Wait, what? US finalizes arms deal with Bahrain to 'defend Bahrain from aggression'

[Conspiracy]

[quote]Manama: Washington has finalised a $53 million (Dh195 million) weapons deal with Bahrain, a top US diplomat has said. "Congress has expressed no opposition to this sale," said Stephen Seche, Deputy US Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs.
The deal is part of a move to defend Bahrain from aggression, Seche said at a roundtable meeting, local media reported.

The official said that the US looked forward to the recommendations by an international panel that investigated the events that hit Bahrain in February and March and their consequences.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), set up in June, is scheduled to announce its findings on October 30. The BICI, locally known as the Bassiouni Commission, after its leader Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni an expert in international criminal, human rights and humanitarian law, has interviewed thousands of people in its quest to appreciate what really happened.

"I think we would like to wait for the Commission report to speak for itself. We have been encouraged by the process that has ensued here since the Commission first arrived in Bahrain. They have been very thorough and Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni has spoken publicly about the response. He has been encouraged by the receptivity of all aspects of the Bahraini government to probe into the different questions, their need to get to as much information in the time they had," Seche said.

"This is a positive development and we believe that the Commission's findings will reflect a process which has been thorough and comprehensive and very professional. We will look forward to the recommendations," he was quoted as saying.

The report will be presented to King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa and published online. According to Bahraini officials, a ceremony will be held to mark the event, with King Hamad and Bassiouni giving speeches. In his remarks, Seche denied claims that the US was meddling in Bahrain's domestic affairs.

"What I am trying to do with my meetings with all sectors of society is to better understand the situation and examine it so that we can be helpful," he said. "The US is a friend of Bahrain. And as a friend, we would like what is best for them so we try to help Bahrain to resolve its issues but never in a meddling way. From our assessment, we are concerned with the divide between the government and elements of the opposition. Both parties have to reach out to one another through dialogue. Reconciliation is essential," he reportedly said.[/quote]

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Didn't the US recently denounce the Bahraini government for their crackdown of protesters? Now they're supplying the weapons? Looks a bit shady to me.

[teslacoil]

Defend Bahrain from aggression?

So they're defending Bahrain from their own police force?

[Contag]

Well obviously Bahrain will be pro-west in exchange for weapons aid to ensure stability of the oppressive regime

just like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and all the other examples

[editline]19th October 2011[/editline]

[quote]"The US is a friend of Bahrain. And as a friend, we would like what is best for them so we try to help Bahrain to resolve its issues but never in a meddling way. From our assessment, we are concerned with the divide between the government and elements of the opposition. B[B]oth parties have to reach out to one another through dialogue. Reconciliation is essential[/B],[/quote]

Ah yes, the

[quote] $53 million (Dh195 million) weapons deal [/quote]

also commonly known as 'dialogue enhancers'

[Starpluck]

Nah. Obama only called for "restraint" to be exercised by both sides and praised "Bahrain's efforts" for "committing" to national dialogue. Bahrain was designated as a major non-NATO ally in 2001 or 2003 so anything the U.S. would consider against Bahrain is unlikely.

As long as Bahrain maintains it's pro-Western attitude (despite being an oppressive regime), and I don't see this changing in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, Bahrain has U.S. bases established in Bahrain to counter Iran, they're not going to sacrifice that. I also believe the fact that the vast majority of the protesters were also Shia and received the full backing of Iran was also a factor into this. The U.S. doesn't really care about protesters at all if it contradicts their policies in the Middle East (not that's its a surprise) and Obama only began supporting the Egyptian protesters when it was clear Mubarak was losing power.