Predictably, the Western media has started warning about Saudi hegemony over Bahrain. The Washington Post talks about Bahrain as a Saudi colony and describes this as a “counterrevolutionary” measure. Do any of them care what Bahrainis think?

On 14 March 2011 as Peninsular Shield forces crossed the Saudi causeway into Bahrain, law and order in our country was in a state of near collapse; armed groups were prowling the city, there were frequent attacks against expatriates; neighbourhoods were setting up ad-hoc checkpoints and citizens of other sects were subject to attack. Many feared civil war.

Thus, there was nothing strange in many of us feeling a huge sense of relief at seeing these troops entering Bahrain. Although Gulf troops weren’t involved in countering the violence, they provided the much needed capacity and within a couple of days levels of sectarian violence had significantly decreased.

His Royal Highness the King has once again shown that he is wiser and more courageous than all of us.

In the hours after the large March 9^th demonstration, the majority of us Bahrainis who remain loyal to our political system were nursing a sense of anger and resentment towards the protesters who had once again hijacked our streets and brought our country to a standstill. We had once again endured Molotovs, attacks on the police, burning tires and a dozen other means of violently and aggressively asserting their demands.

However, instead of giving voice to our anger and frustration, the Royal Court issued a statement welcoming Bahrainis exercising their right to freedom expression within the confines of the law, describing this as “a source of pride for Bahrain”.