Katty Kay: Obama Doesn’t Want Media To Report Bahrain Rebellion
Despite our air attacks in Libya this weekend, most Middle East experts view the growing rebellion in Bahrain as being far more important to America. Yet according to the BBC's Katty Kay, who was a guest on the syndicated “Chris Matthews Show,” the Obama administration doesn't want the press reporting what's going on there (video follows with transcript and commentary): KATTY KAY, BBC: Chris, we spend a lot of time on the program talking about Libya, but what’s happening in Bahrain is more violent and of much more strategic interest to the United States. CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Because of oil. KAY: Because of oil, and because of the 5th Fleet is stationed there. What happens in Bahrain is really critical to America, but it’s in Washington’s interest and the White House’s interest that we don’t report this story very much. They would like that one to go away because there’s no real upside for them in supporting the rebellion by the Shiites. MATTHEWS: And not reporting it helps how? How does not reporting it help? KAY: Because they just don’t want too much attention focused on what’s happening there because they don’t want to be having to be pushed into a position of helping the Shiite rebels there. So what's so important about protecting the rebels in Libya, especially as we're really not sure who they are or what they stand for? The Jerusalem Post reporte d last Sunday that an al Qaeda commander is backing the Libyan rebels. The perilously liberal Huffington Post reported Saturday that some of these rebels are radical Islamists with strong anti-American sympathies. But the Obama administration wants the news media to ignore what's going on in Bahrain because they don't want to help Shiite rebels there? Now, in fairness, there has been no media blackout of the Bahrain rebellion up to this point. However, it's fascinating that a British Washington correspondent is aware that the White House wishes there was one, and it will be very interesting to see if they get their wish now that we've begun fighting in Libya. Stay tuned.
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Katty Kay: Obama Doesn’t Want Media To Report Bahrain Rebellion
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on March 20, 2011. Filed under