If you follow me on Twitter (@jcberg) or read my Facebook page, you probably have noticed that I have been posting a lot of news stories about Bahrain, and maybe you wondered why. I want to explain my reasons for doing this.
When the massive pro-democracy protests in Bahrain broke out February 14, I knew very little about that country – just that it was small and located somewhere on the Arabian Peninsula. I didn’t even know that it was an island, or that it was the home to the US Fifth Fleet.
However, as I learned more, I came to think that we Americans have a special responsibility for what happens in Bahrain, for several reasons:
- Because, as mentioned, it is the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet. That means that the overwhelming military presence on the island is the US; anything they do, they do with the tacit approval of our government.
- Because both the king of Bahrain and his patron, the king of Saudi Arabia, are completely dependent on the US for survival. We sell them almost all their weapons; without those, as absolutist rulers of small states, they would be swept away in an instant.
- Because successive US governments, including the current one, have endorsed brutal despotism in Bahrain (and in Saudi Arabia) so that the profits of the oil companies will not be threatened.
Most Americans are like me – knowing nothing about Bahrain – so I felt obligated to try to spread the information around. In particular, I try to reenforce a few points:
- Bahrain is not a “moderate” country; when people say that, they just mean that it is friendly to Israel (and Israel is not moderate at all!) It is an absolute monarchy (there is a parliament, but the king appoints most members and can dismiss it at any time), and rules by violence and brutality. The king hires foreign mercenaries from Pakistan and other countries, so the troops will have less compunction about shooting down Bahrainis.
- This is not a sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shia. The royal family and the elite are Sunni, while a big majority of the people are Shia, and Shia do face a lot of discrimination – but a persistent sign and chant in the protests has been “No Sunni, No Shia, Only Bahrainis.” Some Sunni have been taking part, as well. However, the press in Bahrain is very tightl controlled by the king, and they have convinced many Sunni that the protesters are Shia Islamist fanatics controlled from the outside (see next point).
- Iran and Hezbollah have nothing to do with it. The government of Iran has been making statements about Bahrain, but these statements are condemned by the protesters whenever they make them.
- The goal of the protesters is democracy, not a religious state. Most want a constitutional monarchy, though a few have been so angered by the king’s brutality that they now want a republic.
- The King and other monarchists are out of touch with reality. They like to play that they are real royalty (the king proclaimed himself a king about 30 years ago). Right now their main concern is to bring a Grand Prix auto race, canceled because of the protests, back to Bahrain. The king likes to socialize with the royalty of Europe, and is making big plans for the royal wedding in England, to which he has been invited. (British activists are demanding that the invitation to this butcher be revoked).
There has been a near-blackout of the repression in Bahrain, which is very severe right now. Bloggers and twitter-users are being arrested and tortured; doctors and nurses are arrested if they try to treat people wounded in protests; and everyone is living in fear. This may be starting to change. There was a front-page story in the New York Times today, and a strong op-ed by Amy Goodman in the Guardian. We need to keep this up! Obama’s policy on Bahrain has been pretty cynical; there’s even a rumor that he told the king of Saudi Arabia that he would accept their invasion of Bahrain (they now have over 1,000 troops there) in return for Saudi acceptance of the intervention in Libya.
But Americans do believe in democracy, and if the current situation in Bahrain gets enough public attention, Obama will have to change his position. He could probably end the repression with a phone call; let’s make him lift the phone.
TRUE..
There’s no democracy in Bahrain..
The problem is that progov think that Bahrain is a part of KSA..
We dont want KSA dictatorship..
No AlKhalifa No Alsauood !
Obama why remaining silent about Bahrain ?!
Hi great thank to all people who speak on behave of us I am bahraini we saver lot youth have being arrested for only identity patients in hospital are being beaten. A coma man was been taken by army to the jill God seek if he still a life. Many ladies had been arrested and we did not heard news about them all around 20Th . Plz all American stand and support. Us
Just I want to thank you, we are looking every where to hear such truth words in reality facts.
We need support.
thank you
we need your support
we want real democracy
I think that having the 5th fleet in bahrain should be a grace for bahraiani’s not an Indignation for them. U.S government should have a strict words to bahrain government for treating people in a bad way not encouraging them by giving them more weapons to use it against civilian people.
Also the U.S 5th fleet is for national security issues and not a local one. So according to that the policies and relations between the two countries should be based on the international common issues and interests not the local issues, even if bahrain have the fleet in her land.
What is going in bahrain now is a humanitarian crisis, preventing people from having health services, allowing troops to shoot civilian people using Stun grenades and rubber bullets, tear gas is one of the main tools used to disperse the demonstrators.
The protesters in bahrain not demanding so much, they want a freedom and democracy country that’s it and in a very peacefully way and look how the foreign troops treat them.
Bahrain people asking every one in the world to look carefully to bahrain revolution and what is truth hidden from the entire world.
I just wanted to thank you .
First of all I really want to thank u just for saying the trutth!!! Now every one aattaking us!! Military in streats and media on TV … We live in real fear and decttators just decided to kill us for asking for democraacy!!!! I love america cuz every1 caan just say whaat ever he wants without scared !!!! Plz u free aamerrixans make Obama pickup the phone and maake that call !!! We want freedom helpus
thank you for speaking for the people of Bahrain
we are trying to get the words out but it’s taking time and everyday we send one of our beloved into his grave due to government torture or violations of human rights… guns, check points, tanks are now part of our daily basis even going to our jobs is dangerous
the last estimate I heard of was 460 ppl. are arrested among them are pregnant women and ladies and the number is doubling soon…
For your information some of the families -or most of them- don’t know the whereabouts of their family members and with 4 people showing up dead with brutal torture marks on the body it is scaring us.
thank you so much and for the democratic ppl. of the U.S.
the goverment of AL-Kahlifa is using a effective strategy which is ” Split to Rule” by splitting sunna and Shiia they Rule this country from 230 years by power and killing people..
people just want to live peacefully and have Rights, not to be Slave for ever to this Family as we are living in the middle ages of 11th century ..and not in the 21th Century ..
it’s not the Bahraini issue that their country is located near Iran and it’s not the Bahraini issue that Iran Follow the same Religion of the majority of people of Bahrain ..accusing someone to be part of something that he is not part of it is truly wrong and unjustified..
i hope people understand that we are people of Peace..
the government made alot fabrication and showed alot of ammos and weapons but they forgot one Thing
how on earth would someone that has weapon and never use it .. truly Stupid ..
Great article ! We all need to support Bahraini’s in their struggle for true democracy and freedom. Support for Bahrain today will make our words for freedom and democracy in other countries in the future more genuine and believable by others.
U even dont know whats going on here in Bahrain, u are the ones who is making it a sectarial epic… do u know how many poor innocent aisan were killed by these so called shia peaceful protestors, do u know they cut off a tongue of an asian expatriates, do u know that the mob over run again & again GMC truck on a unarmed policemen killing him and even running cars over his dead body, do u know the mob took control of main Hospitals and had denied thousands of sick people from asia, and other religion, do u know how many times these stupit shia terrorist broke into the houses of innocent people in the late hours in night, draged them out in open, and killed them by sword intyo pieces… do u know hundreds and thousands of petrol bombs were thrown on security personal.. u know nothing except doing BLA BLA..!!
Refresh ur facts & then write the truth.. not the lies which u see from ur doomed eyes.
Thank you very much for this clarification… I think u briefed our case pretty enough to the public who as u said may know nothing about Bahrain. As u said we don’t have local media represents the opposition and all the other Arabic media either r ordered to turn a blind eye like alJazeera and al-Arabia or forcibly SHUT like the free media in Kuwait alKout. The favor of stopping the killing and blood-shedding of citizens is all in hands of people like u. who really took our case seriously and felt wat we experienced.
Sir,
I’d like to thank you alot for your support to the Bahraini cause, be sure that the Bahrain people needs your help and everyone who believes in democracy and freedom’s help, those peaceful protesters are facing an apartheid today every free person must raise their voices and come to help their cause!
Many thanks once again
Sincerely
Zuhaira
Thank You <3<3
all what you say here is not even half the reality of Bahrain .
the Government here is playing blind&deaf like there is no one died or injured or the protesters are no more than two to three thousandth and they need (the Government ) to clear the country from the corruption ( the protesters ) and after that the life will be back to normal like that it was a good situation back then >>> no our life will never be normal after what happened.
people are afraid now butt not for so long the hundred of thousandth of people will cam back to the street very son and will reach what they asking for in the end of the day.
the more pressure on the people the bigger the blast will be.
but not without the support of the free people of the world like you >>> thank you from the wounded hearts of Bahrainis.
First I would like to thank you for writing and supporting BAHRAIN.
Just a quick correction to your fifth point (the king proclaimed himself a king about 30 years ago) which is wrong the king proclaimed himself in 2001 when 98.4% of the people agreed on a constitional monarchy and a parliament that represents the people (we only had less than 10 years with tha parliament to realise that its system is corrupted). Because the king can hire,dismess and refuse any person and project which he doesnt like.
We really look forward for freedom and democracy in our country.
Thanks again
All the people other than Shia were in a state of fear.. each & every street and roads were blocked by these violent protestors, they had brought down the whole country on stand still, it was extreme fear for lives from these shia terrorist protestors.
Thanks to Bahrain King and his wise step that he brought in the army to take control of killings & abuses of human rights from these shia protestors.
One of the main demands of shia was to remove all expatriates from Bahrain… isnt it insane??
Do u know the people living here are with the best living standard than yours… these protestors have latests cars, latest mobiles, laptops, best and free education, free health care, almost free petrol, free housing, all companies operating in Bahrain had to keep a fixed percentage of local bahraini shia– even they dont work, they dont come ontime, absent from work– bringing medical leave next day(easy for Shia Bahraini– Doctors are also shia), some places like Hospitals, banks, Insurance, Govt companies there are 90% shia with high salary which u only dream of.
Your story is completly biased and on lies only.
Answer me my question.. if u dare kill a policemen…leave it if u try to attack a policeman in US then i am sure u wont get flowers, instead u will get a bullet into ur head….
But in Bahrain the king had issued strict orders to security personal not to use any kind of force against protestors, protestors were given more than a month with no security around them… with several calls for the talks by the King no one turned up.. instead they went on rampage, destructions, killings & vandalising properties of poor people….
do u know that the protestors were using Ambulance as a means of transport for their leaders & weapons, where was Human Rights at that time???
How many patients suffering from Cancer & of kidney failure died during one month takeover of Main Hospitals by these shia terrorists protestors.
my advise to u even if u dont like… never write a story without looking into both sides.
Do u know maximum local bahrainis are demanding strict & severe punishments for all those involveld in protest..do u know why??? during a month old protest we have seen the dangerous face of these shia peaceful protestors, and later we saw the steady, peaceful and safe Bahrain since it came under the Army and Security control.
If u have courage then take a petrol bomb and try to throw upon security forces tomorrow, if they give you flower then i will be the first to join you in agitation.. but if u get a bullet then pleace accept my condolence now..
GOOD LUCK
Thank you for all your comments! I am glad that I have stirred up some interest.
For those who are telling about horrible atrocities supposedly committed by the protesters, I can only say that I am relying on stories in the foreign media – Western and Al Jazeera – which are, in general, friendly to the monarchy. There have been many reports of atrocities by the monarchist forces, but I have not seen the reports of horrible things done by the protesters — and there are many videos of them chanting peacefully.
would like to thank all Americans, and all the people on this earth that extend the help to Bahrain. Why we should ask help from America or other people around the world? simply because all the people, by nature, share respect to humanity, to freedom and dignity of the mankind. We are hand less and hopeless against the force that the regime is using against us, therefore, we are asking for help from the people who share their passion in defensing human rights
Good to know that people who care are still alive and still feeling for others.
It is so sad to read those who are being killed every day for nothing but to keep the king on his chair rolling the country forcefully. It is more sad to know how much the citizenes of Bahrain are sufferring in their own country every day and night.
We support them the only way we can by spreading the words and by sharing their feeling, but it’s certainly not enough. There must be some actions that have to be made and they should be done As Soon As Posible, or else, every hour passes the more blood is shed and the more martyers number increases.
I hope our words could reach the people who own the decessions and hope they still have some feelings left in them to give the humanity some priority on top of their interest.
This world that we live in became so lifeless because of all the crimes that we cover with our niglectance and quietness. We all are taking parts of the crimes that are taking place at this small peacfull kingdom.
May god bless all those who need it and forgive us for not standing by their side.
Just to reply on Frank!
Or do I really need to reply !? Just by using (Shia) instead of opposition or protesters, really show who you are mate..
I am glad there are still free thinking and honest people like yourself sir. We thank you, from bahrain. It is very unfortunate that the gov of bahrain uses the sectarian card in their attempts at discrediting a revolution of democracy seeking people against their brutal and oppresive regime. bahrainis amongst themselves never had a problem based on their sect or religious affiliation. Shia/sunni intermarriages are so common in bahrain, that there is a large sector of the population that call themselves SUSHI, meaning half suni half shia, including myself. It is the gov that wants to divide us and wants to project this division to the outside world as a reason for its brutal crackdown.
The thing that troubles me however, is the US position. President Obama and the US say they will stand up for the ideals of democracy and universal human rights anywhere in the world. Why when it comes to bahrain, they are silent? why do they play with words like long time ally, iran meddling, secterian divisions, etc. it is much simpler than that; there is an oppressed armless majority and a brutal regime that did not hesitate to use military force and commit crimes against humanity against it’s own people. That regime needs to go. A democratic bahrain will be an asset to the US and the whole world. no one should fear democracy. relations that are built on mutual respect for liberty and human rights are more stable and lasting!
In the end, for those governtment employed agents, like ‘frank’ who accuse the protestors of violence, i would like to see an authenticated evidence of what you say, other than rumors circulated by state-run BTV.
The guy who signed his name as ‘Frank’ is in fact one of the King’s loyal slaves! Using a European name is a dirty attempt by him/her to show that this is the opinion of a non-Bahraini nutral person. You are a loser! from your comments we all know that you are wahabi and an extermist one. You are narrating all the lies that were told by Bahrain offical media just to make false accusations to the peaceful protesters. The king of Bahrain and his loyal thugs which you are one of them will be brought to juctice for the crimes you committed against the peaceful native Bahrainis who demanded justice and their rights as citizens. You and your gang are still living mentally in the dark ages! wake up ! it is time to free Bahrain and the Arab world of slavery of souls and bodies from dictators! and if you can not live without an idole to worship you can take your ‘king’ and live with him in the Saudi desert where you belong.