but that's not surprising.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
US sees no evidence of Iranian influence in Bahrain
'The United States has repeatedly dismissed claims by the Bahraini government that Shia Muslim unrest in the Gulf island state is backed by Iran.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks show that the accusation made by the Manama government – which is facing street protests demanding political reforms from an opposition inspired by the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings – is not backed by hard evidence.
"Each time this claim is raised, we ask the GOB (government of Bahrain) to share its evidence," the US embassy reported in a secret dispatch in August 2008. "To date, we have seen no convincing evidence of Iranian weapons or government money here since at least the mid-1990s ... If the GOB had convincing evidence of more recent Iranian subversion, it would quickly share it with us." '
Thanks Ghadeer for posting on fb.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks show that the accusation made by the Manama government – which is facing street protests demanding political reforms from an opposition inspired by the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings – is not backed by hard evidence.
"Each time this claim is raised, we ask the GOB (government of Bahrain) to share its evidence," the US embassy reported in a secret dispatch in August 2008. "To date, we have seen no convincing evidence of Iranian weapons or government money here since at least the mid-1990s ... If the GOB had convincing evidence of more recent Iranian subversion, it would quickly share it with us." '
Thanks Ghadeer for posting on fb.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Some Americans are outraged at bloodshed in Bahrain
'When our close ally behaves in such a way, America finds itself in a tough position, and that probably explains President Obama’s very cautious statement saying that he is “deeply concerned.” We value Bahrain as the host of the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet, we worry (probably too much) about Iranian influence, and it’s not clear how much leverage we have. King Hamad has strong Saudi support and has so outraged his subjects that he may feel that his best hope for staying in power is to shoot his subjects.
But we should signal more clearly that we align ourselves with the 21st-century aspirations for freedom of Bahrainis rather than the brutality of their medieval monarch. I’m not just deeply “concerned” by what I’ve seen here. I’m outraged.'
--Nicholas Kristof
But we should signal more clearly that we align ourselves with the 21st-century aspirations for freedom of Bahrainis rather than the brutality of their medieval monarch. I’m not just deeply “concerned” by what I’ve seen here. I’m outraged.'
--Nicholas Kristof
Americans less enthusiastic about democracy in Bahrain
"Bahrain's Shia have long been discriminated against in the country and they say their protests have nothing to do with Iran and everything with wanting to be accepted as full Bahraini citizens. They accuse the authorities of waving the spectre of Iran to stop the West from supporting them.
It may well be working for now. When hundreds of thousands of people took the streets in Egypt, many American officials, briefly forgetful of the complications this presented for their foreign policy, were glued to their television sets and some sounded ever so slightly excited at the sight of people power in action in the Arab world on such a scale.
There is none of that enthusiasm about the unfolding events in Manama. The violence of the security forces has shocked many and the sectarian undertones, real or imagined, mean everybody is more careful about the positions they take in public.
American officials have been very tight-lipped about their conversations with Arab rulers, only emphasising in public the need for real reform, repeatedly. It is an attempt by Washington to try to avoid having to choose again between an Arab leader and his people."
It may well be working for now. When hundreds of thousands of people took the streets in Egypt, many American officials, briefly forgetful of the complications this presented for their foreign policy, were glued to their television sets and some sounded ever so slightly excited at the sight of people power in action in the Arab world on such a scale.
There is none of that enthusiasm about the unfolding events in Manama. The violence of the security forces has shocked many and the sectarian undertones, real or imagined, mean everybody is more careful about the positions they take in public.
American officials have been very tight-lipped about their conversations with Arab rulers, only emphasising in public the need for real reform, repeatedly. It is an attempt by Washington to try to avoid having to choose again between an Arab leader and his people."
Al Jazeera English covers Bahrain
I wrote last night that Al Jazeera Arabic hasn't covered the protests in Bahrain. Al Jazeera English, however, has covered the protests:
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