RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Anger as Cameron invites Bahrain crownprince to No 10

What are the Brits complaining about? Cameron needs Bahrain's oil for them. Did they forget that Bahrain produces 40,000 barrels (6400 mł) per day and has reserves that are expected to last 10 to 15 years? And Bahrain has been a major oil supplier to Britain for a very long time. It is the case of, as we say in the field of International Relations, nation states having permanent interests.

 

For me, the case of Bahrain leaves me conflicted for two reasons: (1) Crown Prince Salman bin Hamid al-Khalifa is one of the three Middle Eastern monarchs that is very proud of his Afrikan roots, as well documented in books and paintings by the great African American Art Historian, Anthropologist and painter Dr. E. Harper Johnson; and (2) al-Khalifa's four children I had taught have worked very hard to make sure the monarch meets the needs of his people.


> [Original Message]
> From: Hetty ter Haar <oldavenue@googlemail.com>
> To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> Date: 5/20/2011 6:38:19 AM
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Anger as Cameron invites Bahrain crownprince to No 10
>
> Anger as Cameron invites Bahrain crown prince to No 10
>
> MP criticises red carpet treatment for Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa as
> Bahrain crackdown continues
>
> Nicholas Watt, Chief political correspondent
>
> The Guardian,  Friday 20 May 2011
>
> David Cameron provoked a storm of protest after he welcomed the crown
> prince of Bahrain to Britain in a high-profile photo call on the steps
> of 10 Downing Street.
>
> Denis MacShane, Labour's former Europe minister, criticised the prime
> minister for "rolling out the red carpet".
>
> MacShane spoke out after the prime minister welcomed Sheikh Salman bin
> Hamad al-Khalifa to Downing Street amid a continuing crackdown against
> democracy protesters in Bahrain.
>
> Downing Street felt the crown prince had to be given a high-profile
> welcome after he declined an invitation to the royal wedding last
> month amid fears that his presence could spark protests.
>
> Bahrain has said that on 1 June it will lift martial law imposed in
> March after pro-democracy protests resulted in at least 29 deaths.
> Downing Street said that the prime minister had urged the crown prince
> to pursue a policy of reform and not repression.
>
> But the timing of the visit was unfortunate for Downing Street. The
> crown prince arrived in Downing Street shortly after Barack Obama had
> praised the Arab spring during a speech in which he was highly of
> Bahrain.
>
> A Downing Street spokesman defended the visit: "The prime minister
> raised concerns about the situation in Bahrain and stressed the
> importance of the government moving to a policy of reform rather than
> repression.
>
> "That all sides should address their grievances through genuine and
> constructive dialogue.
>
> "The prime minister emphasised his support for the crown prince's long-
> standing work to achieve political and economic progress in Bahrain,
> and said that Britain would back efforts to normalise the situation
> and return Bahrain to a credible long-term process of reform."
>
> The prime minister's spokesman said there was nothing inconsistent
> about welcoming the crown prince while Britain is involved in military
> action against the Gaddafi regime over its violent response to
> protesters. "There are different circumstances and we need to reflect
> that. Clearly, in all cases we would support reform and dialogue," the
> spokesman said.
>
> But MacShane criticised the visit. He said: "Bahrain is like something
> out of Tosca or Fidelio, but this is 2011 and it is not opera taking
> place but real-life, real-time crushing of the human spirit. We have
> well-documented reports of torture, including the torture of women
> doctors, killings and even the Saudis sending tanks to Bahrain to
> crush the protests in the time-honoured fashion of the Soviets in
> Prague or Budapest.
>
> "The prime minister is rightly calling for Gaddafi to go to the
> international criminal court, but the Bahraini despots who are equally
> guilty of repression, torture and mass arrests are being given tea and
> a gentle talking-to in Downing Street. It is just sad that David
> Cameron has such a tin ear to the cries for freedom from the Arab
> world and is supping with the torturers, not supporting the moves for
> democracy."
>
> Peter Tatchell, the veteran human rights campaigner, said: "It is a
> huge error of judgment to fete the Crown Prince of Bahrain at a time
> when his regime is arresting, jailing, torturing and killing peaceful
> democracy protesters. Britain should not be conducting business as
> usual with a tyranny that is guilty of gross human rights abuses."
>
> guardian.co.uk Š Guardian News and Media Limited 2011
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
>    For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
>    For previous archives, visit  http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
>    To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
>    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-    
>    unsubscribe@googlegroups.com