USA’s Bahrain Blunder

As expected, the foreign intervention in Bahrain has turned deadly. Apparently, two protesters have already been killed since Bahrain’s monarch invited a Saudi-led multi-national force into its country to suppress a popular rebellion.

It is worth noting here just how bad the United States must look in the eyes of a protest movement seeking to shake off an oppressive political system. The United States seems unwilling or unable to convince Bahrain’s al-Khalifa family to open up the political system.  Meanwhile, the United States has stood by the monarch, even as Bahrain’s ruling family simply ignored the advice of the United States Defense Secretary.

You basically have a situation right now where one American ally is asking other American allies in the Gulf to use their American weapons to help suppress a revolt.

This can’t be good for America’s long term interests in the region.  Not at all.