Despite opposition from Congress, Obama quietly made sure that the American Empire's totalitarian-monarchy puppet government in Bahrain is well-armed and ready to crush any of the Arab Spring winds that might be blowing its way. Bahrain has one of the worst human rights records in the world, and when protesters began taking to the street last year, the monarchy quickly responded with weapons purchased from the US government (including tear-gas canisters stamped "Made in USA"). For all the rhetoric coming out of the Obama Administration about "democracy" and "protecting human rights" in the Middle East, Bahrain - one of the Empire's closest allies - is rarely, if ever, mentioned.
But ah, you see, this is different. The Imperial Navy's massive 5th fleet just happens to be stationed in Bahrain, staring down Iran, conducting military exercises, feeding on taxes, and projecting power. So what if Bahrain's population have to live under the thumb of a brutal monarchy bought and paid for the Pentagon?
The difference between Bahrain and say, Libya, is that their dictator was completely expendable. After Obama and Co. were embarrassed by the uprisings in Egypt and stood behind their boy Mubarak until the final seconds before issuing platitudes and lip services to the protesters, the Empire needed a face lift. That's pretty much what Obama has been since he took the throne anyway - a younger, fresher face on perpetual war and perpetual intervention. So Obama decided to side with the rebels in Libya and protected them with air power. See, Caesar said while forking his tongue, America stands up for democracy and against tyrants. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Except in Bahrain, of course, where weapons and money flow in and oil and obedience flow out. And come to think of it, the Saudis are our great friends too and they're about as evil as it gets. Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan are also all dictatorships supported by the US.
Almost makes you think we oughtta stop with this imperial nonsense, stop intervening in the internal affairs of other countries, stop subsidizing monsters and Islamic theocrats, and hold up the torch of liberty here at home and lead by the force of our example instead of with bombs and bribes.
But nah, that would be "isolationist."
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