tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post703053661428818164..comments2023-07-04T14:30:51.013+03:00Comments on Religion and Politics in Bahrain: The Anti-National DialogueJustin Genglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07926253352423304711noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-84252323696901852792012-02-21T15:07:38.755+03:002012-02-21T15:07:38.755+03:00Movement of history is not pro royal family in Bah...Movement of history is not pro royal family in Bahrain so sooner it will realize the fact but the question is ; would it be clever to survive with minimum loss? Otherwise, I do agree that youth in streets would not care about any kind of dialogue so in the end thus opposition will bear some losses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-44918473328679370282012-02-21T11:20:32.736+03:002012-02-21T11:20:32.736+03:00Agreed. The King in particular is not about to emb...Agreed. The King in particular is not about to embark on another political adventure without already knowing the limits of what is achievable and what he is willing to sacrifice. Equally, this is a story of modulating expectations, and the opposition themselves will need to try and preserve their ability to get a deal done than failing again (think of their talks with the cp last year). The Wefaqis are all desperate to get back into the system as a group, and as individuals they and their families understand the cash and luxuries that system used to afford them when they were in parliament. Lets face it, they are politicians like anywhere else.Salman Abdulrahimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-45363943534093149902012-02-20T18:26:16.663+03:002012-02-20T18:26:16.663+03:00I think that it will be hard to moblize sunnis onc...I think that it will be hard to moblize sunnis once more "against" the movement , the same way it happened last year , many of them were either moderetes who sympthisize with the oppisition or extremestes who are unhappy about the government being "lax" .When real reforms come however(if they come), I belive it will be much easier to convince sunnis of its validity by the government one way or ther other.As for shia's I think that many of them dont like the ways of the street being used by the smaller groups , but they suck it up because its pressure anyway . If reforms that topple the PM come , I heavily doubt they will find as much support as they do now.ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15759778000225740253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-8947927022847506422012-02-20T15:30:43.831+03:002012-02-20T15:30:43.831+03:00@Sal: We shall see. You have more confidence than...@Sal: We shall see. You have more confidence than I that both sides can reign in their respective constituencies, which are far more polarized and mobilized than in previous crises in recent history. Do you really think Sunnis will once again "fall in line" as Bahraini Shi'a appear (rightly or wrongly) to reap the benefits? Will the street movement stop protests at the word of al-Wifaq? If not, will "moderate" Shi'a and al-Wifaq sit by as the state "deals with" them? Of course, you can ultimately answer yes to these questions, but that doesn't mean there isn't a discussion worth having.Justin Genglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07926253352423304711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-30988893238021924042012-02-20T15:13:29.167+03:002012-02-20T15:13:29.167+03:00https://plus.google.com/u/0/100146646232137568790/...https://plus.google.com/u/0/100146646232137568790/posts/Mijg1JF1cnZ<br /><br />G+ linkRupert Neil Bumfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460239805603476978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391958287808959571.post-51146468449566769492012-02-20T14:54:09.826+03:002012-02-20T14:54:09.826+03:00Justin - I disagree with your analysis - it seems ...Justin - I disagree with your analysis - it seems to me that the talks for you are either too inclusive or too exclusive. From a Bahraini point of view, I think that the talks are in the right place. Consider this: Firstly it is the Royal Diwan/Court driving the talks not the govt or any other part of the state. Secondly, Al Wefaq and the others are moderately tolderable and accepted as the mainstream oppostion. Thirdly, not to make this a complete give away, Haaq, Amal and the other terrorist organizations, represent a fringe. Fourth, the Feb 14th guys are nothing more than a bunch of kids that have impressive graphic design and video editing skills. They will be told be their elders, who are Wefaqis, to tow the line when the time comes. Lastly, the Sunnis in Bahrain have their default setting predisposed to support all govt action and requests. They will protest when told and sit nicely when told. They are controlled by the govt and everything else is big talk they cannot back up. Bahrain is on the right track, and history repeats itself, this is no different than how they resolved previous crises in the country, and you dont need anyone to tell you to expect otherwise.Salman AbdulRahimnoreply@blogger.com