# Demonstrators killed in Bahrain **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 15, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498 "2011-02-15T21:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/21 "2011-02-17T15:35:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You mean, likes some two-bit Varangian Guard? But more brutal. Bahrain has a huge number of ‘guest workers’ and citizenship is one of those simmering tensions that crosses the shia/sunni divide. All very messy but with a low population, a non-native security force, the US strategic interest and Saudi next door willing, eager and able to help crush a revolt the population probably need to settle for what they can get before things get really bloody. But good luck to them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/22 "2011-02-17T16:41:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Tell me when you start thinking “Does our embassy roof have a helicopter pad?” When this sort of thing happens, the excitable people tend to punch out at the end of their contracts, while us stupid ones stay hoping for a nice raise. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/23 "2011-02-17T16:55:01Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > When I want words put in my mouth, I’ll put them there myself, thank you. No words in mouth, evaluation of you. > [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > When this sort of thing happens, the excitable people tend to punch out at the end of their contracts, while us stupid ones stay hoping for a nice raise. Well, if they went tits up, I’d be quite afraid. Nothing I read about the Saudi situation makes me think the results would be pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/24 "2011-02-17T17:15:21Z")
If Saudi collapses, what are the odds the U.S. military will move in to “secure” the oil fields? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/25 "2011-02-17T17:21:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If Saudi collapses, what are the odds the U.S. military will move in to “secure” the oil fields? Why should they? A military force can’t **operate** an oilfield, and those whose job it is to do so would, I hope, be far away watching over their families. At any rate, nobody’s going to fire the wells Hussein-style, because, why? In event of revolution in SA, eventually all the oilfields will end up in the hands of somebody new who will pump the oil and sell it abroad, just like always, because it’s too valuable not to and what else ya gonna do with it? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/26 "2011-02-17T22:31:22Z")
ABC News journalist gets thumped a little bit, and his camera taken away. > **[Police Forces Storm Bahrain Protest Camps Leaving At Least 4 Dead](https://abcnews.go.com/International/police-forces-bahrain-protest-dead-Miguel-Marquez/story?id=12937501)** > > A military crackdown on protesters in Bahrain has left at least four people dead, according to protesters and a member of parliament. ABC News' Miguel Marquez was roughed up in the crackdown and had his camera taken as he filed a report. > [@](#): > > He paused. > > “I mean, these people are not screwing around,” he added. “They’re going to clear that square, tonight, ahead of any protest on Friday. The government clearly does not want this to get any bigger.” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/27 "2011-02-17T22:37:19Z")
Not as bad as Kent State where the military opened fire on protesters. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/28 "2011-02-17T22:41:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Why should they? A military force can’t **operate** an oilfield, and those whose job it is to do so would, I hope, be far away watching over their families. At any rate, nobody’s going to fire the wells Hussein-style, because, why? In event of revolution in SA, eventually all the oilfields will end up in the hands of somebody new who will pump the oil and sell it abroad, just like always, because it’s too valuable not to and what else ya gonna do with it? So why Desert Shield’n’Storm? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/29 "2011-02-17T22:41:51Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > So why Desert Shield’n’Storm? House of Bush, House of Saud. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/30 "2011-02-18T14:56:48Z")
Disturbing reports from Bahrain, authorities shooting into crowds. [http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh](http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/31 "2011-02-18T15:14:48Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Disturbing reports from Bahrain, authorities shooting into crowds. > > [http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh](http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh) Like Dick Cheney shooting flightless quailtards. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/32 "2011-02-18T15:25:10Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Disturbing reports from Bahrain, authorities shooting into crowds. > > [http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh](http://twitter.com/#!/hadeelalsh) I’m sure the King’s apology is in the post and Obama is working himself up to administer a really stiff hand-wringing. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/33 "2011-02-18T15:37:07Z")
Huh, this demonstrates how odd the modern world has become. Queen Noor of Jordan wades in (on Twitter, natch): > **[TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter](http://www.twitlonger.com/show/8tpiih)** > > TwitLonger is the easy way to post more than 140 characters to Twitter I’m assuming the “they” she refers to is the Bahraini Royals. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/34 "2011-02-18T16:21:33Z")
More shooting about an hour ago, just at local sundown. You rarely see a professional police force screwing up so badly. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/35 "2011-02-18T16:38:50Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > More shooting about an hour ago, just at local sundown. You rarely see a professional police force screwing up so badly. I’m not sure ‘professional’ applies to a bunch of mercenary brutes paid to do whatever they are told to a bunch of foreigners from the ‘wrong’ sort of Islam. I doubt they are screwing up at all. They are using anti-aircraft guns for crowd control and intend to send a brutal message. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/36 "2011-02-18T17:04:59Z")
The Saudi’s are encouraging them is my guess. They may come across the causeway they built just for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/37 "2011-02-18T17:14:46Z")
Well, glad to see[the UK Gov is properly reacting](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12492706), BBC: > [@](#): > > 1648: The UK has licensed hundreds of cartridges of tear gas and other riot-control equipment for export to Bahrain in the past nine months, and the government has said it is urgently reviewing its licensing decisions. But Foreign Secretary William Hague said earlier on Friday that there was no evidence Bahrain was using British-made products to crack down on protesters. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/38 "2011-02-18T17:26:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You mean, likes some two-bit Varangian Guard? > [@tagos](#): > > But more brutal. That’s saying a lot; the Varangian Guard were Vikings. [QUOTE=Wikipedia] The brutality of the Varangians was noted when they pursued the fleeing army and “cheerfully hacked them to pieces.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/39 "2011-02-18T17:30:07Z")
But not with anti-aircraft guns! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498/40 "2011-02-18T17:43:01Z")
Every resistance movement needs an anti-war song. With apologies to Creedence Clearwater Revival and the people of Bahrain: Long as I remember Bahrain been comin’ down. Crowds of citizenry pouring confusion on the ground. People paid low wages, try’n’ to find the sun, and I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop Bahrain? Down at the Pearl Roundabout seekin’ shelter from the storm. Caught up in the fable, I watched the crisis grow. Foreign troops and oil deals, wrapped in golden chains, and I wonder, still I wonder, who’ll stop Bahrain? Heard the speakers prayin’, how we cheered for more. The crowd had rushed together, Is this peace or war? Still the blood kept pourin’, fallin’ in my ears, and I wonder, still I wonder who’ll stop Bahrain? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonstrators-killed-in-bahrain/571498.md?page=3)