The year and a half long protest movement of the majority Shi’ite people of Bahrain could be forewarning of a crippling migraine headache for the USA if it succeeds in overthrowing the western installed Al Khalifah dictatorship that has ruled Bahrain since “independence”.
The people of Bahrain know all too well that the Khalifah regime’s real godfather is the USA, and it is more than likely that the end of the regime would be followed by a demand to close the American naval base located in Bahrain, thus threatening US control of the strategically critical Persian Gulf.
Control of the Persian Gulf energy exports and energy reserves is essential for Pax Americana’s continued worldwide hegemony, and the US navy spearheaded by the aircraft carrier task force necessary to enforce its domination of the Persian Gulf requires a port to operate from. If the USA is kicked out of Bahrain, they have only the tiny nation of Djibouti thousands of miles away in the Horn of Africa and its small port as a fallback position.
Ordinarily the USA would give the green light for the Saudi and Emirati funded mercenary police force (hired gun thugs from Jordan, Pakistan and Yemen) occupying Bahrain to drown the potential revolution in blood as has been all too common in the region’s past, but the situation in Bahrain is complicated by the close historic tribal and family ties between the Shi’ites in Bahrain and the Shi’ites in eastern Saudi where almost all of the Saudi oil is located.
Every time the crackdown on the Bahraini people is intensified, there has been an increase in protests by the Shi’ite of Saudi Arabia. A major bloodbath in Bahrain could well ignite an explosion amongst the Saudi Shi’ite who have long suffered from what might best be described as Arab Apartheid by the Wahabi Sunni extremist Al Saud regime that the British installed in power in Saudi Arabia many decades ago.
If the Shi’ite in Saudi Arabia rise up, they could easily sabotage Saudi oil production, the world’s largest, damage if not cripple some of the biggest economies in the world, and leave the USA scrambling to find a way out of an increasingly dire situation.
For the USA, the Bahraini protests could become a major problem that could result in Pax Americana being seen as weak, feeble really, unable to control the Persian Gulf in the face of the growing influence of Iran in the region and calling into question the USA’s very ability to militarily punish its enemies and control one of the world’s most critical choke points, the Straits of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Indian Ocean.
Today’s headache could quickly turn into tomorrow’s migraine for the USA as the Bahraini people are faced with the choice of continuing the one sided violence they are suffering or taking up arms in self-defense.
The sad reality is political power grows from the barrel of a gun and the guns are all on the side of the oppressors in Bahrain, though this could change.
How much longer the people of Bahrain, especially their youth, will tolerate the present situation remains to be seen though many are wondering why the leadership in Iran, of which Bahrain was once a province, have yet to provide them with the means to start to defend themselves.
From armed self-defense to armed struggle to liberate themselves from a brutal foreign backed dictatorship is almost an inevitable progression though such actions may very well light the fuse of an explosion in eastern Saudi Arabia that could spread further in the region’s Shi’ite belt, which stretches from Yemen all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and may explain why the Iranian leadership is being so cautious in helping arm the Bahraini people.
Like all civil wars this one isnt black & white either. we are not looking at a situation where the downtrodden freedom-loving people are rising up against an evil dictator.
what we are looking at is a brutal dictatorship being pitted against easily manipulated masses. so which side do you support: the modern dictator, or the mullahs with their medieval agenda? tough one.
There is nothing modern about the current Bahrain monarch, or it’s Saudi backers. the Islamic republic is clearly the more progressive system.
It’s laughable to suggest that the “Islamic republic” (I guess you mean Iran) is a more progressive system than Bahrain! But if you do think so, I suggest you go live there. I have relatives suffering under their tyrannical clerics and they want to come here to live in Bahrain where they can decide when, how and if they want to practice their religion.
So Lulu? You have “relatives” living in Iran who would like to go to Bahrain? Please do, tell us more. Bahrain has not a democracy, and well over half the people there are very dissatisfied with their government. Your relative is some kind of rebel or instigator probably. If you don’t like the democratic process, and think that people are better off under a dictatorship? YOU leave HERE, and go live in Bahrain where things or so much “better”!
Gerard, miskeen. You obviously don’t get it that I DO live in Bahrain.
“I have to wonder if the author has ever even been to our poor besieged island…”
I am thankful everyday that I don’t live in Iran & that my grandfather immigrated here. I said my relatives live in Iran. And since when is “Gerard” an irani name? I :)
You’re trying to make it sound like Iran is more democratic than Bahrain?… Did you know there was a revolt last year in Iran? Guess what happened? Yah… Do your research before you try to sound smart online.
when was the last time the “mullas” blew your neighbor head? don’t say “IRAN IRAN IRAN” that’s like saying Obama shouldn’t be president because of what black people did in Rwanda. keep your racism for yourself, give me the right to choose a government that won’t torture me for tweeting.
as a bahrainin, i would have to say that all the information presented are true, but the conclusive scenario is not as black and white. the people are strugling and the governmet is strugling too, both side dont have ended up using all thier plans, plan A, plan B, plan C,… they are left with only strugling with each other for the only intention of exhosting the other side and. the government is spending a great sum of money to oppress the poeple inside and a greater sum to international PR firms to polish thier images. on the other hand most of the shiite have strong belive that we are in the end of this erra of opression and dictatorship, and the beging of the AL-Mahdi erra ( the messaiah to christian)the promised one whihc is around these coming few years. and this makes them endure a bit more at the time being.
Like previous comments have mentioned, this article needs a reality check. Bahrainis, along with many in the international community, support the current path of reform, and are not interested in regime change that would likely see an end to liberties like women’s rights and freedom of religion!
The author betrays a lack of familiarity with Bahrain in the stark picture he paints, and the flawed comparisons to other countries. It is easily the most progressive country in the region, and we enjoy many of the same freedoms and luxuries as in the west.
I have to wonder if the author has ever even been to our poor besieged island because this article totally lacks respect for the hundreds of police officers who have been injured in supposed “one-sided violence.” Someone should have done some fact-checking on this rant before publishing it, because it is really unbecoming for Foreign Policy Journal.
To say that the US is turning a blind eye to what is happening in Bahrain is at best misinformed and at worst hyperbole.
The US, especially the state department have issued a number of reports and statements regarding Bahrain and its assessment of the situation, most recently by Michael Posner on last month. They have issued statements after each and every major trial, and the US media’s coverage have never ceased. President Obama also dedicated a significant chuck of of his speech to the Bahrain situation in last year’s UN General Assembly.
There is a difference between turning a blind-eye and the media losing interest. Yes, there were human rights violations. However, the Fact that the government of Bahrain commissioned an independent report and has taken accountability for those makes definitely makes the story fall out of the front pages.
You’re right, the US has not turned a blind eye to Bahrain, but rather has supported the regime in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.
The relationship between Bahrain and the US is mutual, we need them and they need us. This is what an alliance is, and which every modern nation engage in to continue developing their countries and seek support from their allies. And yes, our allies care about our country’s stability. Given the location of Bahrain, you must must understand that the stability of Bahrain is essential to avoid perhaps detrimental global repercussions – creating a bigger problem than there already is.
And I just want to make it VERY clear. The situation in Bahrain is not “oppressors” vs the people, or monarchy vs shiites. It is a very complicated situation, which cannot be explained in 500 word article. There are many views of how our country should more forward, and the active opposition speakers represent only a faction. There is a huge number of people who stand by the Bahraini Government, but their voices are drowned as it fails to fall into the trending topic. People often express their opinions based on the regional upheaval and stereotyping Middle Eastern Governments, instead of properly assessing the individual issues of each country.
I hope for you to shed light on the other side. Some Arab Governments are actually doing it right. I promise to scream out your article if you are worried about your readership falling ;)
Bahraini gov’t. no more fascist than US.
You have all missed the point……Bahrain’s strategic position means she has always been coveted by others. Creating chaos and unrest to divide the population is one way to try to take control of our island. There are too many who would love to be in control of Bahrain because to control our country is the key to controlling the one thing that EVERYONE wants to be in charge of…..OIL!
Not that Bahrain has any these days, but we are the gateway to Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf and let’s not forget the Straits of HOrmuz and what that involves oh yes and of course the need for military support, ships, tanks, arms, troops etc etc the war machine goes on, the people and by this I mean ALL of us in Bahrain, suffer and that great big corporate war machine just keeps churning out those dollars.
Wake up and smell the burning tyres and put that in your pipe and smoke it…..cancer is the least of our worries in Bahrain.
Just one correction here. Britain didn’t install Al-Saud in the Hijaz. The UK was trying to install Hashemite kings in the Gulf as they had already ruled the holy sites under the Ottoman Empire. Britain did back Al-Saud when it was clear he was going to win, but in return for him not invading the Emirates.