Bahrain Emerging as Washington’s Next Middle East Crisis

Ted Galen Carpenter The Obama administration, already preoccupied with the unpleasant developments in Syria and Egypt, may soon be facing a new crisis in the small Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain.  If violence in that country continues to grow, it will have a more immediate and significant impact on Washington’s role in the region.  Bahrain is the home port for the U.S. fifth fleet, and is, therefore, the linchpin of the U.S. naval presence in that part of the world and a crucial component of Washington’s power-projection capabilities.  It would not be easy to replace that facility—and impossible to do so quickly.  Consequently, U.S. policy makers have been more than just interested spectators to events in Bahrain. There is little doubt that Bahrain’s political environment is increasingly volatile.  The country is on the front lines of the Sunni-Shiite struggle for dominance in the Middle East.  The Sunni monarchy of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa rules a population that is nearly 70 percent Shiite, and stark discrimination against the latter is evident in nearly every aspect of life.  Tehran openly backs Shiite factions in Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia is the king’s primary patron.  When massive anti-regime demonstrations erupted in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, in early 2011, government security forces responded harshly, including with volleys of live ammunition, killing several dozen demonstrators.  Despite that crackdown,...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs