Until then it's just theatrical hand-wringing, from her and our entire government.
Imagine the outraged outcry if it was Iran mounting US-made anti-aircraft guns on APCs to mow down people simply requesting their rights.
Just last year our Secretary of State praised last years' elections in Bahrain as a model for the region.
U.S. facing dilemma in Bahrain. Does it support the regime or the demonstrators?
Manama : Bahrain | Feb 18, 2011
Bahrain is important to the U.S. in that the 5th fleet is stationed there. It plays a pivotal role in hemming in Iran and ensuring the safe transport of oil from Iraq to western markets. Clinton expressed "deep concerns" about the attack on sleeping anti-government protesters on Wednesday night that killed at least five civilians. Last I heard the security forces had just attacked protesters at a hospital.
...
After the election Hilary Clinton visited Bahrain and praised it as a model for the region. This model seems to be a favorite, introducing legislatures with limited powers and usually with repression of opposition parties so that mostly approved groups win. Clinton was asked about arrests and reports of torture. Clinton said:""I think the changes that are happening in Bahrain are much greater than what I see in many other countries in the region and beyond." But obviously the opposition in Bahrain did not share this optimistic view. Even a bribe to stifle dissent of 2,700 offered by the king to each household did not seem to work.
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Graham Fuller a former CIA analyst says:"Washington is now faced again with another hard choice...," "Continue to go with local repressive regimes out of a misguided sense of ‘American interests'? Hold on to unpopular military bases at all costs - thereby deepening local anger and perhaps giving Iran ultimately a greater voice in events?" "Or should it quietly drop support for this repressive regime, allow events to take their course and accept that long-overdue change is coming?"
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Chas Freeman,who served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, agreed with the dilemma faced by Washington but concluded:"If you come out in favor of change, then you are at considerable risk of damaging your political-military equities. If you bow openly to expedience of military interests, then you are discrediting yourself morally and ideologically," "There are moments when silence and respect for the ability of others to straighten out their own politics may be the best course." It is difficult for the U.S. to take this complete hands off approach since it is in such flagrant contradiction to the professed U.S. aim of spreading democracy and democratic values.
The solution is to profess these values and wring ones hands at the violence but try to work behind the scenes to save the ruling elite as much as possible and try to promote sufficient reforms to save the system.http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8232034-us-facing-dilemma-in-bahrain-does-it-support-the-regime-or-the-demonstrators "Bahrain is a friend and an ally and has been for many years,"
"I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States."
It must be dreadful losing so many friends.
The protesters were carrying flowers saying they wanted to deliver them to the police. They were shot instead, in cold blood. Blood all over the streets.
For shame.
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