Crescent International
One of these events took place in Bahrain.
What exactly happened?
On April 9, the US-backed autocratic regime in Bahrain released 1500 political prisoners on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
Although most of the prominent political activists remain in prison, the ramifications of the recent move by the Bahraini regime will have wider regional ramifications.
The Bahraini activists were arrested after the 2011 Islamic Awakening uprisings across many countries in West Asia.
Like their brothers in other countries—Tunisia, Egypt etc—the people of Bahrain also staged protest rallies demanding their long-denied fundamental rights.
The regime came down hard with police and security forces using live ammunition against peaceful protesters.
To remove a rally point, the Pearl Square in Manama was demolished.
This was the Bahraini equivalent of Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.
The arrests in Bahrain occurred in the wake of the US- nudged and instigated Saudi invasion of the tiny island state that is home to the US 5th Fleet.
So, what has happened to force the Bahraini regime to release these detainees after incarcerating them in horrible conditions for more than a decade?
Held in overcrowded filthy prisons, beatings and torture were common.
The activists’ release did not happen without Riyadh’s consent and has to do with the restored state-to-state relations between Islamic Iran and the Saudi regime.
Many political prisoners in Bahrain and the wider region sympathise with and aspire to Islamic Iran’s governing model.
They see Tehran as a political gravity point for the Muslim world.
To understand the bigger picture behind the release of Bahraini detainees, the basic geopolitical variables of the region must be kept in mind.
Dictatorial regimes on the occupied Arabian Peninsula have for decades surrendered their political and economic independence to the US.
In exchange, Washington provided these regimes military and political protection.
Over several years, it has gradually become clear that the US cannot protect even its own interests much less protect these regimes that have no legitimacy.
Twenty years ago, it would have been unthinkable and considered virtual political suicide if any state, much less a non-state actor, openly declared its intentions to strike US occupation forces in West Asia and then carry out such strikes.
Today it’s the regional norm.
What completely demolished the old formula of surrendering independence in exchange for Washington’s protection was the recent Iranian counter strikes against the apartheid regime of Israel.
American political establishment can no longer protect its most strategic geopolitical outpost in West Asia.
How can it protect its two-bit regional vassals?
If Saudi inability to defend itself against Yemeni strikes created significant doubt in the minds of GCC regimes, Iran’s strikes on Israel demolished the old formula which painted the US as protector.
Iranian leadership made it clear that Iran’s strikes on Israel carried a specific political message.
The overall purpose behind the use of military force is to achieve certain political objectives.
One of those objectives seems to be a clearcut signal that relying on the US as a security guarantor is no longer a feasible regional option.
In the coming weeks and months, we are likely to witness more steps undertaken by GCC regimes in which they will not join in any anti-Iran activities.
They will be left with no choice but to disregard American jingoism.
Regional despots now clearly see that prioritizing American imperialism at the expense of regional players means that their regimes are susceptible to destabilization and wars.
Just look at the total chaos apartheid Israel is facing today.
Iran’s ability to deliver a direct military strike against apartheid Israel and indirectly throw the zionist entity into a state of permanent political and social instability is a lesson the GCC regimes cannot afford to ignore.
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