Bahrain GP situation: postponed, reinstated, cancelled

[WhiteBlue]

No one is suggesting that the US should get involved. WB is just battling a straw man.

I thought it was you who introduced the idea by saying the most important aspect of the Bahrain problem was the basing of 5th fleet there. I kind of opposed that idea by saying that the Saudi mechanized forces and the Shia/Sunni conflict were the focal points.

.. It would take something dramatic to get the US involved. It would take a lot of press. The F1 race might provide that.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your above post. I took it that you meant the race might provide enough dramatic events to get the US involved. I'm sorry if there is a misunderstanding.

[Pup]

My point is that the base is a huge barrier to the US or any of our allies getting involved even politically. The fifth fleet doesn't just weigh anchor and take off to the next port. There's an astounding amount of support infrastructure in place there. And it's central to active military operations in the region.

I can't even imagine what it would take for the US to consider military involvement. Well, I can imagine, but the security of the base itself would have to be threatened, I'd think the only way that would happen is if things go completely haywire with Iran.

No, what I mean is that as long as Europe and the US continue to turn a blind eye to the country, then the opposition there really has no chance. As you pointed out, the Saudis will see to that. Let's face it - there's little chance of them getting anywhere with hunger strikes and rallies. That only works when you have a government that is susceptible to embarrassment.

So, given the political reality of the base, and the tenuous position the US holds in the region overall, and the fact that US interests and European interests in the region are one and the same, etc., etc. - the only way that any of the major powers will even make a political effort to help the opposition is if there is a dramatic shift in the situation. Something that changes public opinion. It's an election year, after all.

So, were I a leader of the Bahraini opposition, I'd look for ways to make that dramatic shift. In that respect, the race is far too tempting a target.

[WhiteBlue]

I can follow that train of thought. In fact I have been most vocal for many months with the opinion that F1 will not have security for the race. Even a small action by some determined activists invading the track during a running session could wreck the race.

[Pup]

Not sure what the message is here...

From Al Jazeera

[bhall]

The understatement of the century is to say that the situation in Bahrain is complex. I think it's reasonable to assume that the U.S., Europe, N.A.T.O., whatever, are, and have been, playing an off-the-record role that's likely prevented the opposition from being completely decimated already. As much as the West is intrinsically linked to the region through its economic interests, no government in the region has either the muscle or the will to to do anything that would seriously jeopardize those interests. They like taking the money even more than we like to spend it.

That said, I think it's a mistake to assume that the U.S. would sit on its hands in the face of a serious humanitarian crisis. That the Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain is much more a convenience than anything else, and it hasn't been there all that long anyway. The whole point of a blue-water navy, of which the U.S. Navy is, by far, the largest, is that its assets can be based or quickly deployed anywhere in the world, for any length of time.

And I'm not so sure the Bahraini governments wants to end the U.S. presence on their soil. It serves as a great buffer between them and Iranian interests who traditionally side with the forces of opposition in Bahrain - strange bedfellows indeed.

This whole thing is a mess. I think the one clear reality is that F1 has no role to play in it whatsoever, and I hope reports of the race's cancellation are true.

[Maelstrom]

This whole thing is a mess. I think the one clear reality is that F1 has no role to play in it whatsoever, and I hope reports of the race's cancellation are true.

I agree. F1 should only be about racing and not making political statements.

[strad]

Can I give a verbal thumbs up?

[ParanoiD]

wow, I spot branded helmets (SHOEI,AGV)

are the overall FIA approved?

[Shakeman]

And I'm not so sure the Bahraini governments wants to end the U.S. presence on their soil. It serves as a great buffer between them and Iranian interests who traditionally side with the forces of opposition in Bahrain - strange bedfellows indeed.

Completely wrong.

The Bahraini forces of oppression are the Sunni minority elites who are supported by Saudi Arabia. The majority Shia are just the hard working folk who live off the scraps of this elite.

The Saudis, close allies of the US, bussed in thousands of troops to put down the shia uprising. This did not receive coverage in the western news and the ongoing trouble is also absent from the news agenda only surfacing because of the GP. You don't hear of the situation in Bahrain because it doesn't fit the news agenda.

Contrast the situation with Syria which is constantly in the news where the vast majority of Syrians do not support the so called "rebels" who are being armed via Qatar and various western interests. The Syrian gov may not be universally liked by Syrians but they do not support the western backed rebels who contain elements of Al Qaeda. Strange world isn't it where western leaders are backing elements who they've been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last decade. This is realpolitik in action supported by subservient biassed media who are reporting a very distorted view of the actuality of the situation in Syria. The Syrian citizens do not want their country turned into a basket case like their neighbours Iraq because western govs are trying to undermine Iranian influence in the region.

Sorry to get political but what is happening in Bahrain and not being reported is due to a bigger picture revolving around control of Iranian oil reserves (not nuclear weapons they are not developing).

If the Bahrain GP goes ahead it'll be enough for me to knock F1 on the head as it will serve to give legitimacy to some rather undesirable people.

[bhall]

...forces of opposition in Bahrain...

[WhiteBlue]

I think the message is clear. The picture shows people in simulated racing gear featuring F1 team logos and carrying automatic weapon models of 70% scale.

It says: "F1 is involving itself in an armed conflict".

The drivers are the face of F1 and in this pictures they are taking up sophisticated weapons. I would say that the protesters want to express that F1 is wrong to take a side in this conflict by helping the Bahrain Royals to portrait the country as unified and all normal. I would also say that this is a stark warning to F1 that it will be regarded as combatants if they have the race and side with the al Khalifas.

[Pierce89]

Wow! one guy is wearing a Shoei. Not exactly cheap gear there. I can't afford a Shoei.

[bhall]

I think there's something to them carrying guns, too. Imagine a sort of F1 biathlon.

[Hail22]

Wow! one guy is wearing a Shoei. Not exactly cheap gear there. I can't afford a Shoei.

Thats a replica helmet mate

[Shakeman]

...forces of opposition in Bahrain...

Oh shhhhtttt I read that as oppression!

Sorry mate.

I was up late and misread your comment. I'm a fool.



Cheers