Obama should apply the same standard to allies in the region that are clinging to power via the use of violence against their people, i.e. Bahrain and Yemen.When it came to Egypt, the Obama Administration came out more forcefully only as the end drew near. In other words, when Mubarak’s demise was inevitable, the US took the side of the protesters. In terms of Libya, Obama has come out against Qaddafi early, but it’s safe to say that the administration is quicker to marginalize Qaddafi because he’s not a stalwart American ally. If Obama meant what he says here, then he’d apply that same standard to Bahrain, home to America’s 5th fleet, the cornerstone of American naval presence in the Persian Gulf, especially since security forces there have also used violence against peaceful protesters: US President Barack Obama has said that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has lost his legitimacy to rule and urged him to step down from power immediately. “When a leader’s only means of staying in power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now,” the White House said in a statement, summarising their telephone conversation.
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