Bahrain!

Wonder how many saw it coming, I know didn’t. If it was Yemen, Libya or even Jordan I would not have batted any eye, but Bahrain was a shocker – plus it’s also a game changer.

Its a s game changer for two reasons. First, the focus has now shifted to the Gulf States, just like Egypt was energised by Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Doha or the United Arab Emirates might be next. Especially as other nearby States are more organised (underground) than what we saw take place in Manama the past couple of days. Secondly, the people of Bahrain don’t just want democracy they want to become a republic. That feeling is shared by many of the educated elites, the middle class professionals and the younger generations throughout the area specially women.

Duplicating what’s happening in Manama across the region spells a huge shift towards the pro Palestine camp, which if successful will turn off the oil tap and will undoubtedly alter the power balance in the whole area, because the Gulf Royals – are considered by those they rule to be too lenient with Israel. And similar to Egypt having the demonstrators attacked by weapons made anywhere in the Western hemisphere is provocative and does not help.

Nevertheless, the few coming weeks are undoubtedly pivotal in the history of the Gulf States and the whole of the Middle East – could this be the change President George W. Bush predicted a few years ago!