The Monarch who feared Doughnuts

Bahrain: (proposed Tourist Bureau advert): A small Gulf of Arabia (or is it Persia) state home to mass firings, arrests of peaceful dissidents, destruction of Shia mosques, torture of medics, and blackmailing schoolchildren. And “No” Doughnut giving either!!!!
For the first time in its history, Bahrain has embarked on mass military trials of hundreds of civilians on fatuous charges of crimes against the state. While more than 1,000 remain in detention, the opposition estimates that 400 are going through the process of military trials and 100 have been convicted so far. The swift summary justice churned out in these tribunals are a throwback to early 20th century Stalin show trials, designed to punish and humiliate dissenters.

The Shia’s call the Sunni’s dangerous. The Sunni’s call the Shia’s dangerous. Sounds remarkably like the historic Protestant-Catholic divide – and we Christians all know who is right!

Anyway – a pragmatic view of the world. The Iranian revolution (Shia) has failed to deliver any of its promises to its people. In fact, it’s making the Shah’s regime look like the banner child for Human Rights Watch. So let’s give the people some hope.

The West is working fine with Sunni and Shia regimes around the world. Why not Iran? Let’s get the religion thing off the table and keep the focus on constitutional democracy with a separation of executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Not because it’s perfect but it’s less flawed than the despotism that plaques the Middle East.

If the USA wants a regime change in Iran support democratic reform for the Shia in Bahrain --- what a concept!!!

And realism…the world needs Iran! Iran, however, which has suffered from years of sanctions, is expected to struggle to increase oil supply and its capacity will fall below Iraq's, the IEA said. "An adverse investment climate sees Iranian crude capacity decline by 0.8 million bpd to 3.1 million bpd, falling below Iraq's capacity by 2014." As supplies rise more slowly than demand, OPEC's margin of surplus oil that can be quickly added to the market if needed is "uncomfortably thin" at around 3.3 million bpd.
Let’s not act like a doughnut soaked in coffee – i.e. flaky. Speaking of flaky how do we – the USA – think recalling Mr. Hood is a ballsy move? To catch you all up:

US is "recalling" Ludovic Hood, US diplomat, from Bahrain for the crime of Doughnut Giving!!!

During March, Bahraini protesters agitated for their rights in broad daylight outside the US embassy in Manama. They carried signs that said "Give me liberty or give me death" and "Stop supporting dictators". Ludovic Hood, a human rights specialist in the political section of the US embassy, offered doughnuts to the protesters - American hospitality at its finest. In response, a local cleric opined: "These sweets are a good gesture, but we hope it is translated into practical action."

What would that action look like? Three choices, I think “2” is what most Americans would agree is the right outcome:

1. US pressure on its ally, the Khalifa family-ruling the island kingdom of Bahrain to create jobs; or

2. USA & international community would use its leverage to force Bahrain's government to establish a true constitutional democracy, figurehead monarchy and create jobs for unemployed Shia citizens; or

3. Remove Khalifa.

But those protesters did not expect that, just two months later, Hood would be shipped back to the US from his post in Manama - prematurely, some say - after having been threatened on Bahraini pro-government websites.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Hood's boss, reportedly complained to Bahrain's foreign minister in May about the threats.

The Bahraini government declined to comment on Hood's departure.

US state department and Bahraini opposition members have told Al Jazeera that Hood was "just doing his job".


Preserving good relations with the government allows the Fifth Naval Fleet to remain in Bahrain as a counter-balance to Iran across the Gulf.

But I ask who does that counterbalance serve best? Yes our Fleet would have to sail to a different port but Bahrain’s ruler would have to worry about a regime change if Iran moves in. He and his family would be picking out real estate in Mayfair, London.

In short, Bahrain needs the USA far more than the USA needs Bahrain….let’s act that way.

Compromising American values for American’s is not an option. The cloud of diplomacy is an easy distraction to our moral compass – recalibrate!!!

US policy cannot be tied to a specific administration in a foreign country; it must be driven by US and Global Citizen interests (Human Rights). The US is the order state for the globe. What rights many citizens have around the world have been driven in part because of the model (however imperfect) the US and Western democracies represent to people’s around the planet who lack rule of law and a right to fair and equal representation in their government.

The Fifth Fleet provides security not only of the oil consuming nations of the world but also the producing nations of the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The Fifth Fleet carries the hope of civilization that can only be achieved by the US & the West standing behind the Truths “We Hold To Be Self Evident.”

Someday soon we made be joined by the vibrant democracies that flower from Iraq and the Arab Spring…