US pushes Bahrain arms deal despite abuses

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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/201221154429600105.html


The US government insists that none of the weapons in the deal can be used against protesters [EPA]

The Obama administration is pushing to close an arms deal with Bahrain, despite the government's nearly year-long crackdown against protesters and recent steps to block American NGOs from operating in the island kingdom.

A previous arms sale was suspended late last year after fierce opposition from human rights groups and members of Congress. But the White House is now taking advantage of a legal loophole to push forward a separate deal without congressional approval.

The deal is also advancing despite the Bahraini government’s recent crackdown on several US-based NGOs, including the National Democratic Institute and Physicians for Human Rights. Staffers with valid Bahraini visas have been barred from entering the country.

Some of the organisations received letters informing them that their work was temporarily suspended, ostensibly until a national commission finishes reviewing the recommendations of the official commission which studied last year's unrest.

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[atreides1]

1. Proving once again

As long as they're our tyrants and dictators...we'll give them all the money we can.

The United States of America doesn't really support democracy, not the same type that we once had anyway!