Bahrain Crackdown: Saudi Troops Aid Security Forces in Crushing Protesters

Violence continues to escalate in the small kingdom of Bahrain. Saudi Troops entered the small island nation several days ago.

Here is an analysis from several days ago.


The King declared martial law yesterday. Since then security forces backed by Saudi troops have begun a violent crack down on anti-government forces.

It is culturally, ethnically, and politically a microcosm of Saudi Arabia. Many of the problems that face this small nation are echoed on a broader scale in Saudi Arabia. Both nations have a Sunni minority ruling a Shiite majority. Both are absolutist monarchies with no political freedoms. They are both major US allies in the region. The US Fifth fleet is based in Bahrain, and the Saudi Kingdom has long held close ties to the US. The fear of a similar revolution to that in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and other nations throughout the region has led to dire circumstances. This fear is so great the ruling class of Bahrain has made the decision to ignore international opinion to violently exterminate oppostion.

WARNING THE VIDEOS BELOW ARE GRAPHIC!
The people of Bahrain are being murdered, and terrorized. The footage below shows this sad reality. One cannot ignore the silence of the US as people are being exterminated. Apparently human rights only matter so much as geopolitically beneficial to the US.

Past Several Days

Police Officer Firing Live Rounds into Crowd




Yesterday




Pearl Roundabout Today

Images Today From Pear Roundabout



Tanks on the Streets

Damn, all this is F'd
I hate watching these innocent people getting hurt but love watching the PIGS run for their lives from the mass mob. I laugh everytime a PIG loses his ground or gets a gas bomb thrown back in his face, they will all pay for the lives they have taken.

Al Jazeera

Curfew enforced, several dead and hundreds injured as security forces use tanks and helicopters to quash protests.

At least six people are reported dead and hundreds injured after security forces in Bahrain drove out pro-democracy protesters from the Pearl Roundabout in the capital, Manama.

Police Destroying Cars and Personal Property

Warning Graphic : Police Sniper Shoots Unarmed Man

reply to post by stephinrazin


This is awful ... I found some of the video content quite shocking.
It seems that while the worlds eyes have been obviously focused on the terrible problems in Japan , the situation in Bahrain has deteriorated. I would think some of the violence against protesters here is comparable to that in Libya. Are our governments going to condemn this - or propose a no fly zone? Somehow I dont think so eh?
Thankyou for posting this.

reply to post by stephinrazin


The silence from the US is deafening. Obama? Where are you?

Myth of Sectarianism:Reality is Tyranny vs. Freedom

For decades, international news has refused to shine a light on the realities of Bahrain's primary domestic conflict: colonialism. Instead, headline after headline portrays Bahrain's problems as a sectarian divide. It's the Shiites versus the Sunnis in every news item - Saudia Arabia versus Iran.

But that is simply not what is happening on the ground in Bahrain, a geostrategically important island nation right in the middle of the Persian Gulf where the largest base for the US Navy exists, outside of the US itself.

Prime Minister David Cameron has personally called on the king of Bahrain to end the violent suppression of street protests in the Gulf state, Downing Street said.

Obama where are you?


Protester Shot in Leg

Helicopter Firing Indiscriminately


Snipers on a Rooftop

Journalist Taken Away by GCC Forces

Bravery

Originally posted by mecheng
reply to post by stephinrazin

 

The silence from the US is deafening. Obama? Where are you?

edit on 16-3-2011 by mecheng because: (no reason given)

Where's all the talk of non violence and no fly zones. Double standards on such a revealing scale, we in the west like to pick and choose our dictators depending on who's got what.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


It shows the glaringly obvious. Human rights are only a tool for geopolitical dominance. If a nation the US opposes, or wishes to conquer commits an atrocity it is a human rights disaster demanding action. If it is an ally the US sells the weapons to commit the atrocity, and makes excuses for any human rights violation that occurs. Empire is a criminal game, and has no room for morality. Power is about gaining it, and keeping it. Right or wrong have no role in such affairs.

Miami Herald

-- Bahraini police and soldiers, firing live ammunition and backed by U.S.-built Apache assault helicopters, drove protesters from a key traffic square here Wednesday, then blocked wounded people from reaching hospitals, in a brazen crackdown aimed at ending a month of pro-democracy protests.

At least three people were killed and scores were injured. Two members of the police force also were reported killed. The government declared a 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew.

It took troops no more than half an hour to clear Pearl Square of hundreds of protesters who'd been entrenched there since protests began in February.

First, the Apache helicopters came - six of them - at around 6:30 a.m., circling low over the square where protesters had spent the night in anticipation of an attack. Troops also took up positions on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.

The helicopters fired tear gas at the protesters - men, women and children - many of whom were sleeping in their tents.

Then they fired live ammunition into the crowd, witnesses said.

Shortly afterward, hundreds of riot police backed by army troops in tanks and machine-gun-mounted vehicles swarmed the small roundabout in the center of the capital. Most protesters retreated, though some threw stones at the heavily armed troops.

Those who tried to resist were pushed to the ground and beaten.

UK Tells Citizens to Flee Bahrain

Capital Flight Threatens Bahrain

US Funds Used in Crackdown?

Saudi Shiite Protest in Support of Bahrain Protesters

Tanks on the Streets

Originally posted by mecheng
reply to post by stephinrazin

 

The silence from the US is deafening. Obama? Where are you?

edit on 16-3-2011 by mecheng because: (no reason given)

If Iran was doing this..the clowns in DC and their MSM lackeys would be feigning moral outrage.

There will be no Bahrain "Neda"..

I hope someone supplies those brave freedom fighters with weapons to defend themselves..

Bahrain Detains 7 Opposition Leaders

bahrain's Sunni monarchy detained at least seven prominent opposition activists Thursday, and Iran recalled its ambassador to protest the Gulf troops backing the government against the Shiite protests that forced martial law-style rule in the island nation.

Bahrain Pulls a Qaddafi

New York Times colleague Michael Slackman was caught by Bahrain security forces a few weeks ago. He said that they pointed shotguns at him and that he was afraid they were about to shoot when he pulled out his passport and shouted that he was an American journalist. Then, he says, the mood changed abruptly and the leader of the group came over and took Mr. Slackman’s hand, saying warmly: “Don’t worry! We love Americans!”

“We’re not after you. We’re after Shia,” the policeman added. Mr. Slackman recalls: “It sounded like they were hunting rats.”

Penta gon Arms Used in Crackdowns Across the Middle East

According to data from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the branch of the government that coordinates sales and transfers of military equipment to allies, the U.S. has sent Bahrain dozens of “excess” American tanks, armored personnel carriers, and helicopter gunships. The U.S. has also given the Bahrain Defense Force thousands of .38 caliber pistols and millions of rounds of ammunition, from large-caliber cannon shells to bullets for handguns. To take one example, the U.S. supplied Bahrain with enough .50 caliber rounds --- used in sniper rifles and machine guns -- to kill every Bahraini in the kingdom four times over. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency did not respond to repeated requests for information and clarification.

Bahrain Cannot Be Subdued Forever

The majority of Bahrain's population cannot be kept marginalised for ever, and the sooner change gets under way the better it will be for everyone. Instead, the regime is being pushed into an intransigent stance which, in the longer term, may well seal its fate.

Bahrain Hospitals Under Siege

Bahrain's two main hospitals remain surrounded by masked soldiers despite demands from America that the kingdom must ease its violent crackdown on demonstrators and the medical workers treating them.

Bahraini Dissident Dies in Police Custody

"We were recently informed of the death of Abdulrusul Hassan Ali Hajair from Buri village after he was abducted by security forces and the army from Wafiq market on March 18," the Wefaq statement said. "His family was just told to pick up his body from the Salmaniya hospital."

Dissident Blogger Forced into Hiding

The security police came to Ali's Abdulehman's home in a Shia village not far from Pearl Roundabout.
Hearing of the arrests, he had left a few minutes earlier and has gone into hiding.

As the crackdown continues against pro-democracy activists, Jenan(wife of Ali) is now too fearful to speak to me on the phone. She is is worried that it is being monitored by the security services. But nonetheless she wants her husband's story to be told.

Bahrain Opposition Concedes Some Demands

Wednesday's crackdown on weeks of protests by mostly Shi'ite Muslim demonstrators has set back dialogue efforts, forcing opposition leaders to focus on overcoming the gamut of new obstacles brought on by the imposition of martial law.

Bahraini Official Closes Down to Foreign Press

Video Recording Not Recommended in Bahrain(Pay Close Attention Around 2:00)


Pearl Roundabout Demolished

This is exactly the type of activity by the Saudis that will cause Iran to launch an attack against them. This whole situation in the Middle East and N. Africa is going to ramp up vey quickly.

The crackdown has been very successful.
Bahrain rulers unleash 'campaign of intimidation

With all eyes focused on the conflict in Libya, the authorities in Bahrain are waging a campaign of fear and intimidation in the tiny Gulf kingdom, aimed at silencing opponents who aid the foreign media.

Not only protesters are being quelled, but also all public opposing viewpoints.
Bahrain telecoms company founded by opposition leader has license withdrawn

Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said it had withdrawn all licenses of 2 Connect effective March 27 in a statement late on Monday. The telecoms watchdog did not give a reason for its decision.

Bahrain's commercial registry lists Ibrahim Sharif, head of opposition party Waad, as a founder and director of the firm.

Security forces continue their reign of terror. They still surround hospitals, man roadblocks, and execute nightly raids on suspected protesters.


Pictures of a Protest Today

This poor man was murdered at a check point while going to the store.


Even amongst the terror protests continue. That is until they are forced back security forces.


While terror reigns in the streets the powerful continue on unconcerned.
HE Minister receives acting US Ambassador and Fifth Fleet Commander

Ms Williams(US Ambassador) affirmed the need for Bahrain to maintain security and stability owing to the Kingdom’s importance in the stability of the region

Wow. Libya is attacked. Bahrain receives support. The definition of hypocrisy.

Mods this is pretty clearly a Middle East issue. The protest in a Middle East nation. That nation is a microcosm for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern nations. The issue ties to greater demographic issues among Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the Middle East. It relates to waves of protests across the Middle Eastern region. Yes, it unrest, but it is integrally linked to the specific Middle Eastern region. I guess it does not matter much where you put it, but I am kind of wondering why it was moved.


A letter for the people of Bahrain to the US Government

Dear Mr. President and Honorable Representatives of the United States Congress,

We, the people of Bahrain, are in deep pain and have great concern for our situation.

We are attempting to deliver our voices.

We have long supported you, and have appreciated the help that you have given our nation in the past.

However, now, in this time of great crisis, it grieves us to realize that you have abandoned the Bahraini people.

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and the royal family are acting violently against unarmed and peaceful demonstrators in an unprecedented way.

Bahrain's government has mercenaries and thugs attacking and killing civilians in the streets and destroying people’s property.

At first, they exploited the Sunni and Shia issue. Now they are using violent thugs. They are everywhere. The situation is especially dangerous when they discover that a person is Shia.

The Bahraini security forces and Saudi army are attacking unarmed people with armed helicopters and tanks.

They are killing and injuring people. They have used nerve gas and live bullets to disperse demonstrators.

Bahraini forces and the Saudi army have seized villages and are attacking people in the streets. There are arbitrary arrests, killings, kidnappings, and beatings of protesters. More than 20 people are dead, 63 are missing, and unknown numbers have been arrested.

This campaign of violence has injured thousands, many of whom are critical and will die for lack of medical care.

Security forces have even attacked and taken over hospitals and medical centers in order to prevent wounded demonstrators from receiving needed medical attention. They have also beaten medical personnel.

The army is moving patients to unknown destinations, and seizing and deleting patient medical records. They have warned doctors and nurses to refuse admission to the wounded and to conceal what they have witnessed.

We are calling on the world and human rights organizations to PLEASE SAVE US FROM ANNIHILATION.

We put out a distress call to all the countries of the world: Our weapons are only roses and the Bahraini flag. We are up against foreign troops and GCC armies with real weapons.

Where is everyone? Won’t you help us? Will you just watch us die? Where are the democracies of the world?

These are crimes against humanity. We beseech you to protect the peaceful citizens of Bahrain.

We also request a commission to discover the facts of this campaign of violence and killing committed by Bahraini authorities against unarmed citizens.

We beg you. Help us.

Sincerely,

The People of Bahrain

The protests have begun on a large scale again. After Saudi intervention in Bahrain the protests had been quelled. They are returning.


Police have been drive by shooting protesters.
WARNING GRAPHIC