Editor’s Note: Kristin Diwan is Assistant Professor of Comparative and Regional Studies at the American University School of International Service. Her work focuses on the politics and policies of the Arab Gulf.
By Dr. Kristin Diwan – Special to CNN
The international community is intervening to stop killing in Libya. But it is standing by as the Bahraini government - aided by the Saudis and broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - suppresses its own people with brutal force.
Bahraini opposition groups have petitioned the United Nations to intervene on their behalf. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his "deepest concern" at the use of "excessive and indiscriminate force ... against unarmed civilians.” Yet there are no plans for U.N.-sponsored action.
Why isn’t the world acting in Bahrain as it did in Libya?
The reasons are political.
Moammar Gadhafi alienated almost everyone in the region and had few international friends. In contrast, Bahrain’s ruling Al-Khalifa family has earned strong support in neighboring Gulf states, along with goodwill from the United States, which has its Fifth Fleet stationed in the country.
In addition, Bahrain's uprising, while cross-sectarian, would empower the Shia majority. Shia empowerment through democratization - which occurred in neighboring Iraq – is feared by the Sunni minority in Bahrain, even by some who would welcome political reforms to make the ruling family more accountable to its populace. Shia empowerment is certainly feared by Saudi Arabia, which is intervening to ensure Bahrain does not fall under Iranian influence.
The U.S. encourages Bahraini’s democratic aspirations and worries that if Bahrain brutally puts down the protests, the demonstrators would turn to Iran for support. The U.S. does not want to see revolution, but rather reform. Among other things, revolution in this region would disrupt oil supplies.
Meanwhile, the countries of the Gulf are eager to suppress the uprising in Bahrain. They would not provide cover for international intervention, as it did by voting for a no-fly zone in the Arab League.
This is because while the Libyan uprising earned sympathy from neighboring Egypt and Tunisia, Bahrain's uprising is feared by its neighbors. Any overthrow of a monarch - or even reform to a genuine constitutional monarchy - would be sure to increase democratic pressure among neighboring monarchs.
A final reason why the United States and the broader international community have been reluctant to even confront Bahrain and the Saudi troops is because the U.S. needs as much GCC support in Libya as possible.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Kristin Diwan.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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To Dr. Kristin Diwan, I wonder how you are Assistant Professor of Comparative and Regional Studies at the American University School of International Service specializing in the Arab Gulf Countries. Because First of All Bahrain is a total different story from Libya... Bahrain consist of shiia and sunnis and donot tell that shiaa are 70% that is totally incorrect. the precentage is round 51% to 49% b esides most of the shiia are of Iranian origins. So what's happening in Bahrain is from Iran not like what happened in Tunisia, Egypt, libya or Yemen. So please make sure you have the correct information before you speak...sorry for that...and if you need any asistance send me an email...maybe i could help in your studies...My regards... Hassan.
Dear Hassan ,
The question or the jist is that humans are being killed . In Libya , the enforcement has claimed lives much more than the process of protests has taken . In Bahrain , the protesters are being killed . If the UN acted to save lives in Libya , why not in Bahrain ? Aren't the ones getting killed in Bahrain humans ? The simple answer here is politics of OIL .
RT: In bahrain, the protesters drew first blood by attacking Police and foreign nationals. They hurt people. I am from bahrain. Iv seem it happen time and time again. But the king, he just sits back and let the protesters get their demand. But now quiet a few innocent lives have been lost at the hands of the so called 'freedom fighters' Who wield Swords, molotov cocktails and guns. Bahrain is a small place where it is easy to create a deception. The US has no business in Bahrain because it is obvious that most of bahrain dont want the king gone. No expats want the king gone Indians/Pakistanis/Americans/Europeans/Asians all support the king because of how dangerous the thugs are. Many shia still support the king. I was born and raised in bahrain. Its is noi a dictatorship. I could pray to ANY religion/Icould go to any school/learn about evolution. The people who protest do they really look poor and discriminated? NO. If anyone is treated badly in bahrain its the foreign workers. These same people who call for 'democracy' rape and murder asian expats with next to no regard for civil life. This is the FIRST time such a thing has happened. And if you pay attention to the videos who will rarely actually see police actually start firing, they almost always wait to be provoked and provoked again CNN shame on you.
Actually the protesters are killing South Asians and seem to have precious little regard for anyone's human rights except their own. They entered into a political dispute with the government but they are attacking and killing innocent and South Asians for what? If you know any members of these thuggish gangs, please tell them to stop.
The "War for Oil" argument is just plain false. If it was true, why am I paying over $3.50 a gallon for gas? If the was was truly for oil, the US would have made that deal with Iraq (which floats on oil) for the money they owe us getting rid of Saddam. Where is the oil? So me the OIL! This IS, however, a politcal issue for sure. Oil? Please.
RT: Wow, your insight is incredible. Oil! Hey that is a great answer. It is the auto response for the majority of the population that is to ignorant to actually research both situations and realize the difference's between them. So let's get into this real quick.
Libya – what is important here. Well let's take a look at the leader, someone who was involved in terrorism in the late 80's and early 90's because he was rejected by the majority of the Arab Nations as being a viable leader of the Arab Nations. Someone who welcomes convicted terrorists back to his country with a Hero's Celebration. Now lets look at the majority opinion of the U.S. by the Libyan people. They still do not favor the west. They are still not friendly to us. Politically, we are doing the right thing. It was not us that recommended the No Fly Zone. We were asked by the U.N. to help out.
Bahrain: What do we know of Bahrain (Which I am currently stationed at)? Now you have some very good points that have been mentioned in response to your post, but you also have the Iranians to worry about. Now I am not sure, but it should need no explanation that Iran is not friendly to us. They have issued many statements saying that we don't belong in Bahrain, they don't agree with Bahrain allowing us to have U.S. Military Bases here, and why? Because the 5th Fleet is the front lines when it comes to responding to anything that Iran wants to do that they shouldn't be doing. Now how does the unrest in Bahrain stack up to what is going on in Libya? HELLO, the King is not taking the GCC Forces and attacking entire cities killing everyone in their path. Yes there have been deaths. Yes those deaths are regrettable and unfortunate. But the threat in this country, especially since the King and all the neighboring countries are focusing on the same thing right now, and that is that in the event that they fail to quell this uprising, the results could be much worse for the entire Arab Belt than just one country being affected. As was said in the statement, Bahrain is key right now, because if this Monarchy falls, you are looking at a possible Domino effect with Saudi Arabia, and other neighboring countries, not to mention the possible take over from Iran.
If that doesn't give you some idea of why the choices have been made the way they have, than maybe you should read a few other news pages other than just CNN.
The "War for Oil" argument is just plain false. If it was true, why am I paying over $3.50 a gallon for gas? If the was was truly for oil, the US would have made that deal with Iraq (which floats on oil) for the money they owe us getting rid of Saddam. Where is the oil? Show me the OIL! This IS, however, a politcal issue for sure. Oil? Please.
Problem in Bahrain is that 80% of police force are from Pakistan, India, Iraq, Sudan, as well as 60% of army. So there is a reason in Bahrain people are frusterated to see forighn elements are killing local bahranian as Bahranian army or police force. It is bad. Blood for money.
Yeah this is all about OIL .... even see what is happening in Ivory Coast, can't UN or the NATO, or the US help them for God sake ....
If the issue is that human beings are being killed or otherwise abused by their governments, then why stop with Saudi Arabia ? Why not Iran, or Syria, or North Korea, or Zimbabwe, or Myanmar, or Venezuela,or Somalia, or any of the many other third-rate third world dictatorships ? Half the world, and probably more than half of the third world, live under what some other commentator called "awfulocracy". We CAN'T help everybody – does that mean we shouldn't help anybody ?
100% agree. This is life, its all about OIL... if the middle east were off OIL, no one will ever care about what happen to it.
For Paul Brown who claims that Iraq owes the US for getting rid of Saddam Hussein. I would like it if you research about how Saddam Hussein got into power. It was all thanks to US. They made him a dictator by infiltrating him into politics and they could be held responsible for his murders and the genocide he caused. They're not Iraq's saviours, but the cause to all its miseries, even today. In the end, it is all about oil. They are indifferent to what happens to any country they put their paws on.
Dear Hassan Yosuif
You are totally right in saying that Shia are not 70% as Dr. Kristin Diwan said BUT still not 51% to 49% as you said the FACT is that Shia are more than 75%. NOW even if they are 0.1% still they are human and they are protesting for their basic right.
well said.
Saudi Wahabis started the Shia-sunni in our modern times.
The dictators in Bahrain use it to keep the population divided.
The uprising was gathering some Sunni support, then game was off, so they called in the Saudi occupation forces.
Mr Hassan: Its funny when you offer to help someone else with their history while having no knowledge of it yourself. Bahrain was part of the Persian dynasty at one point so its common sense that you will find Persian descendants there. On the other hand you will find plenty of reports on how expats were given citizenship in short period of time just to tilt the sect balance between Shia-Sunni. Just look up Dawn.com in recent days ran an article on how Pakistani's were recruited by Bahrain Govt.
Now even if they are 51% range they still are in the Majority which means they should have a lot to say in Govt affairs but we all know that is not the case. I can also point out how badly they are discriminated cause all of this is documented and widely available.
If the protesters truely whated a democratic government representing the population they would offer citizenship to all citizens in the country. That means the Indian's, africans, and asian's that work for all parts of Bahrain. Expats are the lasrgest sector in bahrain and easily out number all Bahrain's shia or sunni! Why doesnt' the protesters give the expats a voice instead of killing them! Stop your stupid protesting and talk to the government to bring Bahrian back to the friendly island nation it use to be. One last point, who paid for your leaderships educations? I'm sure it was the Kingdom? Sounds better than most Eurpoeans countries where your college is paid my your government. Wake up and smell the coffee! you live in a great country compared to most other countries.
If you have a hornet’s nest under your porch, the smart thing to do is to take out the nest not just stand there and kill individual hornets. The Iranian government is that hornet’s nest. The question here is how these so called regular people turned rebels got their arms and ammunition in these dictatorial countries such as Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, etc.? In my opinion, in the same way Hezbollah got theirs: from Iran. The Iranian government loves this chaos and keeps adding fuel to it for two reasons. It deters international attention away from themselves while they are busy annihilating their own internal opposition. Second, it is their calling, Khomeini’s fatwa from the very beginning when he walked down the plane from France into the Iranian soil.
So if the international community would help Iranians to achieve democracy and get rid of their own Islamist government, then its success would influence Arab nations. But unfortunately for reasons unknown to me, but only as a speculation I would say, the Iranian government is backed by some very powerful, behind the scene allies. Oil companies maybe?
Wikileaks and even todays article in News all say Iran has absolutely no connection to the Bahrain uprising. Please invent a new boogey man.
Thanks
You actually used wikileaks as a source. That's rich
Like it or not Wikileaks has more truth than most news outlets these days. Especially since their documents have been proven to be true by many countries and government officials.
Nishanth Dass: There is no proof of what you are claiming but there is ample to the contrary. To say the people support the King is a lie cause in a country of 700K you have 200k (quoting Wall Street Journal) people out on the street demanding he gives up his throne. There are videos of undercover Police posing as protesters and youtube also has a video of Bahrain police engaging in vandalism to potray the protesters in a bad light.
Now i am sure the protesters are not an organized bunch but they do have the right to be upset at the expats. As an American, if i had no income and my last job goes to a person from Mexico then i would be pretty upset as well. Its just a survival issue.
In short: the videos show extreme brutality being meted out to the Bahrain citizen by Saudi & expat forces. All reports point the King action in a bad light. Nothing you can say will justify this massacre taking place
Haider these so called people who are killing innocent people and South Asian expats have no right to do that. They need to sit down and talk to their government, not kill the south asians. I have seen these people with my own eyes. The most laziest, and they are not willing to do any hardwork. Are these the people you would like to see ruling Bahrain??
Haider, you claim to be american,eh? That is funny. Anyway you said that unemployed bahraini protestors saw expats they got jealous-well my friend most of the expats are working for 40-50BD a month.They work more than 12 hrs a day for 6 days a week and sometimes more with no pay for months sometime in some private companies.Your protestors are ready towork like this for the good of their country? Ask them to do that for 1 year-their character will improve and the country also will also improve. Now with respect to iranian involvement-well let us say that we take your story of no involvement by such a beughtiful country like Iran where protests are encouraged and protestors well looked after by the president and his militias-you remember this guy said no jews were killed in world war 2. Do you or your protestors know that nearly 70-80% of oil that bahrain gets is from saudi arabia? and perhaps you can guess nobody gives anything for free. with no oil your protestors will be sitting at the ex round about saying their poor. Without oil these protestors will not be living a subsidized life but back to donkey cart era prior to 1960. Ofcourse without oil and access to gcc the only patron these protestors will have is your friends in iran. what a great future that will be,eh? By the way haider, you are american, your name reflects that you are muslim and it seems from your talk you may be of iranian origin, do you think muslims in america are not discriminated? Try this haider, make a gathering around the white house or a round about close to it for a month- and do exactly what your fellow peace loving protestors did here- try it for a month and see what the reaction will be. By the way do you remember the million man march -they had more than 8500 armed police and snipers in DC that day -to do what haider- play hide and seek? It is easy to preach freedom very hard to understand its responsibilities-your ex round about friends don't get it either.
Haider,
Lets go to immigration and check to see how many of the foriegn workers are sponsored by Shia's! Shia's as Sunni's are making money off the expats! No one is stealing jobs from Bahraini's atleast jobs that Bahraini's are willing to do! Lets stop the sponsorship of humans and have a free market labor system like a democratic country!!! No, you don't want that do you!!!
Haider, don't lie on yourself i'm not sure if you are a Bahraini or someone who's just watching the TV or reading the news. We the Sunni if you would call us have seen what was happening in Bahrain during the last 4 weeks, it was us who suffered and don't come and tell us that it was a peacfull act the reality shows something different. About those expat well go and visit the hospitals and you'll know about the Banagli guy who died yesterday just because he was a Sunni and was calling for athan in a Sunni masjid and what about the old man (taxi driver) who was beaten till death? we are sick of the stories saying that all this from the police and the protestors did nothing. Hello but we are there and we can see, judge and read between the lines so don't try to change the facts and convince the world that no positive changes made in Bahrain in the last 10 years. Be honest
The difference is CLEAR: while the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya were nationally motivated and fuled by hunger and poverty and corruption of failed democracies, it is SECTARIAN and religoius in Bahrain. We did not see slogans of the Vatican raised by Christian protestors, instead all Egyptians stood as one. In Bahrain, the demonstrators raised Iranian flags and photos of Iranian clerics and Ayatoallah. How on earth would you expect the bahranian gov. or any other gov. for that matter to react? It is high treason. Now it is clear. it was an Iranian plot all along.
In addition, the protestors in Bahrain refused dialog with the gov, started buring stuff, and terrorizing other citizens (blocking roads and taking over hospitals and schools). None of this was presnt in Egypt, Tunisia or Libya.
This is WHY the protestors in Bahrain lost regional and international sympathy: your attempt to overthrow yur gov is fuled by sectariansim and not true search for democracy. You want to bring another mini-Ayatollah in Bahrain.
That is what the Govt wants you to believe. You tell me how do you know if this is a Sect issue? Do Shia and Sunni look any different? If it was a sect issue they do have the man power to win this but we are not seeing them fighting.
Like i mentioned there is no trace of Iran being involved in this affair at all. It takes a lot of gut to stand out in the open knowing you can be shot any second. Yet we see so many people do it, Do you think this is some of adrenaline rush or maybe they are just fed up being treated as second class citizen?
I am pretty sure you live in a democratic society so why not them.
Mr. Haider
Bahrain announced yesterday that they caught the Iranian ambassador red-handed. He was conducting espionage and is closely tied with the protestors. Upon that, he was escorted from Bahrain to Iran. Iran did the smae thing.
Are youy telling me that the Bahranian gov. LIED and FRAMED Iran for the uprising? They sacrificed diplomatic relations with their neighboring country to quell an internal demonstrtation? That to me makes no sense.
It is not about denying Bahranians freedom and democracy, I have no prolblem and would have marched along with them if they were like the Egypt and Tunisia protests. But the moment slogans of another coutry are raised and sectraian favorism is invloked, they lost all credibility and they have my utmost disrespect. i just cannot bring myself to iamgine how a human being would sell his homeland to another country, espeicially if that country has a criminal record.
Mr Mike: Please tell me you dont believe what the state sponsor news transmission. Gaddaffi said the strikes were due to Al-Qaeeda mixing Hallucinogen in milk, so was that true as well? C'mon get real.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/report-iran-recalls-ambassador-from-bahrain-over-protest-crackdown-1.349635
Israeli news source says that Iran summoned its Ambassador back. So i hope that point is cleared. Now as for Sect: Are you aware of Saudi view on Shias? Majority of their clerics consider them heretics thus making their blood lawful so Bahrain just allowed a bunch of Soldiers who would kill Shias just for this ruling. Now read up on the riots that happened, News sources specifically mention they were of Syrian and **** extraction..So they were not even Bahraini, How can people like this be Pro-Monarchy in the first place??
Stop being impartial and get real.
I think we can make this very clear:
OIL AND BASE – US wants puppet regimes that dance to their tunes. US has been supporting dictators/autocrats etc, and they don't want a revolution or Democracy in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, etc. this way their bases and interests are protected.
These Governments are suppressing their own people with violence and aggression to keep their seats, money and power. They have the worst human rights violations, no peaceful protests, freedom of speech, no free media, etc and I can go on. Maybe you should start doing your math before you start saying anything.
The Shias in bahrain voted for independence from Iran; they are bahrainis, arab or not (which they mostly are)
even if they were culturally connected and of Iranian origin, they still have basic human rights which the regime has suppressed. Shame on US for letting this happen.
Ali,
Shame on the portesters for disrupting lifes for all most all the residents of the island of Bahrain last week when they got violent and blocked major road and made life hell for most residents.
"Shia 51% and Sunni 49%"LOL, Is that statistics Arab way? Must everything about Arabs be fake, even their census?
funny.
I think they got those stats from Saudi occupation forces. The people who write here defending the Bahraini regime either work for Bahrain or Saudi intel.
Hey, maybe it's about oil, but not cheap oil. People who gain access and wealth over the oil has no interest in selling it cheap to you.
God, people can be so gullible and dumb.
It seems time has come for all autocratic regimes to fall gradually and of course the second phase would see that even those democracies that are committing crimes against humanity in various areas of the world under their control would ultimately be touched by the new wave. End result.....tyranny would fade away to a great extent.
The case Bahrain shows the double standard of the U.S. foreign policy. It sends a signal across the region that if you comply with the rules of their game, they'll help you out of the mess, if you are in deep trouble. Otherwise they'll combat you. I am afraid the West gets stuck in a hornet's nest.
BiBiJon:I just eliamed the link to your website to my gf (who is in CA). What a great resource! It is truly a great service in the cause of truth. Thank you.
Well on what basis Dr. Kristine is saying that Sunnis are minority any mathematical tools was used or you are just writing what protestors are saying? Our brothers from Gulf forces are securing the sensitive places and not killing civilians as you stated earlier. Before judgeing or listening to one party you should listen to Sunnis as well. it was us who suffered for a month with unstable conditions, teachers not coming to work, violenace all over the country , killing and scaring people although they were claiming it was a peacful demenstoration. Listen and open your eyes widely
You people in the media have gotten things upside down when it comes to Bahrain news. Bahrain is not clamping down on "pro-democracy" protestors but terrorists who incite hatred and terror. The government is arresting those who sabotaged security and stability. The very ultra-radical Shiites who hate the west are now calling for the downfall of the wiseman king who allows churches and expatriates to do business and flourish in its soil. Those radicals have been burning tires, destroying public property, attacking law enforcement officers, cops, spray painting graffiti around the capital. They are also burning trash dumpsters, blocking the flow of businesses, terrorizing residents and citizens alike, committing hate crimes by attacking South Asians, stirring hatred in the minds of their kids and that too in their mosques, of all places! God forbid! Their (Pro-Iranian and Pro-Hezbollah Shiite) doctors were removed only because of their racist attitudes toward providing medical care. Their doctors used to reject treatment to non-Shiites and beat up patients from other ethnic groups. The so called “patients” who have been removed were terrorists who tried to put on a show to get sympathy from the international media—blood bags, Photoshop and you know that kinda crap. Before the military took over they were beating up Sunni patients. Now you tell me, are you aware of all this??? Please don’t get wrong, I am all for human rights and democracy but it is sad to note that here in Bahrain the very people who are using the banner of democracy are the very people who turn out to be radical extremists and terrorists who hate the pro-Western King and the West itself. Be warned.
I see a desperate attempt by some to wash their hands off bloods , but the ironic part is the ruling clown in arabic peninsula must understand that they have suppress and undermine a big facts on the ground , Shia or Sunni is not the matter , the FAT ASS none intelligence rulers that can not count its finger without error are ruling them in the modern age , they have to go no matter which international jackal support them , MIDDLE EAST and muslim world needs intellectual's leader not a poppet whom would butter who can offer it more existence
Iran cannot get over the fact that it along with Russia LOST. There will be no tolerance for Iran and its Aytollahs in the region. Time has come to muzzle this mad rabid dog of the middle east.
An American expat speaks–
“As a former resident of Bahrain who left the pretty island a decade ago, I can only be anguished at the turn of events that have struck this modern, progressive and beautiful country over the last month.
The mainstream media is shallow enough to treat these insidious rebellions at the behest of foreign masters as a movement for "democracy" while ignoring the true sectarian and theocratic ideology behind the unrest.
And the constant references to Pearl "Square" when it is (or rather was) nothing but a traffic roundabout on a busy road and attempting to portray it and as central town square akin to Egypt's Tahrir Square is annoying to say the least.
If they can't get something so basic correct, the flimsy and uneducated quality of reporting comes as no surprise. The King did everything possible to start negotiations. People with serious criminal charges were pardoned and released.
An exiled troublemaker was allowed to return. The Crown Prince exhorted the opposition to come to the table. And what was the response?
Wielding clubs, swords and knives, these so called peaceful protesters terrorized neighborhoods, lynched and killed expatriates, set up road blocks, frightened innocent people in their cars and blocked roads and highways.
How could the government have tolerated this kind of anarchy and terrorism, all done in the name of democracy! Who is the leader of one of the opposition groups kidding when he says that the security forces were met with "roses" by his "peaceful" demonstrators? “
I guess a Molotov cocktail will still smell the same with another name. And nothing is more shameful than the doctors who cry all those tears and hold up x-rays in front of the cameras, grandstand and exaggerate, hoping to rile up emotions and attract sympathy.
Where was their anger when an injured patient was dragged and beaten and left for dead? What about the policeman who was burnt alive in his vehicle a couple of years ago?
What about the security men who were brutally run over by cars driven by the thugs? Any outrage about these atrocities from these nurses and docs? They are a shame to their profession. Just as the typically uninformed and misguided UN high commissioner who has nothing to say about a terrorist takeover of a government run hospital but has a problem if it is cleaned of the rogues who were dictating who enters it and who doesn't.
Hats off to His Majesty King Hamad and the government for taking the steps they did. The prestige and security of this regional financial powerhouse was at stake. The government should also undertake a concerted effort at correcting the falsehoods that are being spread by the Western media.
Show the world the videos of these peaceful protesters displaying their benign and peaceful swords and incendiary devices. In the meantime, the big mouthed leader of the neighboring country with nefarious designs can keep dreaming and throwing his tantrums.
Maybe he should start encouraging "democracy" in his theocratic state before preaching it to others.
Wow. The most comprehensive yet to the point account of events in Bahrian I have ever seen. well said, although I am an outraged Bahraini who has been in the eye storm, I couldn't have said it better. Many many thanks and god bless you. I hope you can manage to come on one of the News channels to say the truth.
really? so how come all the news and cameras show protesters getting run over and killed and clubbed...?
So the assumption here is that if a monarchy dies in the middle east its the death of the vision of western democracy in the Middle East!!! Let me get this straight the death of a MONARCHY in the middle east signals the death of western DEMOCRACY in the middle east. Bahrain is one of the few countries in the region where the King allows Churches and Synagogues to take footing on its shores. Google it up, if y'all dont believe me. It is the pro-Iranian Shiites who are calling for democracy and now what does that have to say about the whole thing–Bahrain an ultra modern liberal country will be reduced to a 4th world reminiscent of Post-Shah Iran. IRAN is the terrorist state. PERIOD.
This is so wrong in so many ways. The peaceful protests morphed very quickly into violent attacks by the peaceful protesters on South Asian l;abourers. The peaceful protesters have been going around in gangs of 40 or 50 to South Asian neighbourhoods, invading their homes , stealing their possessions and telling them to leave. The peaceful protesters committed terrible crimes against innocent South Asians and to this day there are large numbers of them sheltering in embassies. We who live here are simply tired of these silly analyses of a very complex situation and we are horrified by the racial violence of the peaceful protesters directed at the South Asian population. The peaceful protesters have mounted a very clever media campaign which has been used as cover by violent racist thugs. Don't drink the peaceful protester Kool Aid! If you want to find out more you can email me on
documentabuse@gmail.com
Do you work for Saudi secret police?
No i do not. Why can the peaceful protesters not accept that their disgusting crimes are now in the public domain? If you are one of them you need to realise that you have been found out. You are not peaceful, you have wounded and murdered large numbers of helpless people who work as day labourers and earn about 100$a month. How peaceful is that? Just because you object to these evil crimes being exposed to the world, you suggest that this is a plot against you. No doubt you will now complain to a human rights group that I have violated your human rights by showing you in a bad light on a comment board.
Dear BBC,
Events are moving fast here, so please excuse my less-than-optimum edit.
I do hope you guys are actually open to hearing alternative views and that
you might find something to take onboard.
We often hear the BBC congratulating themselves on being a superior conduit
of impartial news, however, we resident Brits in particular, plus many
Bahrainis, are beginning to doubt it. All my multicultural friends here are
of the same opinion: current BBC coverage of Bahrain is appalling. One
friend says you doesn’t know Sunni from Sushi – whatever, it seems something
is wrong or strange with your blatantly one-sided reports, whilst peaceful
protests are hijacked and you miss this point (amongst others). I hope you
hear me through.
Quick points:-
* You’re concentrating on one side of the situation, losing
balance.
Many of us here now believe you can’t distinguish lies from
exaggerations from facts – no due diligence in the rush to go live – you’re
reporting hearsay and distorting facts.
E.g. no tanks were used in Pearl clearance – only a van-sized APC at
crawling speed. Helicopters over Pearl were filming, no air-raid, no
“onslaught”.
Please be accurate and distinguish between the vast majority who
behaved well and the troublemakers.
As with most public disorder where Molotovs and random shots occur,
such troublemakers can expect to be treated differently as would happen in
the UK and Europe too.
* Are you ignoring the large minority of Sunni Muslims, who
have rights too, or conveniently lumping them with the Royal Family and
writing them off as a minority, using distorted figures? Besides offensive,
that’s not even democratic.
* You seemed to ignore attacks against Asian expats and their
mistreatment, abuse and rejection by the staff at Salmaniya Hospital (a
strange hospital these days) – or perhaps this is OK with the BBC? We
notice Caroline Hawley is eagerly pumped with one-sided assertions and
uncorroborated hearsay… please see below.
* You lump all Shia together and depict the problems here as a
Sunni-Shia split.
This is not what most Shia at Pearl were saying to visitors who
wanted to hear their view: sectarianism is expressly not what they wanted to
raise.
Incidentally, trucks with small groups shouting “Down Down Hamad”
(like the hospital crowd) and mindless repetition of Cairo’s “as-sha’ab
yureed Isqaat en-nathaam” elicited silence from the crowds there, not
support. Don’t confuse who’s asking for what, or we’ll have British
Broadcasting Confusion…
* I discussed democratic systems and constitutional monarchy
with educated, eloquent and civilised Shia pro-democracy protestors at Pearl
on several occasions – who told me they had no wish to be confused with (to
quote them accurately) the religious BS. Many Shia wore badges saying “No
Sunni, No Shia, I’m Bahraini”. Did Caroline Hawley see any of this? Most
Bahrainis do not want anarchy or a chaotic transition. Yet the BBC’s
selection of interviewees who express their intent on further disruptive
action and anarchy is appalling, especially since it should be obvious that
responsible leaders should get to the negotiation table asap.
* Shia themselves are split – this is a major reason why talks
didn’t start after one month since security was withdrawn.
Do your reporters know how many opposition societies were involved
and how many were ready for talks but were held back by others with a
different agenda? – that agenda is not constructive, but politics is dirty.
* If only democracy, and not duplicity, were in the minds of
all concerned, massive strides could already have been made, considering
what the Crown Prince has offered – but referred to only in passing by the
BBC. Cancelling or continually postponing talks aligns with other
objectives… are your reporters up to this??
* For one month, without guns held at anyone’s head, no
bilateral negotiation started. Forgive us for suspecting a crisis was
wanted by some parties, not talks – goalposts were continually moved. It
was certainly not in the King’s interest to go for crisis – don’t demonise
the wrong people, BBC, check out why there’s been such delay. Surely better
journalism means digging deeper?
* Ask why kids were sent to face armed troops in February
(would you approach them ranting and raving?), whilst their organisers
encouraged them and photographers took pictures without giving first-aid -
an example not just of sedition but also of ruthless manipulation.
* Do your reporters know or care about Bahrani Arab vs.
Iranian origin? Otherwise, they’ll definitely be “missing a trick”.
Important in any debate on democracy and allegiance to this country.
Clinton and Hague know some Shia are Iranian backed, and how this influences
regional security and could destabilise Bahrain in particular.
* Besides politics, the BBC does not focus on the obvious
paralysis in a small country that blocking Pearl roundabout and lately many
side roads and highways had created – is it OK by you that the whole country
suffers collective punishment whilst certain parties can’t (don’t) get their
act together? Caroline’s poetic “symbolic heart of the …battle for
democratic change” caused massive disruption of normal daily life and
economic activity. Pearl diversions first caused gridlock, then we had
multiple roadblocks across our biggest highway using truckloads of sand,
concrete blocks and roadwork barriers. Imagine this in London – but we
don’t have hundreds of alternative routes to help out… and bear in mind,
Pearl had been blocked for one month.
* Caroline Hawley’s emphasis whilst describing a government
statement of having “cleansed” the Hospital and roundabout was highly
unhelpful and possibly inciteful. She’s lucky they used English, even if
not to PC standard. Better to drop expectations of perfectly nuanced
translations in an Arab country and progress beyond cheap-shot journalism.
* All political systems have imperfections, even UK democracy
– just now being timidly revisited. China took nearly a billion out of
poverty in 30 years without democracy. Meanwhile, if you tried to present
the “horrors” of Shia daily life under the current system, you’d be hard
pressed to put a programme together. Bahrain is NOT like Egypt, Libya,
Tunisia or Syria. Bahrain is a relatively progressive Arab state already on
the road to a democratic future. Since Tunisia, do you action-hungry media
expect instant results?!
* Please put aside unhelpful shallow pub talk of a Sunni-Shia
sectarian divide. Try exposing the divide between real Bahrainis and those
calling for an Islamic Republic. Discuss what that would entail in terms of
Civil Rights and how its values could ever be called democratic. That would
be really helpful and instructive for many.
author
I’m a Cambridge-educated British engineer living here since 1981 – longer
than the average Bahraini and I have worked and lived with Shia and Sunni
alike. I speak Arabic and have an understanding of the complex local
culture and of some of the differences between Shia.
verified? / hearsay?
Wherever there’s conflict or dispute, you surely meet contradictory comments
often with no supporting evidence. However in this case, a careful analysis
of the available local TV footage would tip off your reporters that probably
some of the stuff they’ve been repeating is dodgy. Can we have better than
no independent verification or sources say. Some local research or history
wouldn’t go amiss. Only your Frank Gardner displays a reasonable
understanding.
responsible language
In a small island, such upheaval has to be reined in. Every reasonable
person knows that, so let’s be civilised: challenge the government, but not
peace and stability for everyone. A few antisocial rioters – for that’s what
they are, they don’t care for the rest of us – are getting killed.
Occasionally innocents too, in hot pursuit or by the protestors. But the
likely alternative to firm control is a complete breakdown of law and order
with many more innocents being killed. We’ve already seen a dead
policeman’s body being kicked by gangs.
Can’t the BBC be more cautious NOT to inflame an already impassioned
situation?
We are disgusted at your cheap use of “onslaught”, “crushing” with “deadly
force” and an “assault” by security forces “controlled by the Sunni Royal
Family” (their actual job would be little different if controlled by
Martians). Perhaps the BBC would prefer no security? Many European
countries would certainly not stand for such disruption indefinitely.
accurate coverage
Evident from obviously un-staged TV footage on local TV – which we do view
sceptically –thousands at Pearl did comply and move, understandably
reluctantly, away from the security forces who did not assault or shoot
anyone during that managed process – the slow exodus was clear from
helicopter video footage with an entirely credible explanation of the
sequence of events, tallying with what we heard 1km away.
Such evidence does not fit with your BBC descriptions. You conveniently
stretched later information, pertaining only to the relative few who stayed
and wanted to fight, to cover the entire event.
Force came later to a few hardliners who used petrol bombs which, to use
your dismissive description, were “no match for the military” – er, were
they supposed to be, BBC? Does a mismatch excuse their use in peaceful
demonstration? No BBC mention that police themselves came under fire, that
police died from being run over, that exploding gas cylinders were used
(credibly filmed). Indeed, was there any attempt to get a security forces
version of events as we saw later on local TV? Why skip such possible input
when you accept hearsay elsewhere? Your active omission seems like a
disdainful BIAS. We do not appreciate this and expected much better from
the BBC.
By reporting in your one-sided way, failing to isolate the minority
troublemakers and not criticising their defiance of reasonable law and order
requests and fighting the authorities with urban violence, you effectively
lend this group support because they will mis-infer it. Consider: the BBC
comes in, puts them on the world stage and lauds their pro-democracy ticket,
then implies criticism of the Royal Family and the only existing security
mechanism stretched under unprecedented pressure… BBC, you may wish to
feed shock-hungry viewers, but we have to bear the consequences of your
naïveté.
hospital
Lastly, the Government-funded Salmaniya Hospital blocked by troops? You
could make a really fascinating programme just here… I’ve just driven by to
update myself, as it’s very near my office. There is one tank, several
police vans and army personnel outside the entrance, filtering traffic to
pass slowly and genuine cases to get in. We’re worried what standard of
service is possible after loads of supplies suddenly disappeared, in
possible sabotage. Why imply this is the troops’ fault? Sadly, since
admitting casualties, some Shia staff at this hospital had become militant,
against their professional oaths. Did your reporters see footage of what
the A&E car park can look like with 5000+ anti-government chanters? They
effectively took over our largest state hospital and at one point they
blocked anyone else getting in with unused ambulances (not tanks). 14
unnecessary tents were erected directly outside A&E, totally out of order in
that position. The hospital (which myself and my family have previously
used) was fast becoming Shia-only. Recently, Pakistani (Sunni) patients
were delivered from ambulances tied up (mobile footage on local TV!!), then
abused, spat on and rejected by the medical staff inside and they had to
move to the ($$) BDF Hospital. It might be of interest to know ambulances
were used in the last weeks to *supply* the guys at the roundabout, surely
an odd state of affairs? Any questions there??
If I worked for the BBC, my information offered above would come from a
“trusted BBC source”. But its veracity would be no different. I send you
all this free of charge after toiling hours over my keyboard in an attempt
to convey shared feelings among very many well-informed, well-connected
professional British expatriates and many Bahrainis alike. We feel your
recent shallow, one-sided coverage is effectively inciteful, does the BBC no
favours and, for what it’s worth, we hope you tighten up your journalism to
what millions still expect.
Kind regards
I have also made a detailed complaint about this to the BBC as well and expressed my disgust that Caroline Hawley has in effect offered cover to violent racists due to her incompetence as a journalist.
Nicely said! that is how most expats fell about almost all the media sources reports on Bahrain since Feb 14th! The real victims are the law abiding citizens and expats of Bahrain that these anti-government terrorists are creating hate in the streets and in the schools of Bahrain.
Hi Dr. Kristine,
Do you know anything about Bahrain ? If you have to say something about Bahrain, you have to leave hear at least 1 – 2 years and understand the Government & people. Do you know how much Govt is trying to help the citizens ? I am really an Indian, who is staying in Bahrain for last six years. I really feel more freedom here than India.
Really western media is only speaking for 'One Side' and not trying to know anything about Bahrain. You should study how government is trying to develop this small country ? What is the availability of resources ? You will not even think its a Kingdom, while you are living hear. You are getting all kind of help from Government.
After Dubai, Bahrain is having the second place in receiving tourists.
We are sure that GOVt's action is against terrorists not against the people of Bahrain.
Some of the leaders are really misguiding the people and leading them to terrorism by saying the name of democracy.
oh you are getting help, plenty of help to change the demographics of Bahrain.
Obviously, everyone here in Bahrain was unprepared for this terrible sequence of events. Many of the peaceful protesters may initially have held high ideals and been very peaceful in their approach but this quickly morphed into something very ugly and horrific. We would all be grateful if the international media and so-called experts actually bothered to ask people who live here and who know a lot more than they seem to do. As far as I can see, the vast majority of the population of this island dread the thought of meeting any peaceful protesters and hope they never hear those two words again. I would ask these irresponsible commentators and journalists to spare a thought for the injured South Asians who have been traumatised as a result of the cover given by the media and human rights organisations to racist thugs.
There is nothing stronger than the will of the people . America should have learnt its lesson by now . America is just as guilty in depriving the arab people by supporting these regimes for all of these decades ..... NOW THEY WANT TO BE THE SAVIOR ..... they kill you and walk in your funeral ....
Some of the people above aren't making any logic in their effort of just playing down the blogger. With no help to peaceful unarmed Bahrainies in contrast to Libya's armed and violent protestors is a clear double standard of the west exposed which shall be remembered for ages. Wouldn't be a demoratic and free Bahrain beneficial to all the citizens of Bahrain alike, leave alone shia or sunny.
What I gather from Dr Kristin's blog above is a suggestion to all monarchs should maintain friendships to keep in power???
The violent protesters in Bahrain began attacking and killing South Asians, especially from Pakistan,which is one of the reasons why the State of Emergency was declared.
Bahrainies might have a reason to attack few Pakistanies, 1) because the Government of Pakistan is recruiting mercenaries (retired army personnel) for the help of Bahrain's Khalifa to kill the protestors 2) the Government of Bahrain has been giving jobs to Pakistanies which otherwise would have gone to Bahraini citizens. The Khalifa must have earn respect from their own people first before going abroad.
My good freind. 60% o Bahrain army and saudi are from Pakistan and India, as well as their police forces. So do not bame them, blame your seld which you guys do everything for money (i.e. go to other countr and kill for money). This is simply not acceptable.
Yo buddy Matt.., there are many americans in Bahrain, Libya, India, Pakistan etc.., stop bickering and face global competetion.
We don't attack Bahrain (simple) we allready have a naval base there (we always have an alterior motive for any aggressive move we make on people) Isn't that nice.
NO Offense! But I say nuke all Arab countries, it just shows as Iraq and Libya to name a few can not be trusted. But Yes! This is a political war based act as all have been. There is not gain by interfering outside of having superior power and that is all the UN and Nato is all about. This is just the opening to the start of the New World Oder and the One World Government and having only one world leader. As most do not believe in this, all I can say is wait and see. Then when it happens reply back and say sorry JackNukeMaster, you were right and we were all stupid and did not know what the heck we were talking about.
Heh. Yelling about New World Order on one hand and saying nuke the Arabs on the other.
Talk about stupidity.
Scott Lucas,"About 20,000-30,000 in Tehran — mvonig in pockets of 100s in most cases — on 25 Bahman; a bit smaller on 1 Esfand."Keep on dreaming...
Oh, I have a better question....
WHY LIBYA AND NOT S-Y-R-I-A ?
Bahrain is a more harmless country compared to Syria. Syria's military has opened fire and shot their protesters. This new foreign policy, used to intervene in Libya, is so two-faced!!!
That is True Two See! It's all about there needs and what the UN and Nato and I never added IC and there involvement. It is just the road way to a political standpoint. Either way! Sooner or later it will end up bad for the US. The more we fight there, sooner the fight comes here. And it will!
This is 100% Truth you worte Mr. Kristin...
Why the 75% people live as minority ? I hope, This world will be free of KINGs....
I intend agree with you Hussain. We are lot between our grid and fundamental which we beilve (i.e. human right, equality, right to vote and etc).
This is clearing an issue to the Whole Gulf. Saudi/UAE/Qatar/Oman don't want the uprising in Bahrain to succeed. Then they will be next. They are all dictators ruling for many and many years. Stealing the people money and killing them. These governments support Terrorists and they were the first to recognize Taliban (Saudi/UAE). They don't want a democracy were people can live peacefully. Go to work peacefully and come back.
I think US is an imperialist power and US pays evil corrupt dictators to exploit the masses.
The big difference betweeen Libya and Bahrain is that the Bahrain dictator has made better arrangements with US.
US generally represents anti-democracy and as a dirty imperialist nation, working and supporting corrupt dictators to exploit the nations masses and resources. It's very interesting to see US switching its stance as in the case of Mubarek. It generally takes exogenous factors to create such change as the stranglehold imperialist nations have on the victim nation is so strong.
Look at Britain with India, if it weren't for Hitler's Germany, India wouldn't have it's freedom today.
I would believe the exogenous factor in this case is rising China.
As a result, it's only a matter of time before US loses control of the mid east.
The irony is that Hitler's Germany made Britain a better country, hopefully the shifting of power makes US a better country. Just as India got its freedom as a result of Germany, the mideast will get its freedom as a result of China's rising strength.
The greater irony is that the masses of muslims will become US allies in the future. If history continues to repeat itself.
Has anyone ever considered that the reason we did this is because after getting all that "support" from the nuclear power industry that his backers had the POTUS distract the news media from the big mess in Japan ? Won't the people be so upset about our actions in Libya and so concerned about keeping US from escalating that it will take the majority of their energy and attention and the 24 hour news coverage away from Japan ? Perhaps because of Libya and the threat of US doing more of the same there won't be a BIG Anti Nuclear Backlash because we will have been distracted away from our Japanese Nuclear Nightmare ? !!!
Good Point Russ! But NO! This is all about political power and slowly taking out those against and or not for the UN, Nato or the IC. There is going to be those tossed out because they go against the ONE Government power. This has nothing to do with humanitarian aide or garbage like that. It is about taking those not supporting the power of the UN and IC
It is surprising to see someone equate Bahrain with Libya. Bahrain has had a fairly open society with historically more freedom and democratic reforms than the rest of the Arab world. Libya is a fairly closed society with an autocratic ruler whose brutality is well known. While i believe the Bahraini government has made significant mistakes in the handling of the protests, there is no comparison to what has occurred in Libya.
Everything is relevant. I agree with you that based on your definition Bahrain had more open society. But 70% of people are in a way put in a bottle with no right to vote, no right to make any decsions about leadership of Bahrain, no right to take any governmental positions and no fair share of wealth. Also Bahrain is used for entertainment center of Saudi, which every night they drive from devil bridge to barain to entertain them slef with immigrated women and other none civilized actions. I am not against entertainment as whole. But I am gainst using immigrant and Shia majority as second citizen of Bahrain. In my opinion Bahrain situation is wrose than Lybia, since people are suffering for a decade.
Matt,
70% of the people of Bahrain are with the King! You always seem to forget the expats! who pay their electric and water bills and support most the Bahraini's that don't feel they need to pay. We pay extra fees because we are not Bahraini! we have no voice but we are half the population. Don't forget what happened in Rome when its population had move slaves than citizens. Maybe the expats should protest against the anti-government protester and show the true majority of people living in Bahrain!!!!
It is pretty shamefull. In a way we created UN to look after different nations right and make it sure huaman has right and free to express their opinion.US constituation is based on freedom of speech, human right, freedom of religon. We are proud about our constituation. But I am afraid, we are becoming a selfish nation and selecting what is the best for us than focusing the fundamentals which made our country great. US and rest of Europen are selectively get involved in different issues. let me remind you, it took several years after over 1 million women Bosnian get raped by serbia to get involved in that country. For lybia it took few days!? Bahrain is also similar to Bosnia. Have you forgotten how secnd war started? A leader of nation in Europe categorized an element of people as devil and strated to kill them. Saudi and other GCC are also repeating same process against 70% of Shia in Bahrain. There is more shameful that UK, US and France choose not to talk about it because of $100B arm deal as well as cheap oil from saui, Qatar, Kuwait. So, what wonderful world.
You are absolutely right. What is really alarming to me is to see that the united nations organization has become corrupted by Nations with an agenda. It's shameful and the world should delegitimize this organization. Another thing there should be rotating seats not permanent seats. Same thing we are fighting against is the same thing we are becoming...
We should stay out of all these conflicts. Time for us to pick up our ball and go home. We get not thanks and there is always one group or other that disapproves. All we get is more resentment. Let the Arabs take care of their own back yard.
You hit the nail on the head. We're the patsies who are going to throw the balance of power in favor of a group of people who will probably hate us when it is over. They play the sympathy card, we go running to help, then when the power is in their hands we'll be the Great Satan again.
The bourgeois minority (sunnis & expats) of Bahrain are trembling and crying foul over action of majority of people. Same people who are happy with policies of Khalifas should put hand on their heart and think that if same policy is followed by their home country gotvs. how will they feel In India forget foreigners people of one region/state are treated expats remember Mumbai incidents sponsored by MNS & Shive sena when several North Indians were brutally beaten and their properties plundered due to the reason that they were eating out jobs of locals. same anger can be seen in actions of Bahraini have-nots (compared to haves of Bahrain which include expats). It is different to be discriminated against your own countrymen than expats. What if same formula of reverse representation & rule of minorities is implemented acros gulf (many people hearts may skip a beat after reading this statement). In gulf simple rule is Sunni should rule by hook or crook. In Iraq Shias are forced to include sunnis due to fear of backlash in Lebanon Shias although being in plurality (if not majority) are kept out of top post based on almost a century old census-data and power sharing agreement made based on it. Iran is bad because it says US & its allies are bad. Kiss a*s of US & allies like gcc rulers and you will be best nations of world speak against it & you'll be axis of evil. That is the policy of US intervention (oil or no oil). Sooner or later autocrats of gcc will be thrown into gulf (similar to the fate of Raza Shah, Hosni Mubarak, etc).
Faiz you are lucky to come from a civilized democratic country even though you are minority there. Here in bahrain if you had been in the ex round about they have hit you with a stick for being an expat irrespective of your attempts to bring in religious affliation.Those ex round about people you are so much defending -only want chaos-they were not serious about dialog.
They can not do that in Barain because Saudi and UAE contigents are there. hahaha
Without deployment of ground troops by the Coalition Forces(which will most likely be opposed by the Arab League), there is no way for the rebels in Libya to win. Barrack's planes just gave them false hopes, unwittingly steeling their resolve. They should really be surrendering or migrating by this time. More people will die...in vain, unfortunately.
Magnitude is also an issue, in Bahrain the fifth protestor has died, Libya far surpassed 500 before that air campaign began. Economic interests, joint allies are also factors, but the difference in magnitude is glaring.
10 bahrainis we know (how many have been killed by Saudi occupation forces, only time will tell)of a million people; in US terms that would be 3000 people. It really is a lot of people for such a small population.
Why Libya and not Washington DC? Our citizens are under the rule of a tyrant who has robbed the savings and financial security of millions of citizens against the vast majorities will. He was illegally elected as a Kenyan born national and rules at the point of a gun. He holds power through armed force and launches terrorist attacks against independant nations at will and without the consent of Congress or the people. Perhaps an appeal is in order asking the African Coalition to come to America to save us from tyranny.
That was funny. Thanks!
BTW, I never saw the American participation in the Libyan campaign as a form of Barrack's "bypassing" of US Congress. Thanks for the insight. I suppose it could be a serious basis for impeachment.
Have you read the Constitution?
When a group of people has donated their brains, and are accepting everything that is said by their Imams in Iran.Do you expect most of the people in Bahrain to support them?
We even see the Imam spitting in the water and them drinking it for being blessed.
The same group had a rally demonstration in 2009 where the leaders of the 7 opposition groups (the same leading today the protests) and their followers had the Hezbollah and Iran flags and leaders photos.
So, what do you want us (the liberals) to do? Do you want us to wait until the return us 1000 years back? Do you want us to wait until they kill all Christians, Jewish, Sunni of Bahrain? Do you know that we have more than 20% of our society that are non Muslims?
Please have a look at the 2009 rally:
Most of the killing that happened, has happened by the Shiites Army which was trained in Lebanon by Hizbullah. And most of the incidents were recorded by the normal people who also published them. We have around 45 foreign workers attacked with 4 dead and 2 brain dead, with many of the others lost parts of their bodies.
Please don't support the wrong side just because the mainstream is going that way. Please say the right thing, and your creditability will not be questioned. We are not watching a movie, you are holding the responsibility of Human Lives when you say something without doing your complete study, or look into all angles.
Ha..ha.ha... What a joke? This rally is a 'Yaum al Quds' i.e. Quds day rally (you can hear word quds being repeated even if you don't understand Arabic). Quds day was declared by Khomeini in solidarity with people & struggle of Palestine the day is observed on last Friday of Ramdan. People in the rally in video are holding Flags of Hezbollah & pictures of Khomeini, Khamnei, Musa Sadr, Nasrallah, Seestani, etc but they are also holding flags of Palestine (most of the flags are of Palestine i.e. the red, white, black strips with green triangle at mast) and no Iranian flag. And I can't see any one drinking the spit. Posting of quds day video and trying to link it with present movement shows how desperate are few people to refute the movement of majority. And yes people in the video are condemning US & Israel. BTW sunnis, christians & jews are free to practice their religion in Iran in fact jews & christians are counted as protected minorities. The only fault with Iran is that it is anti US & Israel (which is greater than original sin) and same is the fault with majority of Bahrainis who are trying to get their rights.
I see what you did there.....Atleast be honest in your approach.
Do you work for Saudi government?
Let's see, in Iran the constitution declares Judaism and Christianity official state religions; Iran is home to the second largest Jewish population in the entire region, Hezbullah has formed a coalition with Christian factions....
In Saudi Arabia? They have published new version of the Quran declaring them infidels. There are no Christians or Jews. Iranian regime might be many things, but you cannot even compare it the barbaric Saudi occupation forces in Bahrain.
fyi,The Shah spent 40% of his bgduet on weapons etc. This was insanity promoted of course by armaments manufacturers.The tens of thousands of Americans who lived in Iran due to the Shah's weapons purchases etc did much to damage the standing of the monarchy.
Bahrain King today, King tomorrow, King for ever. Otherwise draw a green line and divide Bahrain. If Gadhafi is replaced by King of Bahrain,every thing is cool.
How much did the King pay you or you must be working for the King.
It is because Egypt and Tunisia will no longer be under US control. Under democracy, these countries might not be friendly towards Israel. We "need" a regime in Libya to protect Israel from these countries in the event that Israel steps up it's oppression of Palestinians. France attacked Germany when it invaded Poland. What's to stop Egypt from attacking Israel considering it's annexation of Palestinian terroritories?
Besides Israel's nuclear weapons, that is.
The Article shows complete ignorance in the geopolitics of the region. Furthermore, the author does not provide any evidence that the uprising in Bahrain is cross secterion. Obviously the author did not follow when a great number of protestors were holding Hezboallah flags which is a well known terrorist group. They were also holding Khomaini and Khamenie pictures. When the world intervens in Libya it is because Qaddafi was killing his own people, but in Bahrain, the regime restrained itself with the objective of restoring order and security. Can any group bring their tents and block Oxford Street causing disruption to other people's lives and claim they are protesting peacfully?
So, in short, we're not doing anything about Bahrain because we don't want to tick off Saudi Arabia.
You are so wrong my freind. Should the world bomb every country if there it has a protest? The world should discreminate between a cross sectarian protes and a sectarion protest that was instegated /encouraged by Hezbollah and Iran. Western countries should not be bomb happy whenever there is a protest!
This just shows how unjustified this Libyan war is. If Libyans want freedom, let them fight and die for it....They won't be the first ones....Since when does the World decides who is and who is not in power....it is a violation of sovereignty. This is hypocritical. Gadhafi did not start this, the revolt did, so let them gain their own "freedom".
No fly zone for Bahrain!
The UN is an obsolete organization. The global mafia needs to be stopped.
if someone in congress screams bloody murder ....there it goes the whole world along. how pathetic.....
The difference is simple and glaring in terms of the USA: PanAm Flight 103
On Wednesday 21 December 1988, a Boeing 747–121 was destroyed by a bomb in mid air killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Eleven people in Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, were also killed as large sections of the plane fell in the town and destroyed several houses, bringing total fatalities to 270. As a result, the news media has named the event the Lockerbie bombing.
On 24 February 2011, resigned justice minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil revealed that Muamar Gaddafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing.
CNN – what are your editors doing? This is supposed to be GPS; the new CNN brand competing with the Economist or Le Monde or Foreign Policy – not Fox or NBC.
The three technical arguments the professor makes are correct to back up her observation. But its a riduculous question; all three points are commonly understood by most global citizens and we dont need an article to tell us the obvious: Libay has almost no friends in the international community, has a history of erratic behaviour and is attacking their own citizens with jets and tanks. Bahrain is in the middle of a political game; its a fairly undemocratic and unfair government towards its citizens but it has for the most part been forward thinking and a team player on international issues. And in this country police have shot people at a public rally. Sure – thats bad but by comparing the two situations you are assuming your readership are idiots. I think Ill stick to real international news analysis sites from now on which get to deeper issues than throwing out something like "Why does Nato Except Turkey but not Indonesia?"
In fact Raj, the protest movement in Bahrain has morphed into a very violent racist movement that attacks and terrorises South Asians. The protesters also paralysed the country with road blocks. At that point the government was forced to intervene. Most of the protesters did as they were asked by the police and left the roundabout but a number began an assault on them using their weapons of choice, gas cylinders and petrol bombs. Would any police force in the world stand by and do nothing in those circumstances? Essentially this was suicide by cop. So the situation in Bahrain was not much different than any situation in which a violent gang attempts to achieve its objectives.
We all wish that people would listen to those of us who actually live here instead of the international media and human rights organisations who have given cover to a group of anti democratic murderous racist thugs.
for now Bahrain is an occupied country where nationals monuments get blown away and people are carried out to jail and tortured. Forward thinking? lol
Occupied country- by whom? ali- do you prefer that it be occupied by Iran or Friends in Lebanon? When national monuments are not respected by people who sat around it and wrote on it-climbed on it created laterines and toilets around it to the extent that the stench was increasing every day- do you think such a national monument dedicated to the GCC which you claim to occupy but in reality help ,do you think it should be kept? No way.
Are you kidding me. Why not tell the truth. The United States is protecting its puppets in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. You guys just kill me with your lies. In fact it's the United States foreign policy that's the real terrorist in the world.
His point was pretty much the same as yours – just more sophisticated than "defending our puppets." It would be bad for the U.S. and the world to destabilize the Gulf, especially now that Egypt may not be one of our "puppets." Political realism is a part of politics. Sorry, but that will never change. You don't intervene in a humanitarian crisis when it could completely wreck your foreign policy and destabilize the Persian Gulf and its shipping lanes which are full of oil. The world isn't fair.
merks62 on June 19, 2007 A full rtoaorteisn of this car would be unfortunate, in my opinion. After all, the way this Plymouth acquired its patina is as unique as it gets!
Muslim world will never be the same again, and if some dumb politician is expecting pro-western governments after these revolts YOU ARE WRONG. How can you be pro-western when the people in those countries are surviving, living on 2 dollars, plagued by hunger, diseases, wars, provoked by the voracious-oil western countries and some goonies who lives in palaces and have billions of dollars to throw away. And after years of applying a genocide policy in these countries, now we want to present ourselves as "crusaders" saving the democracy. JAJAJAJAJAJAJA.
US president is not the one that determines our foreign policy when it comes to Saudi Arabia and its sattelites like Bahrain and Yemen, the one who does is the King of Saudi Arabia. They tell us what to do and we do it. We don't have men like Nixon anymore.
Dr Kristin,
again I must fully agree with Mr Hassan
your knowledge of the Arabian Gulf states and indeed the Arab world seems to be very little and you cannot compare what is happening in Bahrain with what is happening in Libya,as one( the Bahrain one ) is an Iranian backed and supported revolt against a regime that gives its people all social welfare and freedom ,while the other ( Libya) is locally inspired same as the one in Syria which she chooses to ignore like the rest of the media and where 25 people have been killed by the authorities already for peacefully demonstrating in a mosque including a doctor ,a lawyer and few children
Vincenzo Ruello the Italian amateur film scientist has decoded the Holy Shroud on the 10th February 2011 releasing true real life images of the face and body with skin and hair from actual encoded information. He films in various angles of light which was the secret in decoding the Shroud. His clips and the real face of Jesus Christ can be seen on youtube search Vincenzo Ruello
The age of the shroud is obtained as AD 1260-1390, with at least 95% confidence. It's difficult to imagine a shroud woven in AD 1260 would have an image of Jesus who rose 1200 years previously.
Has the Arab League called for intervention in Bahrain?
THAT is the difference.
Dear Editor. My Country Santo Domingo underwent or invaded for 42,000 marines USA in 1965. Here had Banana and Sugar.For only Fear that we become another Cuba. Your country is a big nation and have a beatiful history. But the reason for airstrike Tripoli or Gadafi I believe is for Petroleum. USA is a Leader The Mediterran's Pirates right now similar to Francis Drake. The ONU Give Its Corso's Patents for robbery the petroleum'Libyans. The Minions Zapatero and Sarcozy too no want Help civilians. They want reelection equal Obama. Can you read Gulliver's Travel of Jonattan Swift or The Naive of Voltaire or The Vested Interests of Jacinto Benavente? Gadafi the Big Leader is David, USA and UE is Golliat, that is Terrorism. This War is The 100 Years'War. The USA is a Leader or World's Dictator from the Second World War, and must go. Is the moment for Chinesse or Indian or Brazil or Russian.
We as the US have to be fair and balanced when injecting ourselves into the affairs of other Countries. We don't have the manpower to fight War's all over the World, but if we want to start why would we just be concerned with juust the Oil Producing Countries that we don't like. The ones we like we will allow them to mistreat their people.
Paul Brown, wake up. You're paying $3.50/gallon because the oil companies are gouging us. They report record profits and pass all costs onto us. If you think the situation in Bahrain isn't oil driven (non-intervention) then you must have your eyes and ears closed. Look who is supporting Bahrain an look at which of them supply the US with oil. The US cannot afford to get the Saudis upset because if they were to pull all or their assests out of the US the US would be bankrupt. Anythintg having to do with oil will always drawn the attention of the US. As for Iraq repaying the US for "freeing" them of Saddam, I think it should be the other way around. The Iraqis did not ask for help. They woke up one day to face an invasion. Saddam was an Iraqi problem and they should have been the ones to deal with it. The Iraqi people should be reimbursed for all of the property damage and loss of human life.
I think she definitely underplayed the significance in the US response of the 5th Fleet being stationed
there.
Why Libya? Why not Burma? Why not Zimbabwe?
Dear Fellow Humans specially Muslim brothers, The discussion is initiated by scholars who have analyzed muslim's system of sects i.e firrquas and they what to further enhance their knowledge and understanding, your comments are helpful and i appreciate your concern, and taking time to comment. whether right or wrong you all are concerned for a better peacefull resolution. Thankyou. So to give their(scholar's) understanding a boost i must say that all above comments and all comments ever by muslims are simply based on the fact of which sect. they belong either sunni or shia. Hence the comment in itself looses legitimacy/sense because it is radically initiated, each one favoring the theory he is born with. I think its very much up to the scholars/think tanks to analyze on their own as to who is better to choose in the muslims. Thanks
I am assuming there are Bahrainis among the people who commented. Instead of watching your one eyed state tv and media and just went to the pearl roundabout, you would have known that protests had nothing to do with religion or outside influence of any sort. It is about the majority of the population who have been discriminated against by the ruling family for decades. The demands of the protesters are not new. They are the same demands for decades. Fact is non of the protesters were armed in anyway. If they were armed they were armed with roses, flags, women, kids, older people and their kind hearts. All they were requesting for were rights. Whoever is saying otherwise is either just watching the state media or just dont want to believe otherwise because of their own fears. People do not deserve to be killed even if they disrupted your very peaceful and comfortable life. They are people for gods sake. You cannot justify their killing. I met some of them and they are the some of the nicest people I have met. I feel hurt for seeing what is happening to them and I hope they overcome this and get what they have been asking for. The rest who are criticising them, will one day feel how it is to be discriminated against. And I have seen the majority of the population on the street asking for the samething – the removal of the evil regime that is now showing their true colours and proving why the people do not want them. There is no proof of an Iranian influence or the peaceful protesters being armed
Yes,they were very nice people who cared for their country, by defacing a national monument, keeping an unclean ex roundabout, interestingly both these were not constructed by the sweat of any of these great country loving peacefull people who believe in roses and kind words. They were nice people who blocked traffic and suffocated fellow bahraini businesses for the sake of thier goals- thus building great confidence in their fellow citizens that the future with these peacefull people will be a bed of roses. They were very peacefull people who's other friends at the hospital were discriminating on patients, spitting on some and tying up injured workers from other communities. These peacefull people also had friends who attacked workers from other countries whose sweat is making it possible for them live in houses etc. Yes they are peacfull people indeed..why not !!!! and ofcourse there is no influence from outside forces-all this is imaginary.
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