There is no dialogue with the shot, the murdered, tortured and the prisoners awaiting death sentences. Exactly whom shall al Khalifa have dialogue with Mr. President?

Bahrain Excerpt, US President Obama – Arab Uprising Speech – May 19, 2011.

Our opposition to Iran’s intolerance — as well as its illicit nuclear program, and its sponsorship of terror — is well known. But if America is to be credible, we must acknowledge that our friends in the region have not all reacted to the demands for change consistent with the principles that I have outlined today. That is true in Yemen, where President Saleh needs to follow through on his commitment to transfer power. And that is true, today, in Bahrain.

Bahrain is a long-standing partner, and we are committed to its security. We recognize that Iran has tried to take advantage of the turmoil there, and that the Bahraini government has a legitimate interest in the rule of law. Nevertheless, we have insisted publically and privately that mass arrests and brute force are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain’s citizens, and will not make legitimate calls for reform go away. The only way forward is for the government and opposition to engage in a dialogue, and you can’t have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail. The government must create the conditions for dialogue, and the opposition must participate to forge a just future for all Bahrainis.

Video – al Khalifa Representitvies seeking dialogue with Bahraini Protesters – March 16, 2011