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| U.S. resuming some weapons sales to Bahrain |
| 2012-05-14 |
| The United States is loosening some of its restrictions on weapons sales to Bahrain, a Persian Gulf ally that has grappled with massive protests pushing for greater democracy. But the U.S. move has upset rights activists, who say the country is still attacking and abusing dissidents. The U.S. froze its weapons sales to Bahrain in October over human rights concerns. [State Department spokeswoman Victoria]Nuland said the U.S. was still withholding antitank missiles and Humvees, along with “certain additional items for the Bahrain Defense Force,” stressing that the newly released items “are not used for crowd control." The Bahraini crown prince met with U.S. officials this week. Nuland did not specify what would be sold to Bahrain, but Bloomberg News reported that the equipment includes air-to-air missiles and ammunition. The unrest has left the United States open to accusations that although it has championed other "Arab Spring" uprisings, it has been less aggressive in backing calls for change in Bahrain, a strategic ally. The nonprofit Human Rights First slammed Friday's announcement. Nuland insisted the U.S. was concerned about excessive force by police. “We urge all sides to work together to end the violence and refrain from incitement of any kind, including attacks on peaceful protesters or on the Bahraini police,” she said. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #2 More ... * DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAN PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS [proposed] MERGER OF SAUDI ARABIA, BAHRAIN, Aarguing that sucha move will only extend the Bahraini Crisis into Saudi Arabia proper, + hence foster more Regional unrest + instability. * IRNA > MAJLIS SPEAKER: BAHRAIN NOT A BITE TO BE EASILY SWALLOWED. * SAME > IRAN MPS CONDEMN UNIFICATION OF BAHRAIN, SAUDI ARABIA. * CHINA DAILY FORUM > SAUDI MERGER WID BAHRAIN SIMILAR TO HITLER'S [Austro-German]"ANSCHLUSS": KEVIN BARRETT. ARTIC > BARRETT = unlike pre-WW2. where the majority of Austrians supported their country's quasi-union wid Hitler's Nazi Germany, THE SAUDIS MAY NOT ENJOY ANY MASS POPULAR SUPPORT FROM ORDINARY BAHRAINIS, SUNNI OR SHIA, TO INCLUD MANY IN BAHRAIN'S GOVT + ARMY-POLICE??? versus * OTOH DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAN [Navy]TO EXPAND OPERATIONAL ZONE IN [Northern]INDIAN OCEAN. * DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > COMPLEX US AIR-SEA BATTLE STRATEGY KEEPS EYE ON IRAN [ + SSSHHHH China], espec as per Scenarios where Iran closes of international access to the Persian Gulf. Taken collectively, IMO the US Navy-DOD is well-aware that Iran would like to control or dominate both or all sides of the Persian Gulf, + isolate or restrict any US-led, anti-NucProg invasion force to the Sea of Oman + beyond where Iran can better employ its LR Air + Missle firepower, Submarines, etc. agz same + keep the US = US-NATO/Allies out of southern Iran. * NEWS KERALA > JAILED ISLAMIST PAK ARMY OFFICER CALLS FOR CUTTING ANTI-TERROR ALLIANCE WID US. As per IRAN, it means PAKISTAN'S NUKES-WMDS may be used as part of its defense agz US-led ground invasion. PAKI OR NORTH KOREAN OR OTHER NUCBOMB, ALL IRAN NEEDS IS ONE OR MORE LOW-YIELD NUCBOMBS TO DETONATE INSIDE A US MIL BEACHJEAD ANDOR AIRHEAD CAUSING MASS US, ETAL. MIL CASUALTIES. It only needs a few or handful of Nukes-WDMS that are used well agz US Milfors. The nervousy twitchy, blame-happy, "Bring the Boyz home now or else" US Congress + Activists-Politicos, MSM, etc. will do the rest for Iran. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-05-14 23:21 |
| #1 See also DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > MOROCCO + JORDAN INVITED TO JOIN GCC. versus * WORLD NEWS > DRAWING MAY BE PROOF IRAN HAS NUCLEAR TEST CAPABILITIES. North Korea's Bomb??? * SAME > IRAN, OMAN LEADERS TO DISCUSS DEFENSE COOPERATION. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-05-14 03:24 |