Perhaps one of the reasons that hinders a peaceful settlement to the Bahrain’s political problems is the interference of external powers in its internal affairs. Iran and the US seem to be pioneers in this flagrant violation of international law, interested in sectarian hegemony and promotion of foreign policy respectively.

The US-Bahrain relationship has turned sour of late. Recently, three scenarios have unfolded, which confirm that the US is indeed, ‘stirring the pot’.

First: The US-sponsored Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), which allegedly supports civic groups to promote ‘regime change’ in their respective countries, including Bahrain. The US has committed financial assistance and training for its ‘recruits’ in this regard and the Bahrain government is investigating the matter and will soon expose the plot.

Second: The spying row. America’s top intelligence agency has been spying on the Bahrain government – one of its closest allies in the region, along with other 192 countries. (GDN, July 3). Thanks to the former National Security Agency contractor, Edward Snowden, the classified documents have become public and was published in The Washington Post and The Guardian. This is something that made the US administration bow its head. The spying row has met with international uproar.

Third: The expulsion of a US diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowsky from Bahrain after he was allegedly found meddling in the nation’s politics. He met opposition figures and avoided other political groups which created a schism among political games. It was a suspicious political agenda.

I remember in 2012, as a Human Rights Watch director (HRW), Mr Malinowski, visited Bahrain and was briefly detained along with his colleagues when he was found out to be with the protesters in Duraz. The incident was a subject of public debate at that time and many people, including I, have written on the subject in this section. So he is not new to controversy. Thus, the step taken by the Bahrain government to deport the diplomat is a step in the right direction.

The question is: Why is the US keen on interfering in Bahrain’s affairs? Let’s bear in mind that any US covert and overt interference in any country has a foreign policy agenda behind it, sometimes to the detriment of the country in question. Diplomatic jargon, including bilateral relationships, military co-operation and trade relationships are, more often than not, affronts to interference.

Bahrain’s political crisis is solved within the boundaries of the country. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has continuously stressed his opposition to any external interference in Bahrain’s affairs in many of his speeches. It is solely left to Bahrainis to deal with their affairs.

Bahrain is trying to solve its political crisis in its own way. Democratic reforms are underway and economic recovery has witnessed dramatic improvements, which is a sign of relative stability. Overall, Bahrain has the wherewithal to build an economically viable and politically palatable society on its own.

However, it is not ready to accept ‘one-size-fits- all’ democratic pattern, which the US tries to export.

The US needs to leave Bahrain alone. Our message to Uncle Sam is: ‘Hands off Bahrain’, leave us alone.
Duri