Libya And Bahrain: A Tale Of Western Hypocrisy

[Hussein]

Im not being paid anything! I grew up in Bahrain and my family still resides there. In UK for studies

it doesn't seem so
you are so much interested by sharing bullshit photos and videos to spit on chiites

 

[Nishan]

The United States has shown real hypocrisy in its treatment of two Arab revolutions - Libya and Bahrain.

In Libya, the U.S. and its European allies have decided to go in with all guns blazing. With Bahrain it's a different story as the Americans refuse to lift a finger to evict Saudi Arabia after their invasion of that country. Saudi Arabia did not Invade Bahrain But entered that country at the request of the Bahraini legitimacy government

Why this two faced strategy? Both countries (Bahrain and Libya) are repressive dictatorships. The Libyan government is a government of dictatorship and this is something known . . And the Libyan government had started the use of force against its own people . . In Bahrain the Government was not the first who use of force But the Shi'a are beginning to resort to violence The peoples of both nations have risen up against their long time rulers and are fighting for their freedom on the streets. The rulers of these two nations have opted to take a repressive line in dealing with their respective peoples. This is a big mistake the system of government Different in both countries . . Libya is Republic that mean the President have specific period of time must be spent in government Gaddafi did not do this . . Bahrain's is Monarchy . . This means that the King stay in power until his death
Yet, more pressure is being applied to Libya's Colonel Gaddafi than to the Bahraini Al Khalifa ruling family.Because those countries realize the difference between the two countries There's a simple explanation for this - Gaddafi (despite his post-9/11 cuddling up to the West) has long been seen as an enemy of Western (read U.S. and Israeli interests) in the Middle East. Meanwhile the Al Khalifa clan have permitted the Americans to base their Central Command and Fifth Fleet headquarters inside the country, thus making the country strategically vital to U.S. imperialist interests. this is not big deal and not true

Therefore, Gaddafi's loss wouldn't mean anything to the U.S. and its NATO allies. They would be able (through the use of airstrikes) to rid themselves of a foe who has now (conveniently) for them decided to take on his own people in a particularly vicious manner. The Americans, British and French, in opting to take the UN path, have decided to cloak their intervention in the veneer of international law. Through doing so, the West will effectively seek to take over the popular revolution that has swept Libya and, in the process, ensure that any new post-Gaddafi regime is fully compliant with Western interests. thats true

Conversely, the loss of the Al-Khalifa clan in Bahrain would alarm the U.S. and its close ally Saudi Arabia. That's why the U.S. has not ordered its Fifth Fleet to fire on the Bahraini royal palace in support of the protesters on the streets who, as in Libya, are being fired at by government snipers. They haven't decided to turn their guns on the largely Saudi invasion force either not invasion. The U.S. needs both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on its side in order to enjoy continued access to oil.These are called common interests And do not forget that the U.S. Secretary of State Opposed the Saudi Arabia troops entered to Bahrain However, Saudi Arabia has not responded And if that means continuing to back repressive monarchist regimes in both Gulf countries, then so be it. Another irony is that 21 years ago, the U.S. decided (under the cloak of UN authority also) to take on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait. So why are the Americans not being as outspoken about Saudi Arabia's invasion of Bahrain? this Comparison is just plain wrong and stupid Iraq troops occupied Kuwait but Bahrain invited Saudi Arabia troops I remember that the Iraqis used the excuse in Kuwait that they were intervening at the 'invitation' of local revolutionaries who had overthrown the ruling family. in tha case of bahrain the bahraini gov. who invite the saudi and gulf forces This story was fictional as is the one about the Saudis intervening at the 'invitation' of their Bahraini royal brethren. Furthermore, I seek to question whether the Libyan opposition hasn't been infiltrated by Western intelligence agencies given that some opposition groups have called for NATO air strikes which is effectively another 'invitation' to the West to intervene in another Arab nation's internal affairs.

If the US, British and French wanted to be consistent, they should unhesitatingly support all the Arab peoples in their struggle for freedom but not directly intervene. By all means, if the people are being attacked by their national military forces, then they should be externally armed and trained to fight back. But that's as far as it should go. Instead, neo-imperialist strategic interests have driven the U.S. and their allies to treat the cases of Libya and Bahrain differently. And that is a real tragedy for both the Bahraini and Libyan peoples in the midst of their respective struggles.

This article . . It was possible to be completely correct . . If it were related to Libya alone . . But comparison were not successful completely . . and focusing on the Saudi troops was not just . . Because today all the necessary forces From all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council was completed and access to Bahrain

 

[ahmed_naj]

it doesn't seem so
you are so much interested by sharing bullshit photos and videos to spit on chiites

check how long I have been a member of this forum! I dont have anything against shias I had both shia and sunni friends in Bahrain.

 

[Hussein]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/middleeast/21bahrain.html?src=twrhp
it is sad it is becoming such terrible
BUT IT IS TOTALLY FAULT OF A REGIME WHO NEVER CONSIDERED CHIITES AS NORMAL CITIZENS

To many around the world, the events of the past week — the arrival of 2,000 troops from Saudi Arabia and other neighbors, the declaration of martial law, the forceful clearing out of Pearl Square, the military takeover of the main hospital and then the spiteful tearing down of the Pearl monument itself — seem like the brutal work of a desperate autocracy.

 

[ahmed_naj]

^^ The country was on a path to reform maybe it was too slow? The Crown Prince stated that perhaps the reform was too slow and offered dialogue but certain sectors of the opposition were hell bent on making the protest violent

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

But why the **** are the eastern world doing nothing about this?

Maybe because only nation that can give full backing to eastern world, also happens to be a communist country as well.

 

[Merilion]

again I stand vindicated .. none of the chinese posters here have condemned Gaddafi.. pure gold.

wtf logic here? how many indians expressed their condemnation on this forum? are you saying those didn't do that mean they are supporting HR violation? gimme a break, will you?

 

[Merilion]

I could care less about Indian government, I am unsatisfied with GoI position. But unlike Chinese compadres, I am not a bot to GoI position. I complete agree with the decision to intervene in Libya and stop the mad-man from killing Libyan citizens he is systematically massacring using Planes, Tanks and house to house searches.

Thank you FRANCE, BRITAN for leading the way.

Shame on the 5 countries that have abstained. including India, Germany and Brazil

glad to see BRIC is having the same stand position

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

But why the **** are the eastern world doing nothing about this?

Maybe because only nation that can give full backing to eastern world, also happens to be a communist country as well.

The Western nations still rule the Earth, and no one would just openly oppose them just for the sake of Libya.

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

The Western nations still rule the Earth, and no one would just openly oppose them just for the sake of Libya.

As well as Western nations being more co-operative together and have each other backing.

Compared to China&Pak vs India; Japan, Vietnam etc.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

As well as Western nations being more co-operative together and have each other backing.

Compared to China&Pak vs India; Japan, Vietnam etc.

All Western nations are sworn in allegiance with the same race/religion/politics, that's why they are more cooperative than the Asian nations.

But it doesn't matter, once US is done, then it means the collapse of the Western Alliance.

Like an old Chinese proverb said; "When you are facing a group of bandits, then the best strategy is to destroy their leader first."

Once the leader of the Western Alliance is finished, then the rest of lesser nations would just become a bunch of scattered mobs.

 

[Developereo]

unarmed doesnot equal peaceful ... My family and friends reside there and know the situation on ground. DO YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT 200 PAKISTANI LABOURERS HAVE MOVED TO 'PAKISTAN CLUB' BECAUSE THEY WERE BEATEN UP AND THREATENED. DO YOU KNOW THAT HOUSES OF SUNNI BAHRAINIS AND OTHER EXPATS WERE MARKED (NOTE THAT NOT ALL EXPATS ONLY WORK FOR THE GOV.) DO YOU KNOW THAT ANTI GOV GANGS WERE ROAMING AROUND BEATING UP PPL. DO YOU KNOW THAT HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN. for a month while protests were peaceful riot police did not intervene.

The main problem is that the Sunni tyrant is flooding the country with Sunni immigrants to dilute the Shia majority. Whatever 'reforms' he is promising do not include halting this biased immigration policy.

It is wrong the blame the immigrants who are just looking for a better life, but you have to understand the roots of the resentment here.

This also explains why the West has not intervened in Bahrain; the last thing they want is increased Shia influence in the oil kingdoms.

 

[ahmed_naj]

The main problem is that the Sunni tyrant is flooding the country with Sunni immigrants to dilute the Shia majority. Whatever 'reforms' he is promising do not include halting this biased immigration policy.

I cant believe you are saying this ... I personally know second generation pakistanis that still have Pakistani Passport not Bahraini nationality. As i mentioned before majority of the businesses are shia, why do then then shia business men still hire international immigrants. The unemployed should then ask people of their own sect why they choose to hire 'sunni' immigrants and not shia youth. BTW the protests were started in a secular guise and for whole month whilst they remained peaceful they were allowed to continue to protest. What sort of Tyrant allows opposition parties to be created, Bahrain was an a path of reform albeit slow but still on a path.

 

[Developereo]

I cant believe you are saying this ... I personally know second generation pakistanis that still have Pakistani Passport not Bahraini nationality. As i mentioned before majority of the businesses are shia, why do then then shia business men still hire international immigrants. The unemployed should then ask people of their own sect why they choose to hire 'sunni' immigrants and not shia youth. BTW the protests were started in a secular guise and for whole month whilst they remained peaceful they were allowed to continue to protest. What sort of Tyrant allows opposition parties to be created, Bahrain was an a path of reform albeit slow but still on a path.

Al Jazeera has a different view.

Thousands stage rally in Bahrain - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Thousands of mostly Shia Bahrainis have protested against the granting of citizenship to Sunnis from other countries serving in the country's military.

Bahrain has seen weeks of protests by its Shia Muslim majority, which says it is discriminated against by the Sunni Muslim Al-Khalifa ruling family.

The naturalisation question has long been raised by the country's Shias, who say large numbers of foreigners are being given citizenship solely in order to boost the minority's numbers. Shia's currently account for about 70 per cent of Bahrain's 525,000 citizens.

During Wednesday's protests, thousands of demonstrators marched on the immigration office in the capital, Manama, shouting slogans and carrying signs that said "The naturalised must get out". The march began at the Ras Roman mosque.

Protesters also shouted slogans about Sunni-Shia unity, in order to emphasise that the protest was against the government's naturalisation policy, and not against Bahrain's native Sunni population.

Emboldened by youth-led uprisings in nearby Egypt and Tunisia against their autocratic governments, Bahrain has seen a youth movement hold massive public protests in the last few weeks, leading to the worst unrest in the country since the 1990s.

Though initial protests were met with a brutal crackdown by government security forces, subsequent demonstrations have largely been peaceful. Protesters occupying Manama's main Pearl Roundabout say they will not leave, however, until the Al-Khalifa family is ousted from power.

The country's largest Shia opposition group, Wefaq, has demanded that a new government be installed and that a new constitution be drawn up to set up a constitutional monarchy, where an elected parliament has more powers. It has not demanded that the ruling family stand down.

Call for reform in UAE

Meanwhile, in the nearby United Arab Emirates, intellectuals have petitioned their ruler for free and democratic elections on Wednesday.

"The group [of intellectuals] calls for comprehensive reform of the Federal National Council (FNC), or parliament, including demands for free elections by all citizens in the method of universal suffrage," a statement from the petitioners read.

The 40-member FNC had its first elections in 2006, when about 6,500 (less than one per cent of the 800,000 UAE citizens) elected half of its members. The other 20 were appointed.

Some 160 people signed the petition, many of them academics and former members of the FNC, which acts in an advisory capacity to the government and lacks a legislative or regulatory role.

"The group demands reform of legislation governing the work of parliament to include legislative and monitoring authorities and calls for necessary constitutional amendments to ensure this," the petitioners said in the document, sent to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, the UAE president, and his ruling council.

Recent reforms to the electoral system have tripled the number of electors who are eligible to vote for FNC members, raising the number to about two per cent of the total population of the seven emirates.

Saudi government warning

In yet another development in the Gulf on Wednesday, Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister, cautioning those threatening to protest against the Saudi government, saying that dialogue, and not protests, is the route to reform. He said the government would not tolerate any street protests against it.

Activists from the kingdom's Shia Muslim minority have called for a "Day of Rage" to be observed on Friday to demand that the current government be removed.

"Reform cannot be achieved through protests ... The best way to achieve demands is through national dialogue," al-Faisal said in Jeddah.

The interior ministry on Monday reiterated that demonstrations are banned in the kingdom on the grounds that they contradict Islamic laws and values and said in a statement that its security forces will act against anyone taking part in them.

The warning came after about 100 Shia protesters held a small demonstration in the eastern part of the kingdom.

On February 24, a group of influential intellectuals urged Abdullah, the country's 86-year old monarch, to adopt far-reaching political and social reforms

 

[JayAtl]

Classic turn on the thread. You have the Chinese looking for all kinds of excuses to cover up that fact they continue to do business with leaders who are actively leading a genocide of sorts on their people. And then you have pakistanis starting shai Sunni fight...