Suddenly America loves democracy in the Middle East – unless it’s Palestinian democracy

Suddenly America loves democracy in the Middle East – unless it’s Palestinian democracy America, which supported tyrannies in the Middle East for decades, has overnight switched to endorsing the uprisings across the region demanding democracy to replace former US clients like Mubarak. But some Middle East democracies find more favour than others, as Palestinians found out six years ago.

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Saudi protests highlight US hypocrisy  >>> more

As unrest in the Arab world continues the Obama administration finds itself in a bind when it comes to undemocratic nations it actively supports.A planned Day of Rage in Saudi Arabia was nearly scrubbed as the laws prohibit demonstrations. However, many did come out and voice their opposition to the Saudi government.The nation is actively supported and praised by the US and is highly undemocratic. It is a known abuser of human rights, including its well known apartheid like attitude towards women. The White House’s failure to address concerns over Saudi Arabia’s record reflects a 70-year-old policy of US administrations ignoring abuses against both the Saudi people ant American citizens.Fear over losing a strong Arab ally and threatening the Middle East oil supply, past US presidents have been too afraid to confront the Saudis.

Michel Chossudovsky, the director of the Center for Research on Globalization in Montréal, Canada said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States are US protectorates, they are oil economies dependant on US protection and interests.“There were protests in eastern Saudi Arabia,” he said, but argued it was more of a media show than anything else. “This Saudi event was a little bit exaggerated by the media.”Many protesting or speaking out are not Saudis of citizens of the Gulf States, he said. They are migrant workers who are not calling for pro-democracy, but other demands. In addition, some protestors were seeking closer ties to Islam.Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States have openly spoken against the governments in Libya and elsewhere experiencing protests. However, they have not addressed their own Chossudovsky, he said. The US has no interest in unrest in the Gulf region, and neither does most of the west. The states in that area boast US supported autocratic regimes, similar to what Mubarak was in Egypt, he argued. “There’s a lot of media distortion in what is happening in the Middle East,” said Chossudovsky. “We all lose from that. The people of the Middle East are not getting democratic governments.”
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Over 700 people have been injured as Bahraini police opened fire on anti-government protesters who were heading toward the Royal Court in Manama.

On Friday, Security forces and pro-government vigilantes carrying clubs and swords beat the protesters near the royal complex, injuring 774 people, 107 of whom were hospitalized for serious injuries and problems in breathing. The violence occurred as protesters marched on the Royal Court en masse amid tight security in the town of Riffa, a residential area where the ruling Al Khalifah family live, the Associated Press quoted the Bahraini Health Ministry as saying. Roughly 8,000 people marched toward the Royal Court to force the kingdom to respond to the people's demands. 

Thousands of women also joined the protesters to demand an end to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah's rule. They also called for the ouster of the government and said they want a new constitution. But they were suddenly faced by hundreds of pro-government forces -- security and civilian -- carrying swords, hatchets, metal pieces, cricket instruments, and pieces of wood with nails hammered into them.Earlier, the government described the rally as a security threat. Manama also warned organizers and participants that they would be held responsible for any unrest. Government officials have denied the reports that the security forces used live ammunition and that people inhaled tear gas to the point of suffocation. Riffa is just over 12 miles (20 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Manama, where anti-government demonstrators have been protesting in Pearl Square since February 14.