by B. R. GOWANI
what is to be observed in suppressing a rebellion
or removing an elected leader
or committing a crime
or diverting people’s attention?
…
time! time! & time!
one example:
on August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait
the US shouted “foul” as loud as it could
and as usual, it ignored the Palestinians’ plight
and Israeli oppression
through bribes and coercion
it forced the world to join in its war against Iraq
four days later, in Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto was removed from power
nobody noticed amidst the US noises on Iraq
Bahrainis want democracy
the King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa
being one of the “modearate” rulers
wants to introduce reforms in moderation
which may take decades
people began protests
Khalifa tried to crush
without much success
Saudi Arabia’s princely gang
after seeing people power, in
Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere in Mid East
was worried to the core
then it happened right next door
in the kingdom of Bahrain
protests alone is not the problem
factors, there are many
Shia Muslims make up 70% of the population
but Bahrain’s ruling class is Sunni Muslim
Saudis follow extremist version of Sunnism
then again, Shias are economically not in good shape
like their counterparts in Saudi Arabia
meanwhile
earthquake, Tsunami, nuclear reactor explosions
diverted world’s attention towards Japan’s tragedy
the protests in Bahrain refused to die
so the Saudi tyrants sent their armed forces
to support the Bahraini tyrants
the late revolutionary poet Habib Jalib once wrote:
in every age we were gheraoed
then one day we encircled them
and every tyrant shouted his rage*
Obama administration must be thanking its stars
as it won’t have to face too many reporters
who are busy performing heroic acts in Japan
so everybody is happy
its a win win situation
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmial.com
*(Translation is by Tariq Ali.)