the tyrant in Bahrain

"Hagel appeared more interested in mollifying the monarchs than the protesters....Hagel did not meet with members of the opposition, and his speech was expected to make only a brief note that the United States continues to support political reform in a region dominated by autocrats. Washington’s emphasis on democracy has waned since last year. U.S. officials attempted last year to compel Bahrain to reform its security forces and judiciary after a brutal crackdown on protesters and health-care workers who were prosecuted for treating wounded demonstrators....“But they walked away from the commitments they had made to make their society more inclusive, to reform police practices and to prosecute official abuse,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe what he came to see as a policy failure. “And as a result today, the human rights situation there continues to deteriorate.”"