Secretary of State Clinton on Bahrain:
Well, we call for calm and restraint on all sides in Bahrain. We’re particularly concerned about increasing reports of provocative acts and sectarian violence by all groups. The use of force and violence from any source will only worsen the situation and create a much more difficult environment in which to arrive at a political solution.
So our advice to all sides is that they must take steps now to negotiate toward a political resolution. The security issues are obviously important because there has to be an environment of stability and security in order for these talks to proceed. But it is important that everyone abide by that.
This echoes Clinton's comments during the early stages of the protests in Egypt, warning against violence on both sides.
"We support the fundamental right of expression and assembly for all people, and we urge that all parties exercise restraint and refrain from violence," she said. "But our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people.''
The Obama administration eventually offered something like clear rhetorical support for the democrats in Egypts, but that, we now can be sure, didn't signal a change in overall policy toward the region. In her comments on Bahrain, Clinton draws no moral distinction between the actions of the monarchy and those of the protestors. Her warning should, of course, be directed at the regime, which, with the help of Saudi forces, is trying to quash the protests.
At least six people have been killed, and now the monarchy, which yesterday established martial law, has imposed a curfew.
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.
A 12-hour curfew came into force at 4pm in areas of the city including the Pearl Roundabout, the Bahrain Financial Harbour, and several other buildings which have recently been targets of protests.
By then, most of the area had been cleared after troops backed by tanks and helicopters stormed the site - the focal point of weeks-long anti-government protests in the tiny kingdom - early on Wednesday, an Al Jazeera correspondent said.
Multiple explosions were heard and smoke was seen billowing over central Manama.
Hospital sources said three protesters had been killed and hundreds of others injured in the offensive, the Reuters news agency reported. Three policemen were also reported dead.
The Saudi troops moved in one day after Robert Gates left Bahrain, where he'd lent his support to the monarchy. As usual, the United States will support democracy and human rights so long as they don't interfere with "more important" geo-strategic interests. In this case, Bahrain hosts the Navy's Fifth Fleet, and a democracy would give power to the Shiite majority, which would be friendly to Iran. It's a proxy battle, and the human rights of the people in Bahrain are expendable.
There is, in other words, no significant change in American policy toward the Middle East. Last week, the New York Times reported that the Obama administration is continuing to pursue a "pragmatic approach."
He has concluded that his administration must shape its response country by country, aides say, recognizing a stark reality that American national security interests weigh as heavily as idealistic impulses. That explains why Mr. Obama has dialed down the vocal support he gave demonstrators in Cairo to a more modulated call for peaceful protest and respect for universal rights elsewhere.
As if the policy of propping up widely hated, brutal regimes were good for American national security, as if there were a contradiction between supporting human rights and protecting the country, as if ceding the pro-democracy position to Iran checked Iranian influence.
The world is changing, but American policy is staying the same.