Fresh off a visit to Brussels, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Bahrain today for private talks with King Hamad, where he reportedly urged some unspecified reforms and talks with the massive protest movement demanding his ouster.
Pentagon officials insisted Gates’ visit was primarily to reassure King Hamad that the US is “committed” to their military presence in the nation (the island is home to America’s 5th fleet), and the calls for reform appear very secondary.
The calls for reforms may well have been embraced early on, when the protest movement was simply demanding improved conditions and more freedom. Since the violent crackdowns by the regime, however, the calls have increasingly been for a full ouster of the monarchy and its replacement with a democracy, something the US appears extremely averse to.
And the crackdowns are continuing today, as reports have police forces, backing with pro-regime protesters, attacking the massive anti-regime demonstrations as they got too close to the royal palace. The lesson that these crackdowns only spark more anger appears to be lost on officials.
Just imagine one day the Arab people ruled over and became so advanced in the technology and built a strong arm forces. They decided to take revenge and invaded the U.S. and western Europe for what the U.S. and the West did for them during the last three centuries. Is that just o can be called aggression. For every action there is a recation of equal magintude and opposit in direction. History will bring just and fair.
Hey, man, I keep saying that the only hope for us USans is that ME invade us and spread some of their democracy here. Till then, it's gonna be one grim day after another. So, hurry on up, we're waiting…
In one hand this man prizes the US army in Afghanistan and what it do to people killing them and now he is in Bahrain press for reform.., Question is what kind of reform he is talking about, the one that would obey the rule of a democratic system demanding US bases out of Bahrain or a reform which would keep the US militarism in Persian Gulf but work with it for its own benefits.
Ain't Gates a swell guy! I wonder how many weapons he promised that dick-tator to murder his own people with.
GUYS Bahrain is a fab place stop spoiling it.Just look at how people live in third world countries and count5 your blessings.The problem is the SHIA are being controlled by forces outside Bahrain……………..people of bahrain are too peaceful and good.