Why is Obama Selling Weapons to the King of Bahrain While He’s Attacking Pro-Democracy Protestors?

[The Straight Story]

Why is Obama Selling Weapons to the King of Bahrain While He’s Attacking Pro-Democracy Protestors?

Geopolitics and economics trump human rights and democracy in Bahrain, where the oil-based kingdom, led by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, has spent months cracking down on protesters and dissidents and now is being rewarded with American military hardware from Washington.

The Department of Defense officially notified Congress on September 14 that 44 armored Humvees and hundreds of missiles are being sold to Bahrain for $53 million. It is the first sale of military equipment to Bahrain since it began attacking demonstrators earlier this year, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“This is exactly the wrong move after Bahrain brutally suppressed protests and is carrying out a relentless campaign of retribution against its critics,” said Maria McFarland, deputy Washington director for HRW. “It will be hard for people to take US statements about democracy and human rights in the Middle East seriously when, rather than hold its ally Bahrain to account, it appears to reward repression with new weapons.”

...

In its notification to lawmakers, the Pentagon said the sale of weapons will contribute to American foreign policy and national security “by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

http://www.allgov.com/US_and_the_World/ViewNews/Why_is_Obama_Selling_Weapons_to_the_King_of_Bahrain_While_Hes_Attacking_Pro_Democracy_Protestors_110924

[Admiral Loinpresser]

1. Supporting fascism...

the American way.

[soleft]

2. They're coming from his personal arsenal?

If he's selling them, then I'm selling them - you're selling them. If you're living in this country and this country is selling weapons - we're all selling them.

[The Straight Story]

4. well if I am selling them I would rather put em on an online auction

And let everyone have a shot at getting them :)

[former9thward]

9. I'm not selling them. He is.

I have no power to stop the sales. He does.

[Luminous Animal]

3. Glenn Greenwald writes about it here:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html

[orpupilofnature57]

5. How many non-Nato Allies do we have and what's the sense of NATO..

or the UN for that matter ,and what constitutes " an important force " compared to any other country in the region , oh yeah their Flush ,money wise ,Why?

[Prometheus Bound]

6. It's hard to be more hypoctitical than Qatar though.

Sending troops to suppress pro-democracy protests in Bahrain, while at the same time sending troops, money and arms to rebels in Libya.

And then using their mouthpiece Al Jazeera to downplay the former and cheerlead the latter.

Just business.

[sabrina 1]

7. Because this country only cares about profits.

They are using the Civilian Police Dept in NYC paid for by the taxpayers, to protect Wall St. FROM the taxpayers. They don't even care about Americans, why would they care about the people of Bahrain?

Which is why there are people protesting on Wall St. right now. This country badly needs an intervention.

[democrank]

8. What else would a Nobel Peace Prize recipient do?

[Bluebear]

11. Indeed

[malaise]

10. That's been US foreign policy for decades

Self interest aka utter and complete hypocrisy.

[madrchsod]

12. because our middle east fleet is harbored there and

the carter/reagan doctrine gives us the "right" to be there.

we are hired mercenaries that protect the supply of the precious juice.

[Ikonoklast]

15. Quid Pro Quo.

They pay us for room under our military umbrella.

[pampango]

13. Same reason that Russia keeps selling weapons to Bashar Assad in Syria.

And that reason is NO GOOD REASON.

There should be an arms embargo on all countries that crack down on peaceful protesters. The UN can't seem to authorize embargoes against these dictators because one or another country on the Security Council threatens a veto.

[_ed_]

14. Why do they hate us?

It must be for our freedoms.

[Leopolds Ghost]

16. Because it's all a sham for the public eye. US condemns human rights by cynically exploiting them as

An excuse to invade one country (Libya) but not another (Syria, Bahrain) -- all for the purposes of economic control.

Behind the scenes US supports the same policies regardless of which dictator has the worst human rights record.