Posted on 02/14/2011 7:51:30 AM PST by SomeCallMeTim
Anti-government activists are reported to be planning to stage nationwide demonstrations against the ruling al-Khalifa family on 13 -14 February. The protests are reportedly referred to on social networking websites as ‘The 14 February Revolution in Bahrain', and organisers claim they are not associated with any pre-existing political group or movement.
The gatherings are likely to focus on government buildings in the capital Manama, such as the interior ministry in the west of the city. Other potential rally venues are Exhibition Road, the Ras Ruman mosque near the Diplomatic Area in the north of the city, the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Juffair and the Bahrain Mall area. Outside Manama, demonstrations may be held on Sitra island, as well as in the mainly Shia towns and villages of Samaheej, Sanabis, Tubli, Sar, Sitra, Maameer, Malkiya and Karzakan. While tight security is likely to contain any disturbances during the rally, there is a credible risk of scuffles between participants and the security forces which could pose incidental risks to bystanders.
The calls for the 14 February protests come in the wake of a wave of popular protests in North Africa and the Middle East, inspired by the dramatic ousting of Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on 14 January. Opposition activity has since been most significant in Egypt, with that country's president Hosni Mubarak currently facing major demonstrations and repeated calls for his immediate resignation. The organisers of the 14 February gatherings have reportedly juxtaposed the image of head of state King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa with those of Ben Ali and Mubarak on promotional web pages, illustrating how opponents of the ruling regime have been emboldened to act by recent events abroad.
It is here already, called the tea party movement.
I like the Oil Museum right next to Oil Well #1. Amazing it still has over 1000 psi after more than 70 years. At least that’s what the pressure valves said. The Tree of Life is useless otoh. Their real tree of life is the oil pump stack.
The tea party is not an islamomarxist movement.
In Saudi Arabia the Koran is the constitution. Sharia law is the legal system. Any public worship other than Islam is prohibited and women can do virtually nothing without the permission of their “guardian”.
You have a rather strange understanding of the word enlightened.
And yet the per capita income level is higher, the length of life is longer, the time kids spend in education is longer.
If you want to whine to me about Saudi Arabia, start looking at the other nations in the region and get back to me.
Sharia law isn’t practiced in other nations? Surely you jest here. Women don’t have problems in the other nations in the region?
Saudi Arabia is better than others, and deals with the West. What you would you have, Saudi Arabia worse than the others and not dealing with the West?
True, but we have had a surge in rallies because of the TP movement.
The BIG DIFFERENCE is that it is a call to return to our American principles.
I realize the problems in Saudi Arabia related to Wahhabism. It is dominant.
What I think you guys are missing, is that when it comes to per capita income, life expectancy, and a few other markers like education, Saudi Arabia is better than other nations in the region.
You seem somewhat dismissive of the fact that Saudi Arabia’s leadership hasn’t been anti-Israel or the West. This has translated to more peace in the region, a leadership that has represented our interests in regional pow-wows. When Opec met, Saudi Arabia was a moderating factor.
What happens if the Royals are tossed there, and the new leadership decides China is a better prospect for oil sales?
Bahrain is the number one oil exporter. Saudi Arabia follows close behind.
If those two nations went Muslim Brotherhood, you’d quickly find out how nice it was having the royals in charge.
I wonder if it is more Soros or China, but I’m no expert.
No, not at all. Yes, the Kingdom's official stance and military posture with respect to Israel has been acceptable. BUT, the Royal Family - which is not monolithic in its theological and political positions - has many members that support extremists groups throughout the region.
So, while Saudi doesn't present a direct threat to Israel as a nation state, there is still PLENTY of support flowing from Saudi to people and groups that would happily see Israel (and the US) come to an end.
And, while there is a current of moderation (overt & covert) in places like Bahrain, Iran, Jordan and to a lessor degree in Kuwait, that current doesn't exist at all in Saudi.
I was there many times during my five years in the Kingdom. Good place to unwind.
Look, you can wax rhapsodic over Iran all you like, the fact is that the burka is back in style, and women there are subject to Sharia law. We’ve seen how open Iran is to the style of protests Egypt just tolerated. I don’t share your optimism over Iran at all.
As for the other nations you mentioned, they are better than Saudi Arabia, but then they are the more Westward leaning nations.
Tell me why the people in Saudi Arabia live four years longer than people in Iran. Is it because repression is more prominent in Saudi Arabia.
Because citizens of The Kingdom enjoy universal health care coverage, while the laborers of Saudi - imported non-citizen workers imported from Islamic states like Indonesia - don't receive health care, and aren't included in the national surveys. They are, for want of a better word, indentured servants. This is a labor issue that is mirrored in many of the oil Monarchies throughout the region - in the Emirates, Kuwait and to a lessor degree, Bahrain.
Saudi Arabian citizens enjoy a pretty posh life, and national health & education statistics reflect it. The laborers, not so much.
I agree with your comments in that post. I still think Saudi Arabia does have a problem with the Sharia law and all, and while I do see that as oppressive, I do agree that Saudi citizens have a rather posh life.
It’s that rather posh life and the Saudi’s willingness to work with the West that caused me to state that it was rather enlightened. Compared to the West, hell no, but by Middle-Eastern standards the populace is living a cut above IMO.
As with Egypt, my take on Saudi Arabia is that change will not improve the life-styles of it’s populace. I could very well be wrong. We’ll see.
I do appreciate you voicing your alternative views on the matter.
Take care.
The Niqjab, which is the full-face hijab is much more prevalent in Saudi, than in Iran. In fact, in Saudi, if it's not the niqjab, then it's definitely the burka. Most young women in Tehran wear the hijab, not the burka and not the Niqjab.
While Sharia Law is the law of the land in both countries, women actually have more rights in Iran, than they do in Saudi. Women in Saudi literally cannot go outside without permission from their men. Women in Iran can drive, they can vote. Tehran, despite years of theocratic dominance, is MUCH closer to Istanbul, than Riyadh is.
The difference between both countries as it relates to the west, is the official policy posture of their respective governments as it relates to the US and to Israel. But, strangely enough, culturally Iran is much more western than Saudi.
No one is saying, or at least I'm not saying, that Iran is "enlightened". But, relative to Saudi Arabia, it's a more pluralistic, and more embracing of women's rights, stoning notwithstanding.
Unless you've actually been to the Kingdom, it's difficult to understand how oppressive the regime is. While I never experienced East Berlin, I imagine it was similar.
You’ve been there, so you’ve got more room to talk than I do.
I guess living a posh lifestyle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be these days.
Perhaps we should ask some of the people who aren’t living the posh lifestyle, who live under radical sharia rule, and see if they’d prefer posh or not.
I’ve lived in Bahrain and know many from Iran and those who have lived in Saudia Arabia. SA is the utter pits. Iran has problems and extremism, but if you want to compare muck to muck, Saudia is sh*te
Thank you Cronos. OldDeckHand, it looks like your view is receiving the most support.
Let me ask you both this. Knowing the wahabhist support in the kingdom, do either of you harbor any concerns at all regarding what may follow if the royals do get the boot?
BTW Cronos, were those Saudis you spoke to, or other nationals returning from?
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