Obama’s impotent leadership leaves Bahrain’s future and struggle for Democratic reforms in the lurch

Bahrain needs to adopt reforms or risk interference from Iran, says US
Source: BI-ME with AFP , Author: Posted by BI-ME staff
Posted: Sun March 13, 2011 1:06 am

BAHRAIN. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Saturday that Bahrain’s leaders needed to move quickly to adopt major reforms or else risk interference from Iran.

After talks with Bahrain’s king and crown prince, Gates said he was hopeful the government would take “far-reaching steps” but warned that countries across the region could no longer ignore popular demands for democracy.

Although there were no signs Shiite-led Iran was behind unrest in the Gulf kingdom or elsewhere in the region, Tehran would likely work to meddle in Bahrain’s politics amid sectarian tensions, Gates told reporters on his plane after a visit to Manama.

“I expressed the view that we had no evidence that suggested that Iran started any of these popular revolutions or demonstrations across the region,” said Gates, recounting his talks with the country’s king and crown prince.

“But there is clear evidence that as the process is protracted, particularly in Bahrain, the Iranians are looking for ways to exploit it and create problems,” Gates said.

“So I told them, in this instance, time is not our friend.”

Bahrain, a Shiite-majority state ruled by a Sunni dynasty, has been gripped by protests calling for political change since February 14. The US defence chief, who arrived Friday evening in Bahrain amid rising tensions, said he came away encouraged that the country’s leaders king were prepared to accommodate anti-government protesters.

But Gates said he warned them that minor changes would not be enough.

“And I also said that under the circumstances and with the impulse behind the political and economic grievances across the region, that baby steps probably would not be sufficient… that real reform would be necessary.”

With unrest sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, the United States has struggled to balance its longstanding ties with Arab regimes with support for protests demanding democratic reform.

Gates said that Arab governments needed to recognise the scale of the change shaking their countries.

“I told both the king and the crown prince that across the region I did not believe there could be a return to the status quo ante,” he said. “That there was change, and it could be led or it could be imposed.” “And obviously leading the reform and being responsive is the way we’d like to see this move forward,” he said. …more