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Gulf states send force to Bahrain following protests

Kandahar

Kandahar

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Troops from a number of Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, have arrived in Bahrain in response to a request from the small Gulf kingdom, officials say.

It comes a day after the worst violence since seven anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces last month.

Dozens of people were injured on Sunday as protesters pushed back police and barricaded roads.

Bahrain's opposition said the foreign troops amounted to an occupation.

BBC News - Gulf states send force to Bahrain following protests
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Wow, that actually happened. Saudi Arabia has basically invaded Bahrain to contain the instability there. I dunno, I think it may increase the risk of open sectarian warfare spreading throughout the Arabian Peninsula, especially if foreign troops open fire on democracy protesters. :shock:
 
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Kandahar said:
Wow, that actually happened. Saudi Arabia has basically invaded Bahrain to contain the instability there. I dunno, I think it may increase the risk of open sectarian warfare spreading throughout the Arabian Peninsula, especially if foreign troops open fire on democracy protesters. :shock:
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This **** is getting out of hand...
 
Nations act in their interest. Given the premium Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf States place on stability, it should come as no surprise that those states intervened at the Bahrain Government's request. Given the geopolitical importance of the region (share of world's oil production), it should also come as no surprise that neither the U.S. nor European Union's states have criticized the move.
 
Not to mention the US 5th fleet is based in Bahrain.

The US would loath to lose that strategic asset
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
Not to mention the US 5th fleet is based in Bahrain.

The US would loath to lose that strategic asset
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Not to mention how detrimental it would be to lose a U.S. presence in the region.
 
Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest

Excerpted from “Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest” By ETHAN BRONNER, The New York Times, Published: March 14, 2011
[SIZE="+2"]T[/SIZE]roops from Saudi Arabia and police officers from the United Arab Emirates crossed into Bahrain on Monday under the aegis of the Gulf Cooperation Council to help quell unrest there, a move Bahraini opposition groups denounced in a statement as an “occupation.” …

A senior administration official said the United States was “definitely concerned” by the deployment of troops, saying the protests in Bahrain needed “a political solution, not military.” The State Department dispatched Jeffrey D. Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, to Bahrain on Monday. He had been scheduled to join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her travels to Egypt and Tunisia this week. …
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When is an “occupation” not an “occupation”? When it's at the invitation of the local despot of course!

“Time is not our friend.” — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates​
 
Re: Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest

blah blah blah...lip service lip service...demonstrations over...back to normal. This shouldnt shock too many people. Mentioned it before...the Kingdom dont play this nicey-nice protest game.

Wait...you are still posting? I thought you were rushing off to join the cause...to fight for the rights of the rebels in Libya? WTF happened?
 
Kandahar said:
Wow, that actually happened. Saudi Arabia has basically invaded Bahrain to contain the instability there. I dunno, I think it may increase the risk of open sectarian warfare spreading throughout the Arabian Peninsula, especially if foreign troops open fire on democracy protesters. :shock:
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Not very likely...especially once you understand the rules in 'The Kingdom' (Bahrain basically exists for wealthy Arabs to romp and frolic outside of Allahs watchful eye). There isnt much room for democracy or rebellion and as long as the mullahs are paid off, there wont be a whole lot of religous activism there...everyone stays happy.
 
VanceMack said:
Not very likely...especially once you understand the rules in 'The Kingdom' (Bahrain basically exists for wealthy Arabs to romp and frolic outside of Allahs watchful eye). There isnt much room for democracy or rebellion and as long as the mullahs are paid off, there wont be a whole lot of religous activism there...everyone stays happy.
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There is some truth to that, and it's one of the reasons that I'm much less optimistic about oil-rich states like those on the Arabian Peninsula becoming true democracies than I am about, say, Egypt or Tunisia. It's the classic resource curse...all those petrodollars enable dictators to buy influence, or at least to buy enough military support to crush the protesters if necessary.
 
Kandahar said:
There is some truth to that, and it's one of the reasons that I'm much less optimistic about oil-rich states like those on the Arabian Peninsula becoming true democracies than I am about, say, Egypt or Tunisia. It's the classic resource curse...all those petrodollars enable dictators to buy influence, or at least to buy enough military support to crush the protesters if necessary.
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yes...you CAN get an Amen...

World of difference between the way Mubarek handled his demonstrations and the rest of the Arab countries. They learn quick!
 
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