Former Ambassador to Bahrain: Effective Diplomacy Melds Both US Interest and Principle

editor: the argument here seems strongly in favor of reform. Not because it is in the interests of Bahrainis but because it is in the interests of the regime and the US interests that lie within. Phlipn

Former Ambassador to Bahrain: Effective Diplomacy Melds Both Interest and Principle
13 March, 2012 – POMED

Former Ambassador to Bahrain Ronald E. Neumann wrote in the Congress Blog that effective American diplomacy toward Bahrain necessitates blending both interest and principle. According to Neumann, doing so requires “acknowledging that our base is critical, understanding the island’s communal divisions, and recognizing how support for the monarchy coincides with reform.”

Neumann, who served as ambassador to Bahrain from 2001 to 2004, writes that Bahrain’s uprising is more complex than “just another Arab rising against a regime,” because of the formation of “two radically different narrative of events. “ “The Shia opposition sees government refusal and brutal suppression of calls for reform,” writes Neumann, and the government believes that “concessions….led to demands that the government yield on most major points before beginning negotiations.”

He opined that the BICI report documented Cherif Bassiouni acknowledged multitudes of abuses and human rights violations. Radicalization of both sects have “hampered efforts of compromise,” as Sunni’s begin to regard the Shia as proxies of Iran and the Shia refusing negotiations due to suspicions of the government. He notes that Shia and Sunni used to intermarry and socialize more freely in Bahrain than any other Gulf state. While not forgetting the regional dimension, Neumann, noted that Arab pressure for reform and transition will not be seen in Bahrain.

Neumann affirmed that the U.S. has multiple interests in Bahrain, including the free flow of oil, policing the Arabian Sea, and base for confrontation, if necessary, with Iran. However, he stated that reform is a major U.S. interest. As a “mater of principle and practicality”, the U.S. has an interest in reform. “Presently, we alienate everyone,” says Neumann. “Effective U.S. policy needs to push for reform,” says Neumann making calls for “equitable representation, real judicial controls of security forces and true accountability for wrongdoing. “In addition, Neumann called for a strong constitution monarch accountable under the law to “balance community divisions.” “We need to speak openly of reform and support for a strong monarchy; something short of simple democracy,” wrote Neumann.

Without affirming our limits to what we seek opposition will “continue to hope for greater U.S. pressure on its half,” and such a policy will be criticized for hypocrisy. Neumann concluded writing that “effective diplomacy has to meld both interests and principles and explain itself clearly. Without such clarity we will remain ineffective and still be condemned for hypocrisy.” …more