Posts Tagged ‘Bahrain’

Another Big And Phony Distraction

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Iran terror plots in America!

Killing the Saudi Ambassador to the US? Who the hell is he? Who cares? Wake me when they actually blow up the oil fields, that’s all the Middle East is about!

Blowing up buildings in DC? That’s been done, too, and tonight’s “man hit by Metro in Rosslyn, chaos ensues” shows just how little our Homeland Security dollars have purchased.

What are the real distractions being buried here?

1) The Iraqi and Iranian governments’ support for the Syrian butcher.

2) The Saudi government’s support for the butcher in Bahrain.

3) The Justice Department’s battle with the semi-criminal Issa over which US gun dealer sales we’re subsidizing on behalf of Mexican drug cartels.

4) The likelihood that the woeful jobs programs won’t get through either the Senate or the House, no matter how you slice it.

5) The Occupy Wall Street crowd, who make no sense except when they point out how even less sense our leaders make.

6) The Eurozone kick the can, which is still alive and barely kickin’ down Bratislava way.

Gorilla says: “Take your pick, add a few more, what’s on offer is absolutely nothing but contempt and cowardice by and for one and all!”

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Wars We Don’t Fight

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Syria, Bahrain, Yemen: can’t be bothered to offend the Saudis, and Baathists are fine, so long as they’re not in Iraq (or sign loyalty oaths, or something)…

Gorilla says: “And let’s not forget Cote d’Ivoire!!! Sarkozy’s success d’estime helps keep the chocolate hot!!!”

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Why Are We Doing Nothing About Bahrain?

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

They’re now banning majority Shiite opposition parties and consolidating their minority Sunni dictatorship.

What’s the difference between Bahrain now and Iraq under Saddam Hussein?

Where are the bombs to protect civilians?

Where is the conclusion by NATO et. al. that Bahrain’s government lacks legitimacy?

Gorilla answers: “Two words, three letters: Saudi Arabia, Oil!”

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Different Approaches

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Clearly, we attacked Libya because we thought Gaddafi would rout the rebel forces quickly.

And in doing so, we guaranteed that it won’t be over soon.

In contrast, Yemen appears to be moving rapidly towards an Egypt-style resolution, now that some in the army no longer think their President is legitimate.

Bahrain may take a little while longer, because the Saudis have to be persuaded to stop backing the King and they aren’t likely to do so when the price of that could be their own kingdom.

But neither Yemen nor Bahrain will require Western military forces to attack once again a predominantly Muslim state.

Gorilla says: “We never learn anything from our own stupidity, so our first instinct is to shoot first and not ask questions later!”

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Civilian Protection

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Not in the Ivory Coast or Bahrain!

The UN’s tired of Gaddafi, but they’re not sick of Gbagbo or the House Of Saud!

Gorilla says: “No fly is the new no outcry!”

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Not Ending Well

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Whether it’s Japan, or Libya, or Bahrain, everything and very little is changing.

In the Arab world, the Japanese disaster has proven to be very convenient for despotic rulers. They know that the West needs their oil and is not about to go to war over a bit of rebellion. So they suppress, suppress, suppress.

In Japan, trust is wearing out. The Japanese government, and the nuclear power industry, seem several steps behind the curve. So more distress, distress, distress.

Gorilla says: “The ancient empires look quite ancient!”

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The Saudis Are Scared

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Why else would they invade Bahrain?

If democracy does eventually take hold in Bahrain, the Saudis may not be able to bribe their way out of it in Jeddah.

For Americans, this is only about oil. We don’t care who’s in charge so long as the oil keeps flowing.

Gorilla says: “If suicide bombers head for the Saudi oil fields, we might just pay attention!”

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The Coming War

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Sunni versus Shiite!

These religious wars are one consequence of our stupid decision to invade Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, our sole achievement has been to install a pro-Shiite government that is corrupt, unaccountable, and feckless.

In Afghanistan, our sole achievement has been to install a corrupt, unaccountable, and feckless government, while funding a pro-Sunni insurgency.

Here in our country, religious warriors are on the march, trying to subjugate women, gays and minorities to their corrupt, unaccountable, and feckless fantasies.

Gorilla says: “Hopefully, we’ll wake up one day and recognize that there’s nothing good about religion!”

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Libya Is Bahrain: Both Are Only About Oil

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Why are Americans getting all heated up about Libya using brutal force to keep a dictator in power, while our ally Saudi Arabia has just invaded Bahrain to do exactly the same thing?

Let’s see: a foreign invasion by a neighboring country to prop up a repressive minority government, sound familiar?

It was called Yugoslavia, and for NATO it was bombs away. Have to stop the genocide, after all!!!

Nowadays, as then, we don’t do much to stop genocide when there’s oil at stake.

Gaddafi may be a lunatic, but invading Libya and the Japanese earthquake together might take the price of oil up to $300/barrel or more.

It’s just not something a US President wants to do in the year before his reelection campaign, particularly when he’s already losing two pointless wars.

Similarly, Bahrain’s a minor oil kingdom, but pissing off the Saudis is something we simply cannot afford to do.

So, our President is playing this right. He’s doing as little as he possibly can about Bahrain and Libya.

It’s not the moral high ground, but we no longer occupy that space, what with the torture, the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the secret prisons, and the overseas detention camps.

And there’s no more appetite in DC for doing something about energy policy than there is for doing something about unemployment.

Gorilla says: “Staying safe and cozy in a parallel universe of denial is pretty much all America does these days!”

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The No Democracy Zone

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Some Arab League members want a no fly zone over Libya and a no democracy zone in the Gulf States!

Gorilla asks: “Shouldn’t their troops be turning left instead of right?”

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