16 year old Ali AlSatrawi was run over tonight by Bahrain security forces and died at the scene. This comes after several videos emerged of attempts by riot police to run over protesters.

Legitimacy of Saudi Regime Challenged, National Press Club Membership Suspended
November 18, 2011 – by Sam Husseini – The Washington Stakeout

On Monday I went to a news conference at the National Press Club, where I am a member, titled “His Royal Highness Prince Turki al-Faisal al-Sa’ud of Saudi Arabia.” I asked a tough question at the news conference — a question that dealt with the very legitimacy of the Saudi regime. Before the end of the day, I’d received a letter informing me that I was suspended from the National Press Club “due to your conduct at a news conference.” The letter, signed by the executive director of the Club, William McCarren, accused me of violating rules prohibiting “boisterous and unseemly conduct or language.” After several days of efforts, I’ve been able to obtain video of the news conference. The video shows that I did not engage in any “boisterous and unseemly conduct or language.”

Saudi Arabia has basically been a center of counter-revolution in Arabic countries. The Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, as did the Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh for a time. The Saudi regime reportedly tried to prevent the Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak from stepping down. Saudi Arabia moved into Bahrain to stop a democratic uprising there. And of course it oppresses its own people, maintaining control through a combination of intimidation and in effect buying off much of the population. When major protests were attempted earlier this year, they were quickly put down and garnished little attention from most media. The Saudi regime arguably represents one of the narrowest of elites — it is not the 1%, it is perhaps the global 0.001% — and with hardly a pretense of merit. The Saudi regime continues to get weapons from the U.S. — see: “U.S. announces $60 billion arms sale for Saudi Arabia,” further preventing the possibility of peaceful change.

Prior to the event, I skimmed some material from Human Rights Watch on Saudi Arabia: “Saudi Arabia: Stop Arbitrary Arrests of Shia,” “Saudi Arabia: Free Islamic Scholar Who Criticized Ministry,” “Saudi Arabia: Women to Vote, Join Shura Council — But Reforms Exclude Other Forms of Discrimination.”

Toby Jones (Rutgers University, author of Desert Kingdom: How Oil and Water Forged Modern Saudi Arabia) recently wrote of Saudi Arabia: “the absence of public protest has little to do with the legitimacy of the ruling family, the uncertain popularity of an aged autocrat or the purported conservative nature of Saudi society. Many Saudis, whether pious or not, harbor deep frustrations with the country’s rulers. They share the same grievances about injustice, oppression and stifling corruption that have mobilized protesters elsewhere.” See also Madawi Al Rasheed “Yes, It Could Happen Here: Why Saudi Arabia is Ripe for Revolution” and Christopher M. Davidson “Lords of the Realm: The wealthy, unaccountable monarchs of the Persian Gulf have long thought themselves exempt from Middle East turmoil. No longer.”

In the course of his over 30 minutes of remarks, Turki took issue with the term the “Arab Spring” — not because he thought a term like “Arab Uprisings” would be more appropriate, as others I know have argued — rather, he said, he preferred the term “Arab Troubles.” I found it quite distressing that someone would openly say that moves toward democracy were “troubles.”

Peter Hickman, the moderator for the event, called on me for the first question. Here is the exchange:

…source and transcription HERE

Needed: New Approach to Iran
By Manpreet Sethi – November 16, 2011 – The Diplomat

With the international community (i.e. the United States) continuing to challenge Iran’s nuclear program, a predictable pattern has emerged. Every now and again, an “authoritative” estimate surfaces declaring that Iran is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. A round of condemnation follows. Stringent sanctions are sought. China studiously reviews the report. Russia repeats that diplomacy is the only answer to the issue. A few months later, the dust settles down. Business as usual commences. Until another report comes along, that is. Seem repetitive?

The truth of the matter is that no one outside the Iranian leadership has any definitive answer to the question of whether Iran is working on nuclear weapons. Most guesstimates are based on intelligence received from the United States, and sometimes Israel, both of whom hold a less than objective view of the current political regime in Iran.

This isn’t to justify what Iran could be doing, or to condone its obstructionist behavior. However, the solution to the problem posed by Iran’s alleged weapons program doesn’t lie in what has been attempted in the past. Sanctions have had little impact. Indeed, they have strengthened the resolve of the leadership and, more importantly, demonstrated deep fissures among the countries implementing sanctions. Until Russia and China fully implement any agreed upon sanctions, they will never be fully effective.

An answer to the Iranian nuclear issue can be found in following a multi-pronged approach. Most of the burden for this will have to be borne by the United States.

This should include:

1) Engaging directly with the political leadership of Iran.

2) Arriving at an understanding of a common approach with Russia and China. U.S.-Russia and U.S.-China bilateral relations have an obvious bearing on this issue.

3) Limiting the use of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its reporting mechanisms to score points in the media. Also, allow the IAEA to mature into a credible institution that can have the trust of the programs being safeguarded.

4) Forge an international consensus to reinforce safeguards and verification mechanisms.

5) End the rhetoric of threatening military force against the Iranian nuclear program. This is unfeasible and undesirable and can only end up driving a deep wedge in inter-state relations.

6) Enhance the attractiveness of non-proliferation. This can be achieved by creating specific advantages for non-nuclear weapon states in the form of legally binding U.N. approved assurances to never use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against them. Delegitimizing their use or threat of use through a U.N. convention or treaty.

Steps such as these will be necessary to deal with the proliferation concerns posed by Iran’s nuclear program. Directly and indirectly, they could make a difference, and are certainly worthy of being tried at a time when most other options appear to be exhausted, and indeed, have become very exhausting. …source

[cb editor: The report below provides a scenario of a US war on Syria with the NATO proxy of Turkey taking the lead. Possibly, but it seems a more plausible scenario to contain Lebanon (well underway) and destabilize Syria to the point of civil war, knocking it back on it heels. All in an effort to check Syria and Lebanon’s capacity to be an effectual part of a military counter to a US-Israeli attack on Iran. …maybe not and conjecture is meaningless, especially as rumors and plots and counter plots emerge throughout… ]

US plot to wage Syria war revealed
Voltaire Network – 18 November 2011

Informed sources in Syria say they have discovered a pre-fabricated US scenario for the country’s future, seeking to wage war against the nation from various fronts, Press TV reports.

The sources said the US strategy includes attacks on Syrian diplomatic missions abroad. According to the American scenario, the Syrian opposition abroad would engage in taking over the country’s diplomatic missions and use them as bases for directing and carrying out terrorist activities within the country.

The US plan is set to refer Syria to UN’s human rights commission and the General Assembly on November 23 as well as the the International Criminal Court in an effort to formally declare the Damascus government as a “war criminal,” sources say.

The American scenario also provides a role for Turkey in a NATO defense ministers’ meeting, in which Ankara would be commissioned to move its forces across the Syrian border in an effort to establish a buffer zone inside Syria and facilitate the supply of weaponry and arms to the so-called ’contra forces’ inside the country and trigger insurgency activities and potentially a civil war across the nation.

Wahhabi insurgents based in the Syrian city of Tripoli would then launch attacks on the border villages of the country.

Moreover, the Syrian sources said, the US scheme provides that the Israeli regime, along with Jordan, would also declare their readiness to engage in military operations against Damascus.

The latest discovery comes as the Arab League (AL) announced the suspension of Syria during an emergency session in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Saturday and called for the imposition of sanctions against Syria.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has described the AL decision as “illegitimate and dangerous.”

The Arab League has also proposed to dispatch an observer mission of 30-50 members to Syria in a supposed effort to end unrest in the country.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations held both in favor of and against President Bashar al-Assad.

Millions of Syrians took to the streets in several cities across the country on Sunday to condemn the Arab League decision and its siding with US-led anti-Syria measures. Demonstrators also expressed their support for the government of President Assad. …source

Authorities raid blogger’s house, detain him for over 24 hours
10 November, 2011 – BCHR/IFEX

(BCHR/IFEX) – 9 November 2011 – The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) expresses its deep concern over the arrest and detention of poet, media professional and blogger Jaafar AlAlawy, 27, a move that reflects the authorities’ continuing campaign targeting media professionals and the country’s non-compliance with international treaties which it signed to respect freedoms, especially freedom of expression.

According to information received by BCHR, AlAlawy’s house in the village of Buri was cordoned off by security forces on the morning of 8 November, after a number of children sought by security forces took refuge in the house. Security forces raided the house and summoned AlAlawy for questioning at the police station at the first roundabout in Hamad Town. He later called his family from the Qalaah detention center at the Ministry of the Interior’s headquarters in Manama to tell them that he was being detained pending investigation.

AlAlawy worked for the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation under the Information Affairs Authority of Bahrain before being dismissed from his job in a recent wave of unfair dismissals targeting thousands of workers whose political and religious affiliations have been called into question by authorities. He is a cultural journalist and editor who worked for a number of local newspapers, is a published, non-political poet, a leader of the Ministry of Culture’s youth cultural program “Taa AlShabab”, and a blogger. He also tweets under the handle @jaffaralalawy, where he often publishes lines from his poems as well as personal thoughts.

AlAlawy was released on the evening of 9 November, after spending over 24 hours in detention. It is still unclear why he was held or whether there will be official charges or compensation for the damage caused to him. …source

Bahrain’s February 14 Coalition Calls for Mass Protest Amid “Revolutionary Resolution Steps”
Local Editor – November 17, 2011 – moqawama.org

Bahraini opposition’s February 14 coalition called upon the Bahraini people to take part in the mass popular protest on Friday, which will be held under the motto “Revolutionary Resolution Steps”.

In a statement issued, the coalition indicated, “In the coalition, and through this protest, we would like to deliver a clear and transparent message to the inside and outside of Bahrain, that our revolution is progressing, and the capacities of the revolutionary youth have become high and organized”.

“This demonstration will pave the way for organizing a march towards the Bahrain International Center for the Opposition on Tuesday November 22”, the statement noted.
The statement added, “The “Revolutionary Resolution Steps” will take place on a fast rate, and the situation will not remain like this for long”.

“The Divine Victory is coming”, it further read.

Moreover, the statement confirmed the opposition coalition’s trust in the people who have sacrificed their lives and resisted. The coalition also praised those who have been martyred, wounded and detained, in good faith loyalty to their religion, country, and dignity. …more

Hizbullah Denies Accusations of Bahraini MPs, Says They’re Groundless
Local Editor – November 16, 2011 – moqawama.org

Commenting on accusations of Bahraini MPs, claiming a relation between Hizbullah and an alleged military cell, Hizbullah issued the following statement:

First, it is not known yet whether the people seized by the Bahraini authorities constitute a military cell or have military goals as claimed. This whole issue could be a fabrication of the al-Khalifa ruling regime in Bahrain.

Second, the accusations against Hizbullah over its relation with the alleged cell are completely untrue and groundless.

Third, the charges are a failing attempt by the al-Khalifa regime to turn a blind eye on the reality of the popular, civil, and peaceful revolution executed by the patient and oppressed Bahraini people.

This comes in light of the international community’s silence, and the Arab League’s suspicious ignorance. These accusations will not deter the Bahraini people from continuing their legitimate struggle until they achieve their noble national goals. …source

Bahraini authorities shut websites, ban on blogs
15 November, 2011 – Shia Post

Bahraini authorities have closed social pages, sites and blogs of Bahrain and considering to close the website of al-Wefaq society. This troll attack on social activities on internet is against freedom of speech and expression.

As human rights abuses persist in Bahrain, human rights defenders on the ground there are forced to take their fight for political freedom to other mediums, including Twitter. They work in the shadows, but their message is resonating around the world and drawing attention to the Bahraini government’s abuses.

The Accord confirmed that the website and blogs have been closed after closing opposition newspapers in Bahrain. “The basic and natural right of a human is expression, view and a statement of his mind,” al-Wefaq website.

Nabeel Rajab is a prominent human rights defender in Bahrain. As President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, he is an outspoken, courageous critic of the regime that has brutally cracked down on democracy protests since February.

Since mid-February, thousands of anti-government protesters have been holding regular demonstrations in Bahrain, calling for the US-backed Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded Bahrain to assist the ruling regime in its brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in the Persian Gulf Island, home to a huge military base of US Navy’s fifth fleet.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds have been arrested by the regime. ….more

US ends Bahrain sackings probe
27 October 2011 – Morning Stark uk

A group of US government investigators wrapped up a probe in Manama today into the Bahraini government’s mass sacking of trade unionists and others suspected of links to opposition protests.

The US Department of Labour launched the inquiry in response to a complaint filed by the AFL-CIO, the largest US union confederation.

The group is trying to block a free-trade deal following widespread sackings of workers and union leaders in the wake of a Saudi-backed crackdown on protesters demanding greater civil and labour rights.

The investigators’ report will be finished by December.

Bahraini people, including thousands of trade unionists and members of the minority Shi’ite community, began protests in February calling for progressive reforms, including an end to the monarchy’s monopoly on appointing top government officials.

At least 35 people have died in the military crackdown and hundreds have been purged from jobs or arrested, including some sentenced to life in prison or given death sentences for killing soldiers and police.

Bahrain’s biggest union confederation, the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, says that 2,500 people have been kicked out of their jobs.

But the Obama administration is wary of doing anything to antagonise Bahrain’s rulers, who host the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

US rights groups are currently lobbying Congress to block a proposed $53 million (£33m) arms sale to the kingdom.
…more

Egypt: The Revolution That Wasn’t
by Anna Mahjar-Barducci – November 16, 2011 – Hudson New York
“Over 12,000 Civilians in Mass Trials To Get Rid of Enemies and Intimidate People”

In a recent demonstration in Washington against Egypt’s persecution of its Copts, a demonstrator was chanting that Egyptians do not want another dictator; that since the so-called Egyptian Revolution, nothing had changed. He was holding a banner that showed the face of Egypt’s former President, Hosni Mubarak, becoming that of Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces [SCAF] and the current de facto head of Egypt.

Egyptian television is still in the grip of the regime; and cartoons that an Egyptian man turning into a donkey after having watched State-run media channels, circulate over the internet. The Emergency Laws have remained in place, and presidential elections may be pushed to 2013, or — as in the tradition of dictatorships — might not even happen at all. The one thing that did change, however, was the face of the dictator, from Mubarak to Tantawi.

The international media, imagining that popular sovereignty had replaced a dictatorship, celebrated the fall of Mubarak and welcomed Tantawi. The demonstrators of Tahrir Square, however, soon realized that their protests did not bring any revolution: in social and political institutions there were no changes at all. The SCAF now not only stronger than ever, it has become even more aggressive to prevent any further uprisings. The public radio International (PRI) reports that the army has tried “over 12,000 civilians in military courts since they took control of the country last February.” The regime is putting people on trial to get rid of enemies and to intimidate people. “‘All the lawyers we’ve spoken to have said it is a sham,’ said Shahira Abouellail, one of a group of young activists who have been working on the No-to-Military-Trials campaign. ‘It is not really a trial. You are tried by the military. Most of the time you are tried collectively so there are like 30 people there, and they all get prosecuted together, and they all get the same sentence within like five minutes to half an hour,’ she said.”

Although the Copts were the first victims of the Army’s intimidation campaign in the recent Maspero massacre –in which the Army killed 27 Christians and injured 329 — the security forces are nevertheless randomly arresting Copts and accusing them of organizing protests that destabilize the country. The Army also arrests minors and Copts who were not even present the day of the Maspero Massacre, just to get rid of Christians in the country.

In addition, the military council is expanding its authority on the drafting of Egypt’s post-revolutionary constitution. The army is trying to fight the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence, and keep draconian measures in place to protect its power. Most of all, it does not want any civilian oversight of its economic interests, from construction companies to Red Sea resorts. The author Robert Springborg, who wrote extensively on the Egyptian military, said in an interview to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s paper, El Masry Al Yawm, that he does not believe that the military would seek to hold onto power in the form of a classical coup d’état, but would rather seek to ensure that it will not be subordinated to any other power. “The delay in constituting a new system of government results probably not from a change in the military’s strategic objective of ‘ruling but not governing,’ but from the tactical difficulties of forming a civilian government that forswears any meaningful control over the military,” Springborg writes. …more

Mideast Youth
by Nelly – 16/11/2011 – Young Feminist Wire

Esra’a Al Shafei is the founder and director of MideastYouth.com, a grassroots, indigenous digital network that uses new media to help those who are fighting oppression in the Middle East and North Africa. The Young Feminist Wire spoke to Esra’a to find out more about Mideast Youth and the various international campaigns it runs to fight for the rights of ethnic, religious and intellectual minorities. The various campaigns try to bridge barriers of faith and geography with youth who are committed to fostering a constructive discourse in the Middle East.

One of the many platforms Esra’a and her team developed is called CrowdVoice.org. (You can view a demo of how it works here.) It’s a platform that amplifies voices of protest from the Middle East and around the World. It offers a new way to view, share, moderate and organize information about human rights movements and demonstrations. In part 1 of our interview with Esra’a, she explains that CrowdVoices.org aims to “engage the global community in these specific issues, [whether] it’s through protest in Bahrain, protests in Egypt and in Tunisia. When we first started it, its way before the protests ever even happened, about 8 or 9 months before that. The project only became highlighted and became very much used after the protests started happening.”

CrowdVoice was recently selected as a finalist in the Ashoka Changemakers’ Citizen Media competition. To learn more and vote for CrowdVoice.org, visit this site. …more

Terror suspects ‘forgot passports’
By Sandeep Singh Grewal and Farah Al Kubaisy – November 17, 2011

BAHRAINI suspects arrested in Qatar in connection with an alleged terrorist plot had reportedly been planning to travel to Iran and Syria, but couldn’t because they had forgotten their passports, a lawyer representing two of the men told the GDN yesterday.

Sayed Mohsen Al Alawi confirmed he had been appointed to defend two of the accused, who he identified as Ali Abbas Mubarak and Isa Shamlu.

He confirmed the three others in custody were Shaikh Ali Faisal Al Mostarshid, Emad Abdulhussain and Mohammed Sahwan.

The suspects’ names have not yet been announced by Bahraini authorities, but have been circulating widely on the Internet and on social networking sites such as Facebook.

All five have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack targets inside Bahrain with support from Iran.

Mr Al Alawi revealed he had already contacted security officials in Qatar, who told him the suspects had travelled there by car and arrived from Saudi Arabia.

They had entered Qatar using only their national identity smartcards.

The lawyer said he had been informed the men got into an argument at Doha International Airport when they learnt they could not travel by plane to Iran or Syria because they didn’t have their passports.

He said that is when the Qatari authorities became suspicious and detained them.

“They wanted to travel to Syria and Iran, but required passports and visas for entry into these countries,” he said. “But their passports were in Bahrain.”

Bahraini travellers can use their smartcards at electronic gates to travel between GCC countries, but need their passports if they plan to leave the Gulf.

Mr Al Alawi revealed he took up the case of two of the defendants after being approached by the brother of one of them.

However, he said he was yet to meet his clients.

The five men have been remanded in custody for 60 days while investigations continue.

They have been charged with forming a terror cell, obstructing government institutions from functioning, breaching public order and jeopardising Bahrain’s public security and territorial integrity.

Four were arrested in Qatar, allegedly on their way to receive training in explosives and firearms, and were handed over to Bahraini authorities on November 4, while the fifth was later arrested in Bahrain.

Qatari security authorities are said to have recovered documents and a laptop from the four containing sensitive information, as well as airline bookings to Syria.

Mr Al Alawi said Bahrain’s security services were still gathering evidence in the case. “There could be arrests of more suspects during the course of investigations,” he said. ….more