Of all the Arab Spring uprisings, Bahrain probably gets the least attention in the U.S. press. There are perhaps some good arguments why; it could be the fact that the United States is on the side of the monarchy violently suppressing the democratic aspirations of its people.
So it was news that the United States decided on Friday to ahead and continue selling arms to Bahrain. But barely news. The Washington Post‘s Karen DeYoung (5/12/12) gave space to some critics of the deal to point out the troubling level of support for a regime torturing and imprisoning dissidents.
The administration officials explaining the decision to reporters, though, were granted anonymity–which of course makes it easier to say that the military supplies being sold to Bahrain would not be “used against protesters in any scenario.” Those sources also assured that administration officials “raised a number of human rights concerns” when they met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa last week (get a decidedly different take from the Institute for Public Accuracy).
And then there was this explanation of the apparent White House conundrum:
The escalating violence and repression has presented the Obama administration with a complex panorama of conflicting priorities. Its genuine concern about political reforms in Bahrain is set against the backdrop of a long-standing security relationship with Bahrain and an escalating threat from Iran.
A complex panorama–good grief! This echoes some of the coverage of the uprising in Egypt, where U.S. officials were said to be walking a “tightrope” in a “delicate” crisis, and so on.
One can assume that in countries with state-controlled media, the decision to send arms to a regime attacking democracy protesters might be presented in a similar manner.
Adam Curtis at the BBC wrote a great article featuring archival BBC footage to argue that the British are responsible for Bahrain’s repressive goverment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2012/05/if_you_take_my_advice_-_id_rep.html
As long as the corpress fronts for foreign policy perniciousness, walking the “tightrope” of appearing to have any fealty to human rights while engaging in their wholesale vitiation won’t be anywhere near the “complex” feat it should be, will it?
The only aid that should be sent must be humanitarian. Bomb the country with MRE’s, medical supplies and tents! If given a chance the populations will correct the greed.
barack obama was supposed to bring change but what has changed? never again will i vote for anyone in either imperialist party.
At the top, Riyadh supplies a documentary about Bahrain that is utterly gripping and persuasive. Thanks.
Well it proves again and again that it is hard to find an Arab(or Persian)country in that part of the world that lives in a way that is palatable to American sensibilities, and understanding of basic human freedoms and rights.Let alone….is a friend of ours.Makes it all the more bewildering why so many on the left relegate Israel to most hated nation status.So once again we are left supporting a nation we really have no reason to ever support.For the sake of national interest.And that interest is oil.And somehow the left thinks we should cut with all these middle eastern nations that are without a doubt horribly flawed .While at the same time strangling off our own development of our own resources.Shows why the road to hell is always payed with lib good intentions.