Analysis: “Cancelling Bahrain Arms Deal Assures U.S. National Security”

Writing for Fair Observer, Alexander Innes contends that the $53 million arms sale to Bahrain is “designed to check Iranian regional influence but would in fact do the opposite,” adding that “it is in the American national interest to not make this sale.”  Innes suggests “adding more lethal missiles, especially armored vehicles, to the Bahraini arsenal, threatens to push protesters into more radical positions, perhaps even choosing to court Iranian support…” The author suggests that the arms sale would send the wrong message to pro-reform demonstrators, because “protesters in Bahrain have seen and heard U.S. support for other uprisings in the region, contrasted with the lack of support by senior U.S. officials for the movement in Bahrain.”

Additionally, the broad influence of the U.S. throughout the Gulf, as well as strong alliances with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will serve U.S. interests far better than the weapons sale, “which will likely achieve nothing militarily, but will further alienate protesting Bahrainis and entirely discredit American efforts at democracy promotion,” Innes asserts. Finally, the author states: “were the U.S. to complete this sale, the Government of Bahrain would be incrementally better armed, but would find itself facing a more determined and externally supported internal opposition.”