Let's Talk About Bahrain

[evildamsel.livejournal.com]

I admit I have limited time with which to pay attention to the news, as I work a lot of hours, but I do try to listen to NPR and catch the news online as much as I can.

When the Middle East went aflame, it seemed to me that all the countries were getting more or less equal coverage. Then things in Libya got really nasty and then disasters struck Japan and suddenly it seems like what's been happening in Bahrain isn't really in the news anymore.

Meanwhile the Saudis are stomping over Bahrain like it's native territory.

I heard an interview on NPR this week with a doctor at, I believe, Salmaniya hospital, which Saudi troops and Bahrain police were (and probably still are - I can't find any updates past March 17!) holding hostage. No one was allowed in or out. And no food was permitted to through.

A wounded person was denied entry and died as a result.

The doctor was living on biscuits and tea because food was running out even then.

So we're doing air strikes in Libya, sending aid to Japan. What are we doing to help Bahrain except waving a pointed finger at the Saudis?

And I know, I know, Saudis got the oil and we can't piss off the oil and the incident with Japan's reactors has probably taken nuclear development in the US back by like another fifty years (frakking nuclear hysteria!) but even if we support the legitimacy of Bahrain's government, that doesn't mean that we can support starving sick people in hospitals.

I'm not entirely sure actually what the proper course of action is. I don't know that we can afford to threaten the Saudis with cutting off trade relations or anything like that. Not without hastily constructing about a hundred nuclear reactors on US soil and cutting our oil dependence sharply (which I'm honestly all for, cause say what you will, but all that oil will eventually run out since we can't go back in time and make more dinosaur carcasses).

But let's not forget that the Bahrain government is not an innocent party here either. There was a point where this could have been brought to the table before people died. And instead, they sent in the police.

So I guess what I'm stumbling towards is I think that something should be done but I'm not sure what. Thoughts? (And if I got any facts wrong, please enlighten me.)

Comments

(1)

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Got much to say, and i'm sorry for being so verbose. I'll split it into 3 parts.

See, its not just starving sick people in hospitals. Its an all-out crackdown on Shia protesters with military support from Suni KSA and UAE. And no one says a word about it because the latter two are "our buddies".

The uprising in Manama differs from the recent mass protests that toppled long-time rulers across North Africa. I think sectarianism and the security forces' complete loyalty to the monarchy seriously diminishes the likelihood of a peaceful regime change in Bahrain like the ones in Tunisia and Egypt. While these two are relatively homogeneous countries (Sunni Muslims make for more than 90% of their inhabitants) Bahrain's Sunnis, including the royal family and the country's political and economic elite, comprise only about 1/3 of the population. The rest are Shia. Each of these groups is making different, if not contradictory, demands. The Shia are focused on political reforms that would reflect their majority status. Those of the Sunnis who protest want socio-economic changes, such as affordable housing. And, while Egyptian protesters of all types found common ground in insisting that Mubarak should resign, Bahrainis might find it almost impossible to agree on a common goal.

The ruling al-Khalifa family will not relinquish its power willingly. To preserve itself, the regime relies on imported security forces that serve only the royal family. Drawn from Jordan, Pakistan and Yemen, they arent reluctant to beat and kill protesters, because they know that any change at the top would mean defeat not only for the al-Khalifas, but for themselves as well. And indeed, Bahraini security forces have been ruthless in their attacks against demonstrators. Given this alignment of forces, and the bloodshed that has already occurred on the Pearl Square, the scenes from Cairo of protesters arm-in-arm with soldiers and hugging tank crews are unlikely to be replayed in Bahrain. Moreover, while in Egypt, historically a relatively stable country, 3 weeks of chaos were enough to convince the military to restore order by ousting Mubarak, Bahrainis have greater experience with social unrest than Egyptians or Tunisians do. Political instability is a way of life in Bahrain. From the turmoil in the 20s, following administrative reforms, to labour protests in the 50s, the country is used to such things. As a result, factional strife is unlikely to panic the rulers and is even less likely to persuade them that the king must abdicate to save the country.
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