At the behest of the corrupt authoritarian ruling regime in Bahrain, Saudi Arabian forces have moved into occupy the nation and aid in the suppression of a peaceful democratic uprising calling for a constitutional monarchy (although more radical elements are demanding a complete expulsion of the al-Khalifa royals, and rightly so!). This latest troubling development isn’t surprising.
Bahrain is a tiny island ruled by a Sunni monarchy that purposely disenfranchises its Shitte majority – 70% of the population – on sectarian grounds. Shitte citizens are disfavored when it comes to land grants, jobs, ect… And long have been shut out of any meaningful, even advisory, role in the nation. For instance, Bahrain has feckless parliamentary body. But elections are rigged where by the Shitte parties manage to win less than 50% of the seats in a nation even though they have more than 2/3 support among the electorate.
This is a long-standing practice of sectarianism in the kingdom by the corrupt American clients of Bahrain.
Inspired by their brethren in Tunisia and Egypt, Bahraini – mostly the long discriminated against Shittes but also many Sunnis – have taken to the street to demand democratic reform. The regime has responded in an insolent and dismissive manner determined to crush any prospect for reform. Initially the army was called on to the streets – and Shittes are prohibited from serving in the armed forces of even regular police, the royals instead employ foreigners – and the armed forces even shot and killed unarmed civilian demonstrators simply as they were walking peacefully.
Embarrassed by the images and keen to improve its image, the government called back the army and allowed demonstrators to regroup and continue their daily manifestations. But the regime has become wary of a prolonged struggle and the Saudis royals – who adhere to even worse anti-Shitte prejudices – have been demanding that Bahrain subdue the uprising lest it cross borders and inspire Saudi Arabia’s own subjugated Shitte population to rise up. It was reported that the Saudis even threatened to do the job if the Bahraini royals wouldn’t.
Alas that it what happened. Saudi Arabia’s forces have entered the nation and look poised to brutally repress the demonstrators. This is a military occupation, pure and simple, and the Bahraini regime has foregone all legitimacy as they now copy Gadhafi’s use of foreign arms to repress a people clamoring for freedom. The Saudis are determined that no people, let alone the despised Shittes, should be free near their own Kingdom of Horrors.
What is happening is simply grotesque and raises the stakes. The people of Bahrain should not be faulted if they now resort to violent resistance and overthrow. And one can count on the poor training and ineptitude of Saudi forces and their idiot prince commanders, men who only got their posts purely for titular vanity purposes as the royal family likes to hand out such titles as “commander of the air force” when the prince would not know a thing about commanding or jets. Just recently Saudi Arabian forces, led by the most corrupt Prince Khalid Bin Sultan (aka: Prince 10%, because he collects 10% of all defense contracts), were beaten back and lost over 100 men in a fight against rag-tag fighters in Yemen, many of them child soldiers. So the Saudi display in Bahrain, one hopes, will be a testament that Saudi Arabia arms purchases are about corruption and keeping Washington happy and do not bequeath any skills.
May the people of Bahrain prevail!
