Bahrain Protesters Smash Windows at U.S. Embassy

Yahoo News ^ | 4/5/02 | Abbas Salman

[Libloather]

Bahrain Protesters Smash Windows at U.S. Embassy
Fri Apr 5,12:02 PM ET
By Abbas Salman

MANAMA (Reuters) - Thousands of demonstrators attacked the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain Friday, some breaking into the compound and smashing windows in the main building to protest against Israeli raids on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Witnesses said hundreds of riot police clashed with the protesters, firing teargas and rubber bullets in a vain effort to keep them out of the smoke-filled compound.

The demonstration was one of the biggest political gatherings for some years in the conservative Gulf Arab state, which is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Demonstrators hurled stones and petrol bombs at the main embassy building, some putting up a Palestinian flag while others yelled "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Some protesters set fire to U.S. flags.

Riot police dispersed the protesters after about one hour and fired repeated volleys of teargas to prevent them from regrouping while helicopters flew overhead.

A political activist said about 80 people were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries from rubber bullets or teargas, but a hospital doctor later told Reuters none of the injuries was serious.

Some demonstrators attacked a nearby McDonald's restaurant as a symbol of the U.S. presence in the small island state, smashing its windows.

In neighboring Saudi Arabia, some 2,000 people defied a ban on demonstrations to show their support for the Palestinians outside the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Dhahran, residents said.

Police surrounded a march by some 2,500 pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside the nearby town of al-Qatif, but there were no reports of violence. The town is in a region that is home to Saudi Arabia's minority Shi'ite Muslims and the scene of sporadic unrest in the past.

Several peaceful rallies have been held in neighboring Gulf Arab states since Israel launched a new offensive in the West Bank following a spate of Palestinian suicide bombings.

Conservative Gulf Arab states have found themselves walking a tightrope as public anger mounts against their key ally, the United States, for what ordinary people see as its pro-Israeli bias.

Bahrain was engulfed in controversy a few days ago, when the U.S. ambassador asked a school gathering to observe a minute of silence for Israelis killed by Palestinians after a student asked the group to pay tribute to Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks.

A leading Bahraini newspaper demanded a public apology from the envoy for "insulting" Bahrainis.

[Libloather]

A leading Bahraini newspaper demanded a public apology...

Call *Crinton. *He's good at it...

[Howlin]

This is getting out of hand, IMO.

[10mm]

Aren't our embassies guarded by the US Marines? Start filling the courtyards with Muslim corpses! Attacks on our embassies are attacks on US soil. Acts of war.

[Libloather]

My boss has an expression: what a dumb f--k.

I sure hope your boss doesn't say that TO you! I smell lawsuit...

[BrooklynGOP]

Bahrain was engulfed in controversy a few days ago, when the U.S. ambassador asked a school gathering to observe a minute of silence for Israelis killed by Palestinians after a student asked the group to pay tribute to Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks.***

My boss has an expression: what a dumb f--k.

You are such a racist. Are you saying that arabs in Bahrain are not capable of mourning the lost lives of innocent Israelis? While Israelis are capable of giving a kidney transplant to a Palestinian woman few days ago?

[Steve0113]

Attacks on our embassies are attacks on US soil. Acts of war.

That's my understanding, too. If their police can't protect the embassies, then they need to get their military involved. Embassy integrity is not optional.

[Kermit]

"Bahrain was engulfed in controversy a few days ago, when the U.S. ambassador asked a school gathering to observe a minute of silence for Israelis killed by Palestinians after a student asked the group to pay tribute to Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks."

This Ambassador deserves a medal!! And the Arab propagandists are dislocating their arms patting themselves on the back for supporting the Saudi "Peace" proposal. Just asking for some sympathy for the dead sets these 2 year olds into a frenzy.

[LarryLied]

This is very bad news. Yesterday the Bahrain Gulf News was very anti-USA. Our Naval base was reportedly targeted by Al Qaeda. Bahrain has a very important C-5 Galaxy base. When we want to move big stuff and move it fast, there isn't much else in the area which can take a C-5.

[Kermit]

Ambassador Ronald  E. Neumann

Ronald E. Neumann currently serves as  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the State of  Bahrain. 

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, he most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 1997 to 2000 and was Ambassador to Algeria from 1994 to 1997. From 1991 to 1994, Neumann served as the Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.  He has completed a variety of other assignments both in Washington, D.C., and overseas and has received several awards for his service.  He earned both an undergraduate and Master's degree from the University of California at Riverside.

[One4Indictment]

Wow!! What timing. I just received an employment offer from Lockheed to go to Bahrain to work on an F-16 modification. I sure hope this doesn't delay things for me.

[LarryLied]

A relative flies into Bahrain all the time. He's never mentioned any problems. That is why I posted the Gulf News article last night (they called for a boycott of US good and had an article about kids protesting America). Not typical behavior for Bahrain.

[gura]

Riot police dispersed the protesters after about one hour and fired repeated volleys of teargas to prevent them from regrouping while helicopters flew overhead.

Maybe we could get the IDF to defend our embassies? :-)

[stiga bey]

Nope, U.S. embassies are not American soil. That's a centuries-old myth that hasn't ever been true since the U.S. has existed. The soil is the territory of the host nation, and the buildings often aren't even the property of the U.S., but rather are rented. The concept of personal diplomatic immunity long ago replaced the "soil" principle.

Marines don't start shooting until American diplomats are directly threatened or when the embassy "hard line" is breached, i.e., when classified information is in danger of being compromised.

[SalukiLawyer]

I did my Gulf War "tour" in Manama as a Navy JAG. I remember a very westernized little country with a decent nightlife. Saudis came across the causeway to party, and every hotel had a band, many of them featuring girls in decidely un-Islamic dress! I have to say I'm surprised at the rioting, but there is increasingly little reason to be surprised at anything in that part of the world these days. Amazing how short some peoples' memories are.

[rnrb]

ping to a fellow Saluki!

[SalukiLawyer]

hey, now at least college basketball fans know what a Saluki is :-)

[LarryLied]

I remember a very westernized little country with a decent nightlife.

Yes, this is surprising. Hope we don't see another Iran.

[LarryLied]

Post a thread about the problems in Bahrain last night and it died. As this one is dying. No surprise huh? There are much more important issues in the mideast than American interests and American lives.

[weikel]

Its probably a minority....