Bahrain dictatorship-United States arms deal

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By Jonathan Terry:

US, Bahrain in reported arms deal

18 September 2011

The United States and Bahrain are reportedly looking to sign a new arms deal worth over $50 million, the German defense news website defpro.com reported late last week.

According to the report, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), a Defense Department agency, has notified the US Congress on the possible deal.

DSCA provides financial and technical assistance, transfer of defense materials, training, and services to US allies, and promotes military-to-military contracts.

Bahrain is seeking to purchase armored high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles, TOW missiles and associated equipment, and training and logistical support from the US military.

It comes as the Bahraini government continues to use violent force to crackdown on anti-government protesters in the country, killing dozens and arresting hundreds since the protests began earlier this year.

Defpro estimate the total cost of the deal, which still must get congressional approval, to be over $53 million.

Human rights groups say the United States, Britain and other Western countries are supplying arms to the Bahraini regime, despite the ongoing violence.

Human rights groups and the families of protesters arrested during the crackdown say that most detainees have been physically and psychologically abused.

Bahraini protesters attending the funeral of a man killed as a result of tear gas last week were attacked by police in the country for a second consecutive day, leaving an unknown number of people injured, reports from the country said.

15 migrant workers died in Bahrain in the last two months: here.

The persistence of pro-democracy protests in Bahrain in the face of brutal repression may be giving Washington second thoughts about its unwavering support for the royal rulers of the strategically important Persian Gulf kingdom. Are we about to witness a cosmetic ‘regime change’ – not so much for the genuine sake of democratic rights in Bahrain, but more to save Washington’s vital interests across the region? Here.