Double Standards Against Change in Bahrain: Interview with Maryam al-Khawaja
by Marc Botenga – Monthly Review Press

Protests against the Formula One Grand Prix held in Manama on 22 April could have reminded the world that repression in Bahrain is still ongoing. But once more the so-called international community by and large turned a blind eye: no diplomatic pressure, certainly no “crippling” international sanctions. The Grand Prix went ahead as planned. A firebomb thrown by Bahraini protesters, however, caused US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland to ask for “demonstrators’ restraint in ensuring that they are peaceful.” The contrast with Syria, where Western politicians systematically downplay violence by the Syrian opposition, and some even talk of offering military support to the Free Syrian Army, could hardly be larger.

Maryam al-Khawaja has consistently raised her voice against these double standards. At twenty-four years of age, she heads the foreign relations office of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). She has testified on human rights violations in Bahrain before the UN, the US Congress, and the European Parliament. Her sister Zainab has been arrested over and over by the Bahraini regime, once reportedly just for trying to see her father. Maryam’s father, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is an illegally-detained human rights activist who has been on hunger strike for over two months now.

Marc Botenga: You are responsible for international affairs at the BCHR. How did you get involved in activism?

Maryam Al-Khawaja: In 2010, I started volunteering and writing reports for the BCHR. We would go and document human rights violations, people being arrested and tortured and so on. We would then send these reports abroad to different NGOs, the United Nations, and several governments. This was what the regime feared most: someone documenting their violations. I was threatened. It became impossible for me to find a job inside the country just because of my name. So I started working full-time with the Center. I was in Bahrain in February 2011 when it all started. After I left to testify to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011, I was unable to return.

It is no surprise that the Bahraini government is not fond of you, but you also received threats from inside the United States. Why is that?

I am not sure, but the Bahraini government has a lot of friends in a lot of places. They have around 12 public relations companies working for them, but, despite all the money they are spending, we have still been able to bring out what is happening inside the country.

Your father started a hunger strike on 8 February. What does he hope to achieve?

Most importantly, he wants to bring international attention to the situation in Bahrain and to how human rights abuses are still happening on a daily basis. The government of Bahrain has been making a lot of empty promises about reform and change, but on the ground nothing has changed. …more

U.S. Bombings Kills Dozens of Afghan Civilians
By Bill Van Auken; 8 May 2012 – WSWS

US bombardments claimed the lives of dozens of Afghan civilians over the weekend, including women and children, prompting a formal protest from Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai Monday, warning that such actions would render the pact he signed last week with US President Barack Obama “meaningless”.

US and NATO spokesmen acknowledged Monday the accuracy of a report from Afghan officials in southern Helmand province that a US helicopter had dropped bombs on a house in the Fatih Mohammad Pech area of Sangin district, killing a mother and her five children, three girls and two boys.

Helmand’s Governor Gulab Mangel denounced the Friday night attack, which was ostensibly aimed at a suspected “hideout” for forces resisting the US-led occupation, and demanded an investigation, the Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) agency reported.

Meanwhile, in Badghis province in Afghanistan’s northwest, a US air-strike destroyed homes in the village of Nawboor, killing 15 civilians, including women and children, the district’s provincial member of parliament told the AFP news agency.

The mass civilian casualties were reportedly inflicted during a hunt by occupation forces for a Taliban commander, Mullah Abdullah Soori, who had been reported taking refuge in the village.

“The helicopters of foreign forces smashed two houses in the villages,” a resident told PAN.

Civilian casualties were also reported in bombings conducted in Logar and Kapisa provinces, east of Kabul.

“In bombardments carried out by coalition forces in Logar, Kapisa, Helmand and Badghis provinces since Saturday [May 5] dozens of our innocent fellow countrymen, including women and children, lost their lives and have been martyred,” a statement from Karzai’s office read. …more

Al Qaeda Bomb Plot Against US-Bound Jet Reportedly Foiled
by The Huffington – 7 May,2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA thwarted an ambitious plot by al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner using a bomb with a sophisticated new design around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials said Monday.

The plot involved an upgrade of the underwear bomb that failed to detonate aboard a jetliner over Detroit on Christmas 2009. This new bomb was also designed to be used in a passenger’s underwear, but this time al-Qaida developed a more refined detonation system, U.S. officials said.

The FBI is examining the latest bomb to see whether it could have passed through airport security and brought down an airplane, officials said. They said the device did not contain metal, meaning it probably could have passed through an airport metal detector. But it was not clear whether new body scanners used in many airports would have detected it.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters Monday that she had been briefed about an “undetectable” device that was “going to be on a U.S.-bound airliner.”

There were no immediate plans to change security procedures at U.S. airports.

The would-be suicide bomber, based in Yemen, had not yet picked a target or bought a plane ticket when the CIA stepped in and seized the bomb, officials said. It’s not immediately clear what happened to the alleged bomber.

White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said President Barack Obama learned about the plot in April and was assured the device posed no threat to the public.

“The president thanks all intelligence and counterterrorism professionals involved for their outstanding work and for serving with the extraordinary skill and commitment that their enormous responsibilities demand,” Hayden said.

The operation unfolded even as the White House and Department of Homeland Security assured the American public that they knew of no al-Qaida plots against the U.S. around the anniversary of bin Laden’s death. The operation was carried out over the past few weeks, officials said.

“We have no credible information that terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, are plotting attacks in the U.S. to coincide with the anniversary of bin Laden’s death,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said on April 26. …more

Unmasked: Meet The FBI’s Bridge Bomb Plot Snitch
The Smoking Gun – 7 May, 2012

The paid informant who helped orchestrate the FBI sting that resulted in the arrest of five anarchists for allegedly plotting to blow up an Ohio bridge is a convicted felon who was arrested on bad check and theft charges in the midst of his cooperation with federal investigators, The Smoking Gun has learned.

Shaquille Azir, 39, was named in a pair of felony indictments filed in January in Cuyahoga County, according to court records. Azir, who TSG has identified as the informant in the federal bombing case, is accused in the indictments of passing bad checks on July 25, 2011 and December 22, 2011.

Azir, “has been working as a source for the FBI since July 20, 2011,” according to the U.S. District Court complaint filed yesterday against the alleged bomb plotters. Wearing a body recorder, Azir captured the five self-styled anarchists plotting to use C-4 explosive to take down a Cleveland-area bridge.

Azir arranged for the purchase of the C-4 from an undercover FBI agent. He also fronted the alleged conspirators money for the buy of the material, which had been rendered inert by federal investigators. If the bombing case goes to trial, defense lawyers will certainly portray the 6’ 5”, 350-pound Azir as the plot’s instigator, a snitch who pocketed the FBI’s money to help entrap the five defendants, who range in age from 20 to 35. …more

Syrian opposition getting trained in terror tactics by KLA, for a sectarian and ethnic Bloodbath
6 May, 2012 – Jafria News

JNN 06 May 2012 Kosovo : A delegation of Syrian rebels has made a deal with Pristina authorities to exchange experience of partisan warfare. Syrian opposition is sending militants to Kosovo for adopting tactics and being trained to oust President Bashar Assad’s regime.

On April 26, a delegation of Syrian opposition members made a stop in Pristina on their way from the US to hold talks on how to make use of the experience of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Syria, reports Associated Press.

So far, a poorly-organized Syrian opposition has proven unable to self-organize and form a steady front against the forces of President Assad. Terror tactics used by militants allow them to kill military and governmental officials, but do not help to hold positions against a regular army.

“We come here to learn. Kosovo has walked this path and has an experience that would be very useful for us,” says the head of the Syrian delegation Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian-born human rights activist and dissident. “In particular, we’d like to know how scattered armed groups were finally organized into KLA.”

Syrian opposition leaders have promised to immediately recognize Kosovo once they seize power in the country.

“We’re in vital need of joint actions as a coalition opposition,” stressed Ammar Abdulhamid, a long-time opponent of the Syria’s President Bashar Assad. In 2005, he left Syria to settle in the US. It should also be noted here all the rebellions , whether it is Amr Mousa in Egypt, or Col. Haftar trained by CIA, or now the Ammar abdul Hamid , they all are being coming from the US and West , to lead the revolution or the rebellion, it looks US Intelligence agencies always keep a ‘B’ Team for every country from the Opposition group , so in the Hour of need they operate , so their Interest , should not be harmed in the Particular Country.

The training camp on the Albanian-Kosovo border that has welcomed Syrian attendees was originally organized by the US to help the KLA train its fighters.

The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was considered a terrorist organization by the US, the UK and France for years until, in 1998, it was taken off the list of terrorists with no explanation given. The KLA used to have up to 10 per cent of underage fighters in its ranks. So the same is the case with the Taliban and its allied groups , that they are on the Terrorist list of US and West , and now gradually and slowly its Commanders are being , taken out of the Terrorist List under the disguise of Moderate Talibans. As it confirms that first the Terror Groups were formed , so they can invade the said country on the pretext of terrorist activities, and then once the objectives are secured , then the Old loyal terrorist are even given refuge on one or the other Pretext , whether it is KLA or the Taliban , then they are used on the cover to establish their rule. …more

Bahrain Embassy in the United States Holds Session to Detail Reform Process
May 7, 2012, WSJ

MANAMA, Bahrain, Last week, Bahrain’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. held a workshop in conjunction with the Association of International Educators’ Embassy Dialogue Committee to report on the country’s progress with reform.

Held at the embassy, more than 100 people attended the workshop, including U.S. Department of State officials, embassy officials in Washington and university faculty.

In a speech to participants, Bahraini Ambassador to the U.S. Houda Nonoo said she understands that “outside perspectives and measured disagreement are important for an emerging democracy.”

“Bahrain values this transition and understands our path to democracy will take time. Meaningful democratic change cannot happen overnight,” she said.

Since last March, the country has taken “many steps to heal the wounds” through efforts like the National Dialogue, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and ongoing reform in security services, Ambassador Nonoo said.

“Through confronting a very difficult situation, Bahrain has become a better and more democratic nation,” she said.

In 2001, Bahrain began its reform process with a National Charter that made the country’s political system more representative.

SOURCE Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain

“These killings have provoked the ire of Sunni Muslims all across the country who believe atrocities of this nature gravely shake the very pillars of Pakistan, disrupt national unity, strengthen the enemies and drag the country into abysmal extremism beyond salvation.”

Hands behind Shia massacre in Pakistan
by Ismail Salami – 8 May 8, 2012 – Media Monitors

Death is whimsical these days, manifesting itself in shapes most repellent to man: men posing with the mangled parts of dead bodies; men urinating on dead bodies; men cutting out the eyes of their brothers and killing them in the name of religion.

A human tragedy of inconceivable magnitude is taking place in some parts of Pakistan which are being inexcusably and consciously ignored by Western media.

Only in April 2012, more than 250 Shia Muslims were maimed and killed in broad daylight. Around 150 pairs of Shias’ eyes were cut out of their sockets; many of them died while their faces had been smashed with stones or sprayed with acid. According to witnesses, who had managed to flee the scene of the crime, the Wahhabi attackers were void of any mercy; the criminals are now free and keep on partaking in their feast of blood.

All these massacres are being legitimated and orchestrated by a Wahhabi group known as Sepah Sahabeh who emerged in 1985 in the Pubjab province of Pakistan as a reaction to the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the burgeoning Shia Muslims who had gradually entered the political and economical positions in the Pakistani government. The extremist group was considerably beefed up and enlarged under support of the then Pakistani president Zia ul-Haq with the ultimate goal of establishing an independent Wahhabi state in Pakistan and eliminating the Shia minority in the country. In fact, it is widely believed that the then Pakistani president Zia ul-Haq generously contributed to the emergence and development of such extremist groups and implicitly gave them carte blanche to engage in liquidating the Shia minority. …more

Bahraini regime forces attack protesters, raid homes
IBNtv – 8 May, 2012

Bahraini regime forces have used tear gas and rubber bullets against anti-government demonstrators and raided their homes in two villages.

Police raided homes and attacked protesters in the village of Ma’ameer, about 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) south of the capital, Manama, and the western village of Shahrakan on Monday.

In Shahrakan, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters.

Bahrainis have been holding peaceful demonstrations against the ruling Al Khalifa regime since February 2011. Regime forces continue the fierce crackdown on the protests.

On May 3, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa approved constitutional amendments, according to which, the king now has to consult the heads of the elected parliament and the appointed Consultative Council, which was introduced in 2002, before dissolving the government.

Bahraini opposition groups, however, have censured the recent amendments, saying they were intended by King Hamad to control the parliament.

Abdul Jalil Khalil, a senior member of the main opposition group, al-Wefaq, said after the amendments were ratified that the Bahraini opposition wants “a single-chamber parliament that is elected, just as the constitution of 1973 stipulated. These amendments do not abolish the Consultative Council.”

Iran slams West’s nuclear double standards
8 May, 2012 – Al Akhbar

Western powers are mounting pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, while supplying Israel with nuclear capable submarines, a double standard noted by Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.

The broadside by the ministry’s spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast appeared to be a response to a US call the previous day for Iran to take “urgent practical steps” to build confidence ahead of nuclear talks with six major powers in Baghdad on May 23.

“Some of these countries have nuclear-capable submarines they have delivered to the Zionist regime,” he said, alluding to Germany’s sale of Dolphin-class submarines to Israel, which some analysts say can carry nuclear warheads.

“All of these countries need to feel committed to the contents of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).”

In a rebuke to the world’s nuclear powers who have failed to downsize their own arsenals, Mehmanparast spoke of their “contravention and clear violation” of the rules.

“Some countries say they are concerned that Iran’s activities might be diverted towards non-peaceful purposes in the future,” he said. “When they are talking about future speculation, how can they not be concerned about scrapping nuclear weapons at the present time?”

US officials have previously suggested Iran should build confidence by accepting more intrusive UN inspections, curbing its uranium enrichment work and closing a nuclear site near Qom.

Yet no Western power has made a similar stringent demand of Israel, the Middle East’s only nuclear power and primary ally of the United States.

Iranian officials have said the Baghdad meeting should lead to the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies against Iran’s energy and banking sectors.

The United States suspects Iran of seeking to develop a capacity to build nuclear weapons and has refused to rule out military action if negotiations fail. Iran denies this and maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and develop a peaceful nuclear program as a member of the NPT.

Last week, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said Tehran would never suspend enrichment, which can have both civilian and military purposes, and saw no reason to close the Fordow underground site which it has used to expand higher-grade enrichment.

The IAEA and Iran will hold talks in Vienna on May 14-15 after two meetings earlier this year failed to make headway.

The UN nuclear watchdog wants Iran to address questions raised in an IAEA report in November on suspected Iranian research and development activities relevant to nuclear weapons.

Iran has dismissed the allegations as fabricated. …more

Surveillance State democracy
8 May, 2012 – IBNtv

As the FBI seeks full access to all forms of Internet communication, it is not voters who need to be convinced.

CNET’s excellent technology reporter, Declan McCullagh, reports on ongoing efforts by the Obama administration to force the Internet industry to provide the U.S. Government with “backdoor” access to all forms of Internet communication:

The FBI is asking Internet companies not to oppose a controversial proposal that would require firms, including Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, and Google, to build in backdoors for government surveillance … That included a scheduled trip this month to the West Coast – which was subsequently postponed – to meet with Internet companies’ CEOs and top lawyers …

The FBI general counsel’s office has drafted a proposed law that the bureau claims is the best solution: requiring that social-networking Web sites and providers of VoIP, instant messaging, and Web e-mail alter their code to ensure their products are wiretap-friendly.

“If you create a service, product, or app that allows a user to communicate, you get the privilege of adding that extra coding,” an industry representative who has reviewed the FBI’s draft legislation told CNET.

As for the substance of this policy, I wrote about this back in September, 2010, when it first revealed that the Obama administration was preparing legislation to mandate that “all services that enable communications – including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct ‘peer to peer’ messaging like Skype” – be designed to ensure government surveillance access.

This isn’t about expanding the scope of the government’s legal surveillance powers – numerous legislative changes since 2001 have already accomplished that quite nicely – but is about ensuring the government’s physical ability to intrude into all forms of Internet communication.

What was most amazing to me back when I first wrote about these Obama administration efforts was that a mere six weeks earlier, a major controversy had erupted when Saudi Arabia and the UAE both announced a ban on BlackBerries on the ground that they were physically unable to monitor the communications conducted on those devices. Since Blackberry communication data are sent directly to servers in Canada and the company which operates Blackberry – Research in Motion – refused to turn the data over to those governments, “authorities [in those two tyrannies] decided to ban Blackberry services rather than continue to allow an uncontrolled and unmonitored flow of electronic information within their borders.” As I wrote at the time: “that’s the core mindset of the Omnipotent Surveillance State: above all else, what is strictly prohibited is the ability of citizens to communicate in private; we can’t have any ‘uncontrolled and unmonitored flow of electronic information’.” …more