The Obama Administration’s rush to escalate Libya into a full-scale war, nominally as a reaction to the Gadhafi government’s violence against protesters, has put it in an awkward position. The violence was far from exclusive to Libya, and similar crackdowns are growing all the time in Yemen and particularly Bahrain.
Which leads to the inevitable question: how can the Obama Administration use Gadhafi’s crackdown on Libyan protesters as an excuse for war, while insisting Bahrain not only has the right to do the same, but has the “sovereign right” to invite Saudi Arabia et al. to join in on the fun?
It is a question that was raised on a number of stages over the weekend and tackled by a number of top officials, particularly Sen. John Kerry (D – MA), who insisted that Iran and Hezbollah were secretly to blame for the protests.
The most honest answer, however, came from Admiral Michael Mullen, who insisted that Bahrain “has been a critical ally for decades” but Libya hasn’t, and that in and of itself justified treating it as a totally different matter.
Bahrain’s opposition, for its part, has been urging the UN and the Obama Administration to put a stop to the crackdown. No one seriously expects this to actually happen, but other than Admiral Mullen’s unusual candor, no one seems willing to explain why.
You Americans I mean government just keep looking worse and worse what happend to American values the government stomped on them.It's up to the people of America and the world to stand against the government that don't follow the constitution and the bill of rights.Or sooner or later it will become hell on earth.A 3RD world war would kill almost everyone and it can happen at any time.America needs to mind there buisness like Russia and China and cut back on spending or America will fall thje question remains will they take the world with them or bring all troops around the world home and start doing what the citizens want after all how runs the world the few elite or the 6.7 Billion people.We may one day find out once and for all.It's better to live free than live as a slave or puppet.
at least Admiral Mullen’s honest. It's not about justice, human rights it's oil
Bahrain has been a 'critical ally' for so many years by virtue of the 5th Fleet being stationed there.
Of course it has nothing to do with oil.
I wonder if Egypt would have continued to be a 'critical ally' had Mubarak stayed in power and decided to attack Israel? Sometimes I wonder if our allies aren't chosen on the spur of the moment based on what we need at the time.
Quite. The massive US naval base is the difference. The US has been propping up that particular dictatorship for years.
So the Bahrain dictator has been a “critical ally” of our government, so what? Has not the Bahrain people also been a “critical ally” of our government? Otherwise, has not our government been functioning as a dictator to kill and enslave the people of foreign governments?
You need to wake up and clean your dirty records on human rights. Your support to these dictators for so many decades infact accommodates your ugly human repression. You American you need to involve in your country's foreign policy not and question the money your country (both government and corporations) collects from outside whether clean money or comes from the support of the dictators. It is a fact that if you raise your children on this unclean money they will be most likely criminals and continue supporting the dictators. Think about it and be a coragous and say no for repression everywhere even if it will be against my interests.
Sneaky hint- Mooey bad. Saudi invasion of Bahrain good. Stunning clarity on the road to deciphering the schizophrenia that is Amerikan 'foreign policy'. You know, Amerikan 'foreign policy' where hypocrisy rules the day and ain't about nobody with half-a-brain in charge.
By the by and for today's booga booga, IRAN & HIZBULLAH!!! I mean, you couldn't see that coming. Not even on a bet.
Oh, I'm sure- POSITIVE, if the mass media is to be believed- that Iran is behind it all, and is using Hezbollah (and Hamas, and…, and…) to do their bidding. I'm also pretty sure (if American political rhetoric is to be believed) that Iran (and their obvious ally, Venezuela) are behind each and every fault behind the Republicans or Democrats, depending on who is reporting at the moment.
And we can't forget those who say Israel is behind it all.
You know what the "difference" is? Bahrain is in the District of Criminals fold while Libya is not. To explain. The value of the counterfeit dollar is determined by the sale of oil out of the Mid East. Oil countries are told not to accept anything but dollars for their oil. Even the EU who has their money has to buy oil for dollars. In the case of Libya, Gadaffi has balked. Personally, I smell the CIA in this. Is it to late for Gadaffi to make amends? We'll see.
John Kerry a sleazebag? I'm shocked.
Yes, we know that Bahrain is different. They host the US 5th Fleet, therefore, they can do as they please, in fact, didn't Gates orchestrate the whole ordeal on his visit there a couple weeks ago? While Qaddafi is a foe and one with oil.
Shame on the US!