The battle-cry of the al-Khalifa monarchy in Bahrain ever since they started to crush the pro-democracy protests in the island kingdom two months ago might well be “to drown the revolution in Shia blood.” Just as the Tsars once used Cossacks to kill and torture Jews and burn their synagogues, so Bahrain’s minority Sunni regime sends on its black-masked security forces night after night to terrorize the majority Shia population for demanding equal political and civil rights.
...Facing little criticism from the US, otherwise so concerned about human rights abuses in Libya, the al-Khalifa family is ruthlessly crushing opposition at every level. Nurses and doctors in a health system largely run by Shia have been beaten and arrested for treating protesters. Teachers and students are being detained. Some 1,000 professional people have been sacked and have lost their pensions. The one opposition newspaper has been closed. Bahraini students who joined protests abroad have had their funding withdrawn.
Quote from: " Not Even a Bleat, Mrs. Clinton? Anti-Shia Pogroms Sweep Bahrain By PATRICK COCKBURN May 16,2011
Once again those in power stick together for example Prime Minister of Britain Cameron by meeting with the crown price of Bahrain without criticizing the prince over the human rights violations taking place in Bahrain. So like Obama Cameron we can assume is in favor of pro-reform movements in Iran and Libya and not in others such as Bahrain , Saudi Arabia. Cameron with this friendly meeting offering support to the crown prince of Bahrain is a defacto endorsement of the brutal crackdown on the pro-reform movement in Bahrain.
This is not surprising since President Obama has also been somewhat reluctant to criticize the Bahraini crackdown on pro-reform protesters and buy into the notion that the protests in Bahrain like those in Israel or on the Israeli border for Nakba Day are the product of outside interference by Syria and Iran.
" Bahrain visit: Cameron embraces tyranny" The Independent, May 19, 2011
In Bahrain, it was another day of violence and repression as the Saudi-backed Al-Khalifa dynasty continued to clamp down on protesters demanding a better life for the repressed Shia majority.
But in Downing Street, David Cameron exchanged a warm handshake with Bahrain's Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa. While other Arab tyrants feel the full force of British disapproval, Sheikh Salman is here on a mission to repair the damaged reputation of his dynasty. His visit prompted an outcry from politicians and civil rights campaigners. It came on the day when President Obama delivered his first major speech on the Arab Spring, which he said would open a "new chapter in American diplomacy". "It will be the policy of the US to promote reform, and to support transitions to democracy," he promised.
The Labour MP Denis MacShane, a former Foreign Office minister, said: "It's unbelievable, at a time when Bahrain is becoming the torture chamber of the Gulf, with terrible reports of killings and beatings, that David Cameron has even allowed the torturer-in-chief into Britain, let alone into Downing Street." Amnesty International UK's director, Kate Allen, said: "The Prime Minister ought to make it clear to Sheikh Salman that Bahrain's relations with the UK will suffer if the Bahraini authorities refuse to allow peaceful protests or conduct proper investigations into numerous allegations that detained protesters have been tortured."
While president Obama calls for a two state solution and having the borders redrawn to where they were before the 1967 War the Israelis have approved another 1,500 settler homes in East jerusalem while continuing to toss out Palestinian home owners and to demolish homes and as we saw last weekend Israel the US colluded with Israel in the brutal crackdown on mostly peaceful Nakba Day protests.
Yes in certain areas the Israelis had to repel protesters who decided to cross Israel's borders and Israel has the right to take such action . The question even in these areas are firstly did the Israelis use more force than was necessary and secondly were the Israeli forces and undercover police and soldiers helping to incite protesters to become more aggressive and violent (Israeli Agent provocateurs) at these particular border crossings and did the Israeli's over-react or panic during peaceful protest held in other parts of Israel or were the Israeli troops purposely trying to provoke the protesters so they could then beat them shoot tear gas rubber bullets and live rounds at protesters.
If Obama means what he said which it is difficult for anyone to say given that Obama often sound decisive or tough until one examines the entire speech and then we come across all of his qualifiers so everything he said in this speech or any other is then open to various forms of interpretations.
But why would anyone now trust the Obama administration when it comes to Israel as we know Obama has criticized any attempts to do an impartial investigation on Israel's daily humiliations and assaults on Palestinians and its attempt to starve out if necessary the people of Gaza nor has Obama agreed to investigate what crimes Israel may have committed during its invasion and massive bombing of Gaza two years ago or Israel's possible act of piracy against the Gaza Flotilla last year.
When Obama over and over again reiterates his support of Israel's use of violence on the High Seas or in Gaza or in East Jerusalem or against peaceful protesters throughout Israel and the Occupied Territories or even the crushing to death of activists or Palestinian civilians by tractors at what point is Israel therefore viewed as crossing the line of what is necessary or permissible and what is not.
The Obama administration does not criticize Israel for incarcerating thousands of Palestinians and a number of Israeli Jewish or secular dissidents some or all of whom may be subjected to abuse and torture.
The Israeli Department of Justice and the Israeli courts tend to rubber stamp whatever actions taken by the Israeli government or more importantly the IDF and whenever the IDF investigates itself loand behold they find themselves innocent of any charges of wrongdoing-like US soldiers they can do no wrong according to the national mythos of either nation.
When American or Israeli troops shoot to kill it is assumed they had a justifiable reason for doing so besides the lives of these foreigners are not equal to the lives of Americans or Israelis which seems to be the assuption both countries and their citizens seem to believe in.
Given America's track record of ignoring human rights and the Geneva Conventions and various UN agreements and resolutions it seems a rather empty meaningless gesture to claim that the US is on the side of peace and justice. The US has always been on the side of what's best for America and to hell with everybody else. We have seen this from Guatemala & Iran to Korea to Vietnam to Chile and El Salvador to Honduras to Iraq and Afghanistan and now Libya-so show me all the cases in which American foreign policy was more about humanitarian help as opposed to acting in America's self-interest.
Even the 1st Gulf War for instance fought by Bush Sr. to supposedly save Kuwait and Saudi Arabia which might have been justifiable but what is of note is that Saudi Arabia underwrote the entire expedition so it cost the US nothing they may have even made a profit on that war as Bush Jr. had hoped to do in his War of Aggression against a weakened Iraq.
The US is only interested in the United Nations or other bodies when they do what America wants to do otherwise the various American administrations have been cynical or dismissive of the United Nations and any International Agreements whether the US has been a signatory to these agreements or not.
In essence what Obama may be trying to do is to deflect criticisms of Israel's forces and those of the Bahrain and Saudi Regimes in the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators for whom Obama is not interested is unconcerned and just wants the media to stop talking about these things and if they continue Obama might stat arresting members of the US press or the foreign press who may say something negative about America or its buddy Israel.
But what else can one expect when both countries claim International Law has no jurisdiction over them and that if they want to use torture or excessive force or jail anyone leaking documents to the press. So investigative journalists in America or outside America should be forewarned that the US still sees itself as being at war and therefore can act in accordance to being under constant threat and can therefore not trust any country or individual.
Obam's skillful use of rhetoric and speechifying is just to cover over all that is wrong with America domestically or its Gun-boat bullying style of diplomacy -America's way or we'll invade.
Israel Approves 1,500 Settler Homes in East Jerusalem: NGO by Steve Weizman via Common Dreams .org, May 19, 2011
An Israeli government committee on Thursday approved the construction of more than 1,500 settler homes in east Jerusalem, as Israel's premier prepared to leave for talks in Washington, an NGO told AFP.
A spokeswoman for the Ir Amim non-governmental organisation, which calls for Palestinians and Israelis to share Jerusalem, confirmed the interior ministry planning committee gave final approval for two projects.
The decision authorised construction of 620 homes in the settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev, and another 900 in a second settlement neighbourhood, Har Homa.
The committee hearing took place just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to fly to Washington, where he is to meet US President Barack Obama in the White House on Friday and make a keynote address to both houses of Congress next week.
Israeli lobby group Peace Now deplored the timing and content of the interior ministry's decision.
"The prime minister is sacrificing relations with the US for the sake of his loyalty to settlers," it said in a statement. "This is not just miserable timing but a miserable policy which endangers Israel's standing in the world."
"Netanyahu's decision to discuss Har Homa and Pisgat Zeev today is a clear message to the Americans about Israel's real policy which refuses to even discuss (sharing) Jerusalem," Hagit Ofran, of Peace Now's Settlement Watch unit told AFP.
In March 2010, the interior ministry announced a plan to build 1,600 settler homes in Ramat Shlomo, an Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood in east Jerusalem.
The announcement came as US Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel, provoking fierce American opposition and souring relations with Washington for months.
And meanwhile Pakistan has appealed to China as its no. 1 trading partner to defend Pakistan's sovereignty again US aggression and refusal to keep Pakistan's government in the loop as it were ie murder of Bin Laden or the continuing unproductive use of drones and other bombing missions inside Pakistan's borders.
Interesting how Obama says everyone has to respect America's borders and America's interests and those of Israel and yet ignores Pakistan's rights as a sovereign nation.
China 'Asks USA To Respect Pak Sovereignty' By Press Trust of India "The Statesman" via Information Clearing House May 19, 2011
ISLAMABAD, 19 MAY: In the wake of the US raid in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden, China has “warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China”, a media report claimed today.
The warning was formally conveyed by the Chinese foreign minister at last week's China-US strategic dialogue and economic talks in Washington, The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying. China also advised the USA to “respect Pakistan's sovereignty and solidarity”, the report said.
Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao informed his Pakistani counterpart Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani about the matters taken up with the US during their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People yesterday. The report said China “warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China”. The two premiers held a 45-minute one-on-one meeting before beginning talks with their delegations.
The Chinese leadership was “extremely forthcoming in assuring its unprecedented support to Pakistan for its national cause and security” and discussed all subjects of mutual interest with Mr Gilani, the report said. Mr Gilani described Pakistan-China relations and friendship as “unique”.
Talking to Pakistani journalists accompanying him, he said that China had acknowledged his country's contribution and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and supported its cause at the international level. “China supported Pakistan's cause on its own accord,” Mr Gilani said with reference to the Sino-US strategic dialogue where the Chinese told the US that Pakistan should be helped and its national honour respected. Mr Gilani said China had asked the US to improve its relations with Pakistan, keeping in view the present scenario.
...Mr Gilani said Pakistan has the capability and capacity to defend its frontiers and the armed forces are fully vigilant, and no incident like the US raid against bin Laden will happen in future. He said Pakistan will continue its efforts to stop US drone attacks, which have proved to be counter-productive.
To a question, Mr Gilani said Pakistan's political and military leadership will decide about a military operation in North Waziristan agency. No pressure will be accepted in this regard and Pakistan alone will decide on this issue, he said. Mr Gilani said Pakistan desired good relations with all its neighbours, including India, Afghanistan and Iran.
Bahrain editors deny charges amid reports of continuing bloodbath by Greenslade Counterpunch via Guardian.co.uk, May 19, 2011
Three former editors of Bahrain's main opposition newspaper have pleaded not guilty to charges of unethical coverage of Shia-led opposition protests against the kingdom's Sunni rulers.
Among the charges faced by the Al Wasat journalists is one of "publishing fabricated news."
Former chief editor Mansoor al-Jamri told the Associated Press:
"Al Wasat has a proven record of promoting reforms and democracy... Our views and reporting were on the right side of history as we had always called for dialogue, peaceful and constitutional means for achieving a better democratic future."
Al Wasat's printing facilities were damaged in mid-March when pro-government mobs smashed equipment with metal pipes, clubs and axes.
Bahrain's information ministry ordered Al Wasat to stop printing in early April, but the ban was lifted after the editors who are now on trial agreed to resign.
And while Obama makes pretty but pointless speeches the Shiites in Bahrain are being hunted down dragged out of their homes between 1-4 AM and beaten tortured abused intimidated threatened with rape some are beaten or tortured to death but would Washington care since it argues that torture is not torture unless the US president or the the Rich and powerful say it is -otherwise these are just so-called "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques " which the USA and some its despotic allies use including Israel, Britain, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia but that's OK cause they are on America's side while Qaddafi for instance is not
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" Not Even a Bleat, Mrs. Clinton? Anti-Shia Pogroms Sweep Bahrain By PATRICK COCKBURN May 16,2011
"Let us drown the revolution in Jewish blood,” was the slogan of the Tsars when they orchestrated pogroms against Jews across Russia in the years before World War1.
The battle-cry of the al-Khalifa monarchy in Bahrain ever since they started to crush the pro-democracy protests in the island kingdom two months ago might well be “to drown the revolution in Shia blood.” Just as the Tsars once used Cossacks to kill and torture Jews and burn their synagogues, so Bahrain’s minority Sunni regime sends on its black-masked security forces night after night to terrorize the majority Shia population for demanding equal political and civil rights.
Usually troops and police make their raids on Shia districts at 1-4 am, dragging people from their beds and beating them in front of their families. Those detained face mistreatment and torture in prison. One pro-democracy activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, brought before a military court last week with severe facial injuries said he had suffered four fractures to the left side of his face, including a broken jaw that required four hours surgery.
...Facing little criticism from the US, otherwise so concerned about human rights abuses in Libya, the al-Khalifa family is ruthlessly crushing opposition at every level. Nurses and doctors in a health system largely run by Shia have been beaten and arrested for treating protesters. Teachers and students are being detained. Some 1,000 professional people have been sacked and have lost their pensions. The one opposition newspaper has been closed. Bahraini students who joined protests abroad have had their funding withdrawn.
The original February 14 protest movement was moderate, contained Sunni as well as Shia activists, and went out of its way to be non-sectarian. Its slogans included a demand that Bahrain’s powerful prime minister for the last 40 years, Shaikh Khalifa ibn Salman al-Khalifa, to step down and for fair elections. It also wanted equal rights for all including an end to anti-Shia discrimination under which the majority were excluded from the 60,000-strong army, police and security forces. Security jobs went instead to Sunni recruits from Pakistan, Jordan, Syria and other Sunni states who were immediately given Bahraini citizenship.
Sometimes the anti-Shia bias is explicit. One pro-government newspaper prominently published a letter that compared the protesters to “termites” that are intelligent but multiply at alarming speed and “are very similar to the February 14 group that tried to destroy our beautiful, precious country.” The writer recommends exterminating the “white ants so they don’t come back.”
The purpose of the systematic torture and mistreatment inflicted on the detainees is firstly to create a feeling of terror in the civilian population. It is not only protesters or pro-democracy activists that are being targeted. Al-Jazeera satellite television, based in and funded by neighboring Qatar, which played such a role in publicizing protests and their attempted repression, in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Libya, was initially much more reticent about events in Bahrain. But al-Jazeera revealed this week that the Bahraini police has been raiding girls’ schools, detaining and beating school girls, and is accused of threatening to rape them.
One 16-year-old called “Heba” was taken with three of her school friends and held for three days during which they were beaten. She said an officer “hit me on the head and I started to bleed” and she was thrown against a wall. She says that, although the girls were beaten severely, they scarcely felt the pain because they were so frightened of being raped. The Bahraini opposition party al Wefaq says that 15 girls’ schools have been raided by the police and girls as young as 12 threatened with rape.
freedom الحرية
Nakba"النكبة"
nakba day يوم النكبة
إن شاء الله God Willing
and so it goes,
GORD.
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