Saudi Arabia sending troops to Bahrain to quell protests; US begins attack on Lybian air defense

[Kuya]

News from the 14th:

Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom's 525,000 residents.

The crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, said in a televised statement that Bahrain had "witnessed tragic events" during a month of unprecedented political unrest.

Warning that "the right to security and safety is above all else", he added: "Any legitimate claims must not be made at the expanse of security and stability."[...]

'

Earlier on Sunday, police moved in on Pearl roundabout, a site of occupation by members of Bahrain's Shia majority, who are calling for an elected government and equality with Bahrain's Sunnis.

Witnesses said security forces surrounded the protesters' tent compound, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at the activists in the largest effort to clear the field in the middle of the roundabout since a crackdown last month that left four dead after live ammunition was fired.

The latest demonstrations took place a day after the US defence secretary, Robert Gates, visited Bahrain and said that the Khalifa family must go beyond "baby steps" reform and enact substantial economic and political change.

News from today, including Clinton calling for both sides to settle down:

Bahraini Forces Attack Protesters in Manama

In Bahrain, state forces have launched what appears to be a vicious assault on protesters in the capital, Manama. Earlier today, troops backed by tanks and helicopters stormed the Pearl Roundabout, the epicenter of protests over the last month. At least two protesters were reportedly killed and hundreds wounded after Bahraini forces attacked them from all sides and fired tear gas into the crowds. Some witnesses reported firing from U.S.-supplied Apache helicopters. The attack comes one day after the Bahraini government declared a state of emergency. Well over a thousand Saudi and United Arab Emirate troops have entered Bahrain to support the ruling monarchy. It is unclear if any foreign soldiers were involved in today’s violence. Bahrain is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. On a visit to Egypt just hours before the attack, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for restraint "on all sides."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "We call for common restraint on all sides in Bahrain. We’re particularly concerned about increasing reports of provocative acts and sectarian violence by all groups. The use of force and violence from any source will only worsen the situation and create a much more difficult environment in which to arrive at a political solution."

Qaddafi forces pushing back rebel forces:

Gaddafi Forces Advance on Benghazi

In Libya, forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi have retaken the final line of defense protecting the rebel capital of Benghazi. Hundreds of packed cars fled Ajdabiya as pro-Gaddafi forces pounded the city with tanks, heavy artillery and air strikes. The city is strategically critical, as it allows highway access that would permit Gaddafi’s troops to encircle and overrun Benghazi.

In short: Bahrain calls for Saudi Arabia and UAE to assit it in repressing protests from its own citizens, Gates calling for reforms from Bahrain, Clinton calling for Both Sides to chill, and Qaddafi is defeating the rebels.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...hrain-protests

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/16/headlines

[archibaldcrane]

They need help from Saudi Arabia quelling a population that, in total, consists of only a half mil?

C'mon Bahrain, step your game up.

It's like if Albuquerque got all heated.

[Kuya]

Their population is small, and so is their army/police force.

[Athas]

I thought I read that a US imposed no-fly zone had the support of the Arab League, has there been any movement on this?

[ronin sparthos]

The US seems to support a no-fly zone, but they want a resolution from the UN Security Council. Who knows if the rebels will be able to hold out that long though.

This.

By the time they start the no-fly zone, the resistance will be crushed.

[Baha]

Wasn't it China, Russia and Turkey that oppose the no-fly zone (or other interventions)? The UN can't really do anything. That makes it really galling to see politicians saying *they* want to take action, but are waiting for UN mandates.
Looks like the rebels will be crushed, and then everyone can try and justify returning to business as usual (with Sarkozy undoubtedly at the forefront).

Obviously deranged dictator commits obvious genocide? That's really sad, but everything happens for a reason. Right?

[Kuya]

Any nation that wants to interfere, can interfere, as proven many times throughout history, including the US's adventure into Iraq. That they want UN support is a sign that:

They want to legitimize the intervention.

And that Lybia runs pretty low on the priority list.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

UN Webcast now for Libya vote

english chan 3

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/index.html

[Baha]

Any nation that wants to interfere, can interfere, as proven many times throughout history, including the US's adventure into Iraq. That they want UN support is a sign that:

They want to legitimize the intervention.

And that Lybia runs pretty low on the priority list.

That, and it seems a lot like a case of . Kadaffhi's been more than welcome in EU countries the last few years. Now western leaders are falling over each other trying to act like they're supportive of the Libyan rebels (see Sarkozy recognizing them officially).
Also pretty certain that they all know how unlikely it will be for the naysayers in the UN to suddenly have a change of heart. That's mostly what bothers me, it's disingenuous support. It's not really surprising, just sad to see same speeches repeated over and over on the news.

[Mistress Stowastiq]

I am watching the live AJE benghazi celebration on the NFZ now but it makes me nervous because of the celebratory gunfire.

[Senoska]

In during the beginning of WWIII

[Kuya]

In after tired trope

[Athas]

Any nation that wants to interfere, can interfere, as proven many times throughout history, including the US's adventure into Iraq. That they want UN support is a sign that:

They want to legitimize the intervention.

And that Lybia runs pretty low on the priority list.

It could be said that the US learned from the aforementioned Iraq adventure, no?

[Kuya]

lol

[Stumblingdrunk]

They need help from Saudi Arabia quelling a population that, in total, consists of only a half mil?

C'mon Bahrain, step your game up.

It's like if Albuquerque got all heated.

This is partially based on speculation, and partially based on news reports, but it seems that the inclusion of Saudi forces in Bahrain had less to do with the Bahrain government than it did with the Saudi government. The Saudi government has been shitting itself since protests in Egypt began. The Saudi's have been pressuring the Bahrain government to take care of this for weeks now. The Saudi's did not come in to help Bahrain, but to prevent the success of Bahraini civilians, therefore discouraging the Saudi people.

[Mazmaz]

At least no fly zone now. Hope it's not too late

[Kuya]

What? Qaddafi isn't losing.

[Plow]

It could be said that the US learned from the aforementioned Iraq adventure, no?

it's more along the lines of we're still dicking around aimlessly in places we never should have been in the first place, and now when we "should" be ready to actually step up and intervene, we can't, due both to how tied up we are and the fact that we're looked at as greedy shits that go into wars looking to profit

[Kuya]

The facts are that he's not losing, anything suggesting otherwise is speculation. If you wanted to speculate, then nevermind.

[Kuya]

It's not at all clear how the no fly zone is going to be implemented and what the long term goals of the UN are.