GCC unity can ward off outside threats!

The countries that were purportedly involved in interfering in Bahrain's internal affairs during the height of the unrest earlier this year, share the same political pedigree: governments characterised by sectarian hues, and eager to export their ideology across borders by investing huge financial sums and expertise.

Apart from Iran and Iraq, which have played a significant, if not a dominant role, in orchestrating and supporting the unrest, Syria's inclusion in the group is no surprise.

In his interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph on December 13, His Majesty King Hamad indicated that the Syrian regime was implicated in training Bahrainis who oppose their government.

He said, "We have evidence that a number of Bahrainis who oppose our government are being trained in Syria. We have seen the files and notified Syrian authorities, but they deny any involvement".

The Syrian regime, dominated by the Alawite sect, a variant of Shi'ite Islam, was and is receiving religious and political advice from Iran and Iraq. It is issuing orders to commit crimes and kill its citizens in thousands. It is trying to export its experience to Bahrain's "opposition groups", allegedly motivated by sectarian agenda, by providing them with the "necessary training".

Syria's foreign policy, being part and parcel of Iran's ideology is, among others, to spread sectarian ideology in Gulf countries, thereby threatening the security and prosperity their people and governments have enjoyed over the years, and ultimately breaking the social fabric of those societies.

These destructive measures would make the GCC countries prone to Iranian interests. However, these actions are naive at best, and delusional at worst.

Thanks to the unity of the GCC countries, their people and governments are aware of the political agenda behind the actions of Iran,Iraq, Syria and other forces associated with them. GCC unity will help ward off any threat to destabilise member states.

The unremitting and brutal suppression of democratic movements in Syria has earned the regime more enemies than friends. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah, in his rabid rhetoric of whimsical war to his supporters last week, expressed his support to the regime.

This sends a message to the world that this regime dances with the same sectarian rhythm as Hizbollah and has a responsibility to expand its sectarian ideology to countries seen as soft targets, including Bahrain.

The training of "opposition groups" in Bahrain, therefore, comes as no surprise.
Abu Mohammed