
PB, those tweets are horrible. They read like satire.
The tweets aren't surprising, though.
In my sole encounter with the rich and famous, during a couple of days spent visiting Mme. al-Q's nephew in Cannes and thereabouts (OK, Monte Carlo), I saw these people up fairly close (Cannes is a weird place: you can walk two blocks from a Monoprix (a discount store - sort of like a cross between SAAN and Extra Foods) and find yourself looking at a row of yachts on the Riviera and a parking lot full of Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis). Most of those yachts had Saudi flags, and the beachfront walkway was full of people who seemed to have come from The Gulf or Arabia.
I've read about rich people, and even seen some on TV, but seeing their wealth on display like that made it easy for me to understand how the French at one point found it easy to carry nobles' heads around on the ends of pikes.
Obama urges Bahrain king to show restraint, begin reforms
Barack Obama spoke by telephone Friday evening with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, condemning violence against demonstrators and urging 'meaningful reform,' the White House said.Obama 'reiterated his condemnation of the violence used against peaceful protesters, and strongly urged the government of Bahrain to show restraint, and to hold those responsible for the violence accountable,' White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement
Might not be good enough for some here but that's about all the man can do for now if you ask me... be diplomatic. Unless you think the US should intervene in some way.
In the end it will be up to those nations' military and security forces... will the majority of them obey the orders to fire on their own people? It really doesn't matter what kind of weapons they have or where they got them from: in the end it's all a matter of the soldier's loyalty. Who will they support? I think most will go with the people in the end, even in Libya.
The HELL you say!! Well, I am going to be optomistic until it is otherwise evident.
Spector asks: Where is Obama's support for Bahrain?
http://www.dallasblog.com/201102191007770/dallas-blog/obama-and-iran-sup...
Obama called King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to condemn violence against protesters and push for "meaningful reform."
"the White House put pressure on Bahrain for the second day in a row on Saturday
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/clinton-sides-wit...
Pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain - brutally attacked by police and security forces - won clear support from the Obama administration as State Secretary Hillary Clinton warned the ruling Saudi-backed monarchy against unleashing further violence to crush dissent.
In clearly siding with the demands of the pro-democracy uprising, Ms. Clinton said there needs to be "real, meaningful changes for the people" of Bahrain.
"We are getting shot by American weapons fired by American-trained Bahraini soldiers with American-made tanks," a medical orderly told me on Friday. "And now Obama wants to be on our side?"— [url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/20-2]Robert Fisk[/url]
Yeah, never mind the guy pulling the trigger... if he had an AK he would have pulled the trigger, right babblers?
I don't understand what you're saying here Bec. Could you elaborate please?
Your government ships weapons to these governments and trains their soldiers in order to keep the people in chains. That doesn't bother you at all?
Spector asks: Where is Obama's support for Bahrain?
You've mistaken me for someone else. I didn't ask that question.
But U.S. support for Bahrain - i.e. the king of Bahrain - is evident from the [url=http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/02/17-12]recent WikiLeaks cables[/url]:
The United States and Bahrain are close allies. In fact, according to an April 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable, one of several released by WikiLeaks this [last] week, the two countries have "about as good a bilateral relationship as anywhere."...U.S. interests in Bahrain, according to the cables, center around two issues: Iran and Iraq. And the two are related. The April 2008 cables notes that Bahrain's "number-one security concern is Iran. They support [the U.S.] tough stand toward Tehran." The cables claim that Bahrain worked with the U.S. government to monitor financial transactions from Iran. And perhaps even more importantly, Manama expressed interest in creating a broader alliance of countries in the Gulf and the region to resist Iran, the cables claim. And here's where Iraq comes in, according to a 2008 cable: "Our point that reintegrating Iraq into the Arab fold is critical to limiting Iranian influence has had real resonance with the Bahraini leadership."
Personally, too, U.S. diplomats convey a strong connection to Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. A December 2009 cable describes him as "personable and engaging. He rules as something of a 'corporate king,' giving direction and letting his top people manage the government." Part of the personal affinity derives from the fact that King Hamad spent time in the United States, according to another August 2008 cable, in which the king describes his time at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College as "the most personally and professionally rewarding of his life."
Then, of course, there's the free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Bahrain; the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet located in Bahrain; and Bahrain's designation as a "Major Non-NATO Ally", entitling it to receive military asistance and weaponry without any Congressional oversight.
But when the Globe and Mail writes the drivel you quoted above, the king of Bahrain suddenly becomes "the ruling Saudi-backed monarchy"!
Hillary Clinton on her visit to Bahrain last December called Bahrain a "model partner".
"I am impressed by the commitment that the government has to the democratic path that Bahrain is walking on," Clinton said. "It takes time; we know that from our own experience. There are obstacles and difficulties along the way. But America will continue working with you to promote a vigorous civil society and to ensure that democracy, human rights and civil liberties are protected by the rule of law."
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/17/bahrain-protests-us-fifth-fl...
I don't understand what you're saying here Bec. Could you elaborate please?
The Kalashnikov AK-47 is the weapon-of-choice for godless commies worldwide.
"We are getting shot by American weapons fired by American-trained Bahraini soldiers with American-made tanks," a medical orderly told me on Friday. "And now Obama wants to be on our side?"— [url=http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/20-2]Robert Fisk[/url]
Yeah, never mind the guy pulling the trigger... if he had an AK he would have pulled the trigger, right babblers?
I don't understand what you're saying here Bec. Could you elaborate please?
Your government ships weapons to these governments and trains their soldiers in order to keep the people in chains. That doesn't bother you at all?
Yeah it does bother me, not that I can really do anything about it now, and I'm also a bit surprised. I really had no idea Bahrain was that fucked up a place for its people. I knew they had a monarchy but I also thought they had a parliamentary style system of government and were all (oil) rich like the Saudis. I hope they get what they want.
To answer your other question, per what I posted a up a bit...
In the end it will be up to those in the nations' military and security forces... will the majority of them obey the orders to fire on their own people? It really doesn't matter what kind of weapons they have or where they got them from: in the end it's all a matter of the soldier's loyalty. Who will they support? I think most will go with the people in the end, even in Libya.
I guess what I was saying was in the end it doesn't matter where they got the training or weapons from. Think about it: in the end it all comes down to the guy carrying the weapon... that is the trump card of the people in most cases (we hope). Saying he wouldn't have a weapon if it wasn't for the USA, while being a good talking point as to how evil (and stupid) the USA's international policies are, isn't a very realistic assessment of the availability of small arms (or even armored vehicles) is to the world. Every nation's military forces have small arms weapons, and I do mean everybody. If they aren't built in country they can be bought on the world market from any number of places. If they didn't get them from the USA they'd get them from Russia, China or France, to name a few countries or any myriad of third party arms dealers. Same can be said about training.
It sucks but it's the truth (about the world) and it sucks to me my country is helping contribute to it but I can't keep track of everything; like I said I hope this works out for them.
i think the point is that when the US keeps the dictator sheltered and in power and free from criticism, trains the army (in the US) with the full knowledge it is to be used against it's own people then gives it weapons and ammunition, the people who it's being used against are not likely to see the US government as any sort of ally, nor would you or I or any right thinking person.
sure, someone has to pull the trigger, but those people are trained to do so with our taxes and support, on our soil and in our military colleges and with funding from our taxpayers. And if it was done with another country's support/weapons they would be critical of them. the problem is that the US is the biggest supplier of weapons to illegitimate regimes, not china with their cheap ak's (which don't come with the training, logistical, technical and diplomatic support of the chinese government)
re: #30
and their little dog too...
"Canada views positively the political and social changes which have placed it among the most progressive Arab nations in the Gulf region...Canada cooperates with Bahrain in many multilateral initiatives..."
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/bilate...
The rogues' list from Wiki... Whoops...which went all wonky. But imagining the vertical numbers under the horizontal listing of years, the nations are listed in order of prominence.
World's largest arms exporters
The unit in this table are so-called trend indicator values expressed in millions of US dollars at 1990s prices. These values do not represent real financial flows but are a crude instrument to estimate volumes of arms transfers, regardless of the contracted prices, which can be as low as zero in the case of military aid. Ordered by descending 2000-2009 values. The information is from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.[11]
Current Rank
Supplier2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
1
United States
7220
5694
5091
5596
6750
6600
7394
7658
6090
6795
2
Russia
3985
6011
5773
5202
6260
5321
6156
5243
6026
4469
3
Germany
1603
821
892
1697
1067
1875
2510
3002
2499
2473
4
France
1055
1270
1308
1288
2194
1633
1577
2342
1831
1851
5
United Kingdom
1484
1257
915
617
1180
915
808
987
1027
1024
6
Spain
46
7
120
156
56
108
757
565
603
925
7
China
272
496
515
632
282
306
599
412
544
870
8
Israel
354
360
414
358
612
315
282
379
271
760
9
Netherlands
280
203
243
342
208
583
1221
1322
554
608
10
Italy
189
217
400
312
214
743
525
706
424
588
11
Sweden
46
830
185
515
305
537
417
367
457
353
12
Switzerland
176
193
157
174
250
267
306
324
467
270
13
Ukraine
288
661
244
430
202
281
557
799
269
214
14
Canada
110
129
170
255
268
235
231
343
236
177
15
South Korea
8
165
N/A
104
48
Or, you could have just posted a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_industry#World.27s_largest_arms_export....
Bahrain's royal rulers have been saying for more than a week they are willing to kick-start talks with the opposition movement but have made little headway so far.
Rather than sit down at the negotiating table, anti-government protesters have been amplifying their calls for change by staging thousands-strong daily marches, increasingly into the capital's central business district.
Protest signs hanging from tent posts and makeshift food stalls in Pearl Square where many are camped out offer scant evidence they are willing to talk. "No dialogue with dictators" reads one.
A big reason for the impasse is that the opposition itself is divided on how far to push its demands.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/02/bahrain-protest.html
Your selective quotation gives the impression that the opposition is in disarray. Read on:
What all opposition groups can agree on is a desire to give people a greater voice, alleviate unemployment, and free prisoners they say are held for political reasons....
Established opposition parties - a diverse group that includes Shia Islamists and nonsectarian, secular leftists - are coming together to lay out a set of unified demands. They question the government's willingness to give ground but appear open to negotiations.
'British Countess Betrayed Democracy' (and vid)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/219920.html
"It has been revealed that Countess Sophia of the British royal family has accepted a set of jewels from the Bahraini king after visiting the dictatorship last month.."
Those shameless British royals are always bumming off someone or other. No pride whatsoever.
US Will Maintain Full Support for Al Khalifa Regime (and vid)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226609.html
"As US-backed Bahraini forces intensify their brutal crackdown on Bahraini protesters, a political analyst tells Press TV that teh US intends to continue its full support of the Al Khalifa regime.."
notice the absolute silence of Canadian pols - the same that crow loudly against Assad and Ahmadinejad?
Bahraini Regime Forces Attack Protesters in Manama, Elsewhere
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226613.html
"Saudi-backed Bahraini forces attack anti-government protesters trying to march to Pearl Square..BREAKING
Bahraini authorities have warned about participating in opposition-organized demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of the uprising and that security forces will not hesitate to attack the protesters....Bahrainis have been calling for an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty since February last year.
[b]Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others have been arrested[/b] in Manama's brutal crackdown on protesters.
[b]He's killing his own people! Where is the UN General Assembly resolution? Where is the Security Council's declaration of war? Where is Canada's loyal opizishin?[/b]
The United Nation's top human rights official said on Wednesday Bahrain was failing to prosecute security forces who tortured people during anti-government protests in February and was still using excessive force against civilians.
"We continue to receive reports of the repression of small protests in Bahrain," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.
"...although some security officers have reportedly been arrested, we have yet to see any prosecution of security forces for civilian injuries and deaths."
Her comments follow a critical government-commissioned report released last month which surprised many in its candor. It rejected the Sunni-led government's claim that Iran had orchestrated the protests through Bahrain's Shia majority and found that [b]detainees had been tortured to death.[/b]
NDPPWhere is Canada's loyal opizishin?
The US-Bahraini Exchange: Tear Gas From Us, Kindness in Return
http://warisacrime.org/contrast/us-bahraini-exchange-tear-gas-us-kindnes...
"Today's demonstration in Bahrain's capital Manama, started out as a festive affair..."
Protesters in Bahrain Vow To March Back to Iconic Pearl Square
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226758.html
"The Coalition of YOuth of the February 14 Revolution, in a statement called on Bahrain's people to start returning to the square in the early hours of Wednesday. Bahrainis have been calliing for an end to the rule of Al Khalifa's dynasty since February last year. Scores of people have been killed hundreds of others have been arrested in Manama's brutal crackdown on protesters..."
Bahrain Protests a 'Coup Plot' Defence Chief Says
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-protests-a-coup-plot-defen...
"The recent unrest in Bahrain was a coup attempt supported by foreign forces, the commander-in-chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) said on the anniversary of anti-government protests that swept the country last year. In an interview with a local Arabic daily, Shaikh Khalifa said that 22 NGOs have been plotting against Bahrain. 'Nineteen of them are based in the US and three in a Gulf country,' he said, without naming the Gulf state. 'They are all operated, funded and trained by the US and the Gulf country..."
That story sounds like a calculated plant. There's barely any western media coverage of the anti-government unrest and the subsequent torture and killing of civilians in Bahrain. It doesn't follow the pattern we've seen so far.
It does sound like that. And clearly seeks to blame a genuinely indigenous and popular resistance movement against the Khalifa dynasty on outside agitators, rather than its own oppressive, authoritarian rule. But we also know, especially after revelations coming out of Egypt, Libya and Syria, that influence, penetration and attempts to 'steer' these discontents into Western foreign policy designs via NGOs is not to be automatically discounted. And there's barely any western media coverage of that either.
did you enjoy the youtube vid upthread at #45 SL?
Bahrain Forces Arrest 15 Teenagers
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226913.html
"Saudi backed regime forces in Bahrain have launched nightly raids on homes in a flashpoint eastern town, detaining 15 teenagers.."
Bahrain Crisis Rages On
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226910.html
"...Nearly 200 years ago the Al Khalifa family occupied the island and has been ruling it ever since. The ruling Al Khalifa family has made almost three quarters of the country's land, which is worlth USD Billions, its personal possession. The power is exclusively in the hands of the ruling family.."
'Canada Complicit in Bahrain Crimes' (and vid) [Sept 2011]
http://presstv.com/detail/199533.html
"The Canadian government is silent and has made no objection over news that a Canadian citizen has been kidnapped, tortured and held by Bahraini forces.."
Canadian Man Arrested in Bahrain Court House (Feb 1, 2012)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/02/01/ottawa-bahrain-man...
