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US to Arab Spring: **** You
![]() http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/38eb21ee-9...#axzz1uzn9UKsN US arms sales to Bahrain to resume By Geoff Dyer in Washington May 12, 2012 12:09 am The US is to resume selling arms to Bahrain a little more than a year after a harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters and despite continued claims of human rights abuses in the Gulf kingdom, which is a key US ally. The Obama administration said that the arms sales, which Congress has been notified about, would include upgrades for Bahrain’s defence force, but would not involve weapons that could be used against demonstrators. The decision to restart arms sales was the result of “national security interests”, said Victoria Nuland, state department spokeswoman. It follows a visit to Washington this week by Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s crown prince, who met with Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, and Leon Panetta, defence secretary. Home to the US 5th fleet, Bahrain has been a key partner of the US in the Gulf for more than 60 years and the military facilities in the country are a central plank in the Pentagon’s efforts to deter Iran. Other US allies in the region, notably Saudi Arabia, have also put pressure on Washington to maintain its support for Bahrain’s ruling Sunni Muslim royal family, which has faced widespread unrest among the majority Shia Muslim population. However, the administration came under heavy pressure to scale back its ties last March after Manama declared a state of emergency in response to protests following the entry of Saudi and Emirati troops. In October, $53m in planned arms sales were put on hold pending an investigation of alleged human rights abuses. A senior state department official said that the new arms sales would help boost the country’s external defences and would include air-to-air missiles, components for F-16 fighter jets and potentially a naval frigate. However, they would not include Humvees, stun grenades or tear gas. “We are mindful of the continued human rights issues,” said a senior official. “Right now they are at an impasse and the violence is a result of that.” In a speech last November, Hillary Clinton reflected on the conflicts of interest thrown up by the Arab Spring, particularly in Bahrain. It was fair for people to ask “why does America promote democracy one way in some countries and another way in others?” But she said that each country in the region was different and the administration needed to weigh the risk to US forces, the potential threat from al-Qaeda and the need to keep oil supplies flowing. “It would be foolish to take a one-size-fits-all approach and barrel forward regardless of circumstances on the ground,” she said. As tensions with Iran have escalated in recent years, the US has been keen to use arms sales to boost the military capabilities of its allies in the region, most notably the $60bn deal with Saudi Arabia which was announced in 2010. |
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#91 | ||
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We've entrenched ourselves financially in Bahrain, there is no "let's do nothing" option. We're either actively supporting a dictator murdering his own democratic protesters, or we're not. And we have recently decided that we are. |
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#92 | |
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Of course, apparently no castigation is genuine in this forum unless it's willing to come with a vow to change votes. Which means, of course, that everybody in this forum is damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they never voice criticisms of their party, they are shills. If they voice criticisms of their party while still supporting their party, they are shills. I guess that's the way DC sees things. |
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#93 | |
Quit your bullshit
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If Holden Caulfield posted on here, I imagine his posts would look a lot like Direckshun's. Everyone around him is phony. Never mind that he does the same things the masses do. He does it out of thoughtfulness and nuance. Everyone else simply acts via stimulus and response.
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#94 | |
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We both vote for candidates that have done things we vastly disagree with. It's a two party system. You do what you can. It's not rocket science. |
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#95 |
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Have you considered other activities beside voting to show your opposition to Obama supplying these weapons? Perhaps organize a "sit-in" or some other form of public protest?
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#96 |
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You introduced voting to this thread. I've just been replying to you and Saul Good.
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#97 |
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That's fine. So, are you going to do anything other than voting to show your opposition to Obama's arms sale?
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#98 |
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I don't talk about my personal life on this board.
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#99 |
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Huh? You've tacitly acknowledged that you are still going to vote for Obama again, despite this arms sales which pains you so, but you won't say, "Yeah, I'm going to organize a protest!"?
I hope you realize how that makes you appear.
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#100 |
Quit your bullshit
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You dont have to convince me. If you feel good about it, keep on being a good little soldier.
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#101 | |
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Chances are, your conclusions on me have already been drawn. I am the sycophantic Democrat who always votes Democratic. As opposed to you, the principled Republican who always votes Republican. |
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#102 |
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Anytime you want to actually rebut any of my previous dismantlings of your arguments in this thread, be my guest.
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#103 | |
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#104 |
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I'm unaware of what prompted this civics lesson, but I'm already aware. Never claimed otherwise.
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#105 | |
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