the recommendations of the the bahrain international. commission commission. they had recommended a number of recommendations we have actually we've you know the all these recommendations are only part of our modernization reform process within the ministry of interior so all that accommodation did was to expects be done i some of the projects that were already had in mind of course. but just protect ourselves but also for better. policing and better rest a geisha why are those protests turned violent i mean bahrain has always been a rather peaceful country like many countries in the region and what do you think what's behind the radicalization and who stands behind it don't forget that we live i mean we are a small country and the region and. i think the whole world has seen by could always ation in one way or another. no difference and i mean the internet and the open sources today the media they will play a part in this. so you know this wave of radicalization that took place actually made us and actually resulted in more violence on the streets against the

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. still have for you here on r t the us to fans its record in the middle east i'm going secretary of state hillary clinton gets praise from president obama who says washington played a leading role and regime change in edges and libya but remains has a tent on syria. and a big achievement for small business find out how a centuries old village shop in britain is surviving the current financial troubles our reports on that is coming up after a short break. download the official application to yourself choose your language stream quality and enjoy your favorite. if you're away from your television well it just doesn't work so now with your mobile device you can watch on t.v. any time anyway. welcome back you're watching r.t. live from moscow a posthumous trial will take place for a deceased russian lawyer sergei magnitsky who is charged with tax evasion investigation against him was closed after he died in pretrial detention in november two thousand and nine but was later reopened the cir

and later we'll report from bahrain where doctors say they face the same brutal treatment as anti-government protesters they are trying to say. live from our studios in moscow you're watching archie with me and he said now it's good to have you with us four pm here in the russian capital two pm in cairo where we begin our hour this at four o'clock the state of emergency and curfews there by egypt's president in three provinces in fact haven't stopped egyptians from battling security forces as protesters continue to vent their anger against the government the deadly unrest is in its fifth day having been sparked by protests marking the second anniversary of two thousand and eleven revolution here's bell true with the latest from cairo. president obama issued a state of emergency yesterday in three cities susan is the lead i've seen the worst of the violence in the last three days he also employees a curfew between nine pm and six am there have already been calls for protests to break this curfew starting at eight pm tonight they say in defiance of the president's what this will mean on the gr

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. still ahead for you here on our t.v. u.s. defends its record in the middle east outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton gets praise from president obama who says washington played a leading role in regime change in egypt and libya maines has a ten on syria. and a big achievement for small business find out how a centuries old village shop in britain is surviving the current financial troubles our report on that coming up after the break. the first baby steps are joy. folds and bones are not a big deal. but they can cause terrible trauma. for children can be broken by dare touch. and only the will of life can make. and source way. fragile people on are today. wealthy british study done. time. market why not. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike's concert for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune in to conjure reports . welcome back you're watching our live from moscow it's ten minutes past the hour here and the deceased russian lawyer sergei magnitsky has become the cente

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. the deceased russian lawyer sergei magnitsky is facing a posthumous trial over tax evasion the investigation against him was closed after he died in pretrial detention in november two thousand and nine but was later reopened now the hearing planned for today has been postponed until february eighteenth after no defendants representatives showed up for the court has appointed public lawyers for magnitsky and other defendant bill browder the head of the u.k. based investment fund where the late lawyer worked as an accountant browder will be tried in absentee here with british authorities refusing to cooperate in the investigation both defendants are accused of stealing two hundred thirty million dollars from russia's budget the circumstances of magnitsky death sparked harsh criticism from the u.s. and were followed by the magnitsky act which targets russian officials allegedly involved in human rights violations now the probe into the lawyers dad hasn't revealed any evidence of abuse. s

medical workers in bahrain claim they are constantly targeted by the authorities for treating protesters in a kingdom brive with anti-government sentiment. seized russian lawyer sergei magnitsky will be tried posthumously on tax evasion charges his death and attention sell more than three years ago strained relations between moscow and washington. watching r.t. coming to live from moscow i'm marina josh and welcome to the program protesters in egypt are out of the streets again despite a curfew imposed by president mohamed morsi as part of a state of emergency measures followed deadly demonstrations against the government and unrest following the handing down of death sentences to some participants of last year's football riots local reporter bill truman has the latest from the capital. president obama issued the state of emergency yesterday in three cities. it's been a they've seen the worst violence in the last three days he will say and carries a curfew between nine pm and six am to have already been called for protests to break this curfew starting at eight pm tonight they say in def

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. well so i have for you the u.s. to fans its record in the middle east outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton gets praise from president obama who says washington played a leading role in regime change in egypt and libya remains has a dent on syria. and a big achievement for small business find out how a centuries old village shop in britain is surviving the current financial troubles i'll report on that is coming up after a short break don't go away. here the reindeer is a dangerous thing for the burgers. and when it suffers. people do their best to help go. the distance users. in the room. and unpredictable. will remedied the i'm trying. to. choose your language. of choice because we know if you're going to let us stay still some of us. choose to use the consensus you. choose the opinions that degrade to. choose the stories that imply life choose me access to often. welcome back you're watching r.t. coming to you live from moscow a posthumous trial will take place for disease russian laura sergei magnitsky who

medical workers in bahrain claim they are constant targets for the authorities for treating protesters in a kingdom rife with anti-government sentiment. to seize the russian lawyer sergei magnitsky will be tried posthumously on tax evasion charges is down a detention cell more than three years ago drain relations between moscow and washington. this is already coming to you live from moscow with me marina joshie egyptian president mohamed morsi has declared a state of emergency in the cities of port say smiley and they are surrounding areas that's in response to anti-government protest which have resulted in forty eight deaths since friday seven more people died in ports a funeral procession for previous victims with unrest they were initially sparked by death sentence verdicts in a football riot trial local reporter bell true was caught in the epicenter of the clashes in cairo. in a televised press statement for president mohamed morsi so if he sees me that's going to take us to me i hears a clashes continue in cairo. president hundred most he declared a state of emergency for thirty d

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. still to come here on our t.v. fighting to stay afloat we take a look at one of britain's oldest local shops that's found a way to fight against superstore expansion and a struggling economy. also would you expect a tank to cut in front of you on a highway this the details let's say of this road incident in a world russia just ahead for you. here the reindeer is everything for the burgers. and when it suffers. people do their best to help. the distances are. down the roads are tough and i. will no remedy be on time. well. science technology innovation all the latest developments from around russia we've got this huge area covered. here with our live from moscow now if you're interested in the russian military you can get a closer look at it by taking a drive on the country's roads battle ready aircraft and heavily armored machinery comes within meters of those driving on brussels highways earlier artie's tom barton told me what sort of military hardware you could end up seeing. you can't see anything of the moment

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. so i have for you the u.s. to fans its record to in the middle east i'm going secretary of state hillary clinton gets praise from president obama who says washington played a leading role in regime change in egypt and libya but remains hesitant on syria. a big achievement for small business find out how centuries old village shop in britain is surviving the current financial troubles our report on that coming up after the break. i. i. i i i i i i i i'm. victims multiply here each day. it's very profitable to invest in colombia with that very profitable also it is a very high return on investment. which is good though meaning he has said that i've been working in this area for thirty years you cannot always have to pay the armed groups that they needed better than other managers or change their name and strategy but just still the same murderous. high ranking suspects give no comment pretty upset on that mr president goes. to president putin. both the. i won't give an interview i'm sorry but no. investigation is

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. also i have for you the u.s. to fans its record in the middle east outgoing secretary of state hillary clinton gets praise from president obama who says washington played a leading role in regime change in interest and libya remains has a dent on syria. and a big achievement for small business find out how centuries old village shop in britain is surviving the current financial troubles our report on that coming up a little later. i. keep thinking. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear sees some other part of it and realize everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm sorry welcome to the big. wealthy british style it's time to write let's go to. the. markets. find out what's really happening to the global economy for our no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune in to gaza reports on our team. welcome back you're watching r.t. coming to you live from moscow a posthumous trial will take place for the seiz

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. but r.t. dot com right now after a failed run for presidency russia's billionaire businessman turned politician child profit is eyeing a seat in the state do you find out more on line. cuts of fancy a free pass or the fear of well an american performing arts center is offering just that all you have to do is pay slight coverage up of all this on twitter we've got all the stories on our site. now if you're interested in the russian military you can get a closer look at it by taking a drive on the country's roads that already aircraft and heavily on modern machinery comes from within meters of those driving on russia's highways and my colleague ines and now i spoke to our g.'s tom botton about what sort of military hardware you could end up seeing. you can't say anything of the moment is this driver making his way along the road and suddenly screaming out of the distance comes this fighter jet just fifty meters above the road this helicopter doing the same thing coming in very very low over a dr

and later we'll report from bahrain where doctors say they face of the same brutal treatment as the anti government protesters are trying to say. you say eight pm here in moscow you live with us on our t.v. i'm to bang with say we begin in egypt egypt's opposition has refused to attend talks called for by the president to try and stop the turmoil gripping the country the state of emergency and curfews declared in the three provinces haven't stopped egyptians from battling security forces as protesters continue to vent their anger against the government for five days in a row across one bell true has the latest from cairo. this is forces in the uniform of the national salvation front released a statement saying they were seized arnold with the president and he has not accepted responsibility for the violence from the country under the bloodshed they say they will only gauge early and dialogue with him if he takes it seriously what they said saying if they want a national salvation government they want the cabinet to resign and the constitution to be revoked in the meantime here in cairo t

and we reported from bahrain where doctors say they face the same brutal treatment as anti-government protesters they're trying to say. it's seven pm here in moscow five pm in cairo egypt where we begin our top story this hour and the opposition there have refused to attend talks called for by the president to try and stop the turmoil gripping the country the state of emergency and curfews declared in three provinces haven't stopped egyptians from battling security forces as protesters continue to vent their anger against the government for five days in a row for the latest let's now cross live to cairo we are joined by bell true who is there reporting for us about what's the word coming from the opposition why have they refused dialogue with president morsi. the opposition forces in that in the form of the national salvation front released a statement saying they refuse dialogue with the. resident as he has not accepted responsibility for the violence across the country and for the bloodshed they say they will only gaze only and to dialogue with him if he takes it seriously will they

fresh cross has three ignite in bahrain with police state gassing and detaining protesters who have demanded equal rights and announced discrimination by the authorities. new reports reveal that the f.b.i. was aware of an assassination plot against occupy wall street outfits but can never understand. the latest findings show more wrong among teachers in the u.k. as the wrong as educators complain of a lack of support from the government to. international news and comment live from moscow this is all she was me about hello and welcome to the program. bahrain has begun the new year in much the same way as it finished with a fresh wave of protests across the gulf motorcade security forces in the capital manila again used tear gas on to government demonstrators who are demanding more rights under the release of political prisoners there were several arrests as police continued that clamp down on dissent now approaching the two you have logged people have been killed and thousands descend says that uprising began in february twenty seventh bahrain's sunni rule has recently called for donald with

reporting from the kingdom of bahrain. on r.t. dot com right now after a failed run for presidency billionaire businessman turned politician hired the problem is i in the seat in the state duma find out more on the line. that fancy a free pass to the theater well an american performing arts center is offering just that all you have to do both live coverage i'll go for months on twitter by not on our website. prime minister dmitri medvedev says that russia's i'm a coincidence swapping some of that see your reasons for equities in other currencies having its bets against the eurozone weakening in the future we'll bring you the full story later today in our business program but he has a preview. brushes gold and currency reserves are estimated at around five hundred billion u.s. dollars that's quite a lot of money which needs protection especially in the times of global economic turbulence right now around forty two percent of the reserves are kept in euros most of the rest are kept in the u.s. security but according to russia's prim

fresh russia has reignited bahrain with police to add gassing un detaining protesters who demanded equal rights under mention discrimination by the authorities. new reports reveal that the f.b.i. was aware of it assassination plot against occupy wall street x. of us but never a lot of. the nation's findings that show low raw limone teachers in the u.k. is at the open. as educators complain of a lack of support from the government. international news life for most who this is all see with me you know a hello and welcome to the program. bahrain has begun the new year as much the same way as it finished the old one with a fresh wave of protests across the gulf monarchy security forces and their capital managua again used tear gas on anti government demonstrators demanding more rights and the release of political prisoners so there were several arrests as police continued that clamp down on dissent now approaching the two your mug people have been killed and thousands detained since their prizing began in february twenty levon and human rights groups are calling on bahraini sunni groups to s

there's been a fresh wave of protests in bahrain to mark twenty thirteen with unrest now just over a month away from hitting the two year mark several arrests have also been reported with police again resorting to tear gas and then violent clampdown on public gatherings the opposition is demanding a transition to democracy and the resignation of the prime minister who's held his position for over forty years bahrain's sunni monarchy recently jailed two policemen for beating a protester to death in two thousand and eleven and cut sentences for several activists who took part in that year's uprisings human rights campaigners however say political prisoners should be released and claim your forty's have no intention of carrying out reforms and activists darwish claims security forces from abroad are contributing to the violence from attacking civilians in their homes. security forces who are working for the ministry of interior and the train are practicing and auto buy in names and by nations to human rights when confronting when democracy protests and behaving practice. in many differe

police in bahrain have used tear gas on anti-government demonstrators as a gulf nation approaches the to me a mug since the start of the rest them here to us a song where the opposition movement could be heading next but later in the program . gaza struggling farmers saw turning to rooftop crops their land is often in the line of fire with israel so they're having to get creative with their harvest as we report later. for. the motion would be so much brighter if you move about some move from funds to impressions. whose friends don't talk t.v. dot com. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so for lengthly you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm sorry welcome to the big picture. welcome back more well these shoes for you know place in by. rain have used tear gas in clashes with anti-government protesters who have taken to the streets once again the demonstrators are calling for a transition to a democratically elected government and better rights for the

fresh crossroads were ignited in bahrain with police tear gassing and detaining protesters who demanded equal rights and an end to discrimination by the authorities. new reports reveal that the f.b.i. was aware of an assassination plot against occupy wall street activists but never a lot of them. and the latest findings show morale among teachers in the u.k. is a whopping total as educators complain of a lack of support from the government. hello under a very warm welcome to archie twenty four hour news live from moscow our ptomaine story now bahrain has begun the new year in much the same way as it finished the old one with a fresh way will push us across the gulf monarchy security forces in the capital managua again used tear gas on anti government demonstrators who are demanding more rights and the release of political prisoners and there were several arrests as police continue their clamp down on dissent now approaching the two year mark of eighty people have been killed and thousands detained since the uprising began in february twenty seventh bahrain's sunni rulers recently called

place in bahrain refused to sign on to government demonstrators since the gulf nation approaches the two year mark since the start of on rests they will bring analysis on where the opposition. i'll be heading the next it's going to legs for the program. and god says struggling families are turning to rooftop cross the . line of fire of israel so to get creative with all of us to report about the two . worlds of the. science technology innovation hall believes developments from around russia we've got the future covered. more news today violence is once again flared up. and these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. giant corporations rule the day. choose your language. of holy week over the influential send us a still some. choose to use the consensus here to. choose the opinions that immigrate to. choose the stories that impact your life choose me access to to off. lisa bahrain a violently suppressed ninety government demonstration with the unrest in the kingdom approaching the two year mark now the demonstrators are calling for a transition to a demo

leading to free and fair elections is this going to happen not likely troubles bring once again in bahrain police down a pro democracy ali with projects now nearing the two year mark just a few minutes. sarti looks at the legacy of the twenty twelfth that could have been of things had turned out differently and explore some of the challenges the world might face in the coming months. that's later but now the rock obama has given the green light to law increasing taxes on wealthy americans in a move to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff it follows months of political bickering among us lawmakers right up until the january first deadline if the deal hadn't been passed americans could have seen billions of dollars of tax hikes and spending cuts which were due to automatically come into effect and it surely mcgrath's from wide awake news says not all agreements are so hard to pass through the congress. when into me when the cameras are off and it's time to pass a trillion dollar nearly trillion dollar defense bill they have no problem whatsoever coming to coming together and holding hands with t

place in bahrain avani suppressed anti-government demonstration with the unrest in the kingdom approaching the two year the demonstrators are calling for a transition to a democratically elected government and better rights for the country shia majority . from the european bahraini organization for human rights claims that security forces from abroad to stoking the violence by firing tear gas into the homes of unarmed civilians. security forces who are of working for the ministry of interior and migraine are practicing and ought to buy and thence and a lot of buying nations to human rights when confronting when pro-democracy protests and behave and lot of protests and it took place in many different villages and areas around behaving and all of them all of them got a. crack they were a crackdown by that by the security forces and by hating who are most to be and not by me and they are working and and they've been super interior and if the they were grouped from different countries foreign countries like pakistan and jordan and syria and yesterday and the village where i live and sit it out

plus dying for the future of his children fresh protests in bahrain claimed the life of an l.d.s. inhaled take gas used on a peaceful demonstration that's coming away off to the right. well. science technology innovation all the latest developments from around russia we've got the future covered. you know sometimes you see a story so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize everything you thought. it was a big. news today. these are the images the world is seeing from the streets of canada. operations are all. these continues here on r.t. tear gas used by bahraini police to disperse an anti-government protest has killed an elderly man who inhaled it there were angry clashes at his funeral and his nine year old grandson who was also injured by the substance was sent abroad for treatment well for more i'm joined live by asma darwish from the european bahraini organization for human rights i gather i've just lost her now so we're not able to talk to her just for the moment but i hope that we can go to asma darwi

cross has reignited bahrain with police tear gassing undertaking protesters have demanded equal rights and this combination by the authorities. reports reveal that the f.b.i. was aware of an assassination plot against occupy wall street activists but never alerted them. on the latest findings to show them a wrong among teachers in the u.k. is that. as educators complain of a lack of support from the government. international news life this is all she was me of all of a hello and welcome to the program. bahrain has begun the new year in much the same way as it finished the old one with a fresh wave of protests across the gulf monuc eight security forces in the capital manila again used to government demonstrators who are demanding more rights on the release of political prisoners. several arrests as police continue that clampdown on dissent now approaching the two year log people have been killed and thousands detained since the uprising began in february twentieth levon sunni rulers recently called for dialogue with the opposition but compared to say the piece of torture in interrogati

troubles bring once again in bahrain please kuantan a look or see a rally with protests nearing the to get mugged well in just a few minutes. she also lives have the legacy of a twenty twelve that could have been us things had turned out differently and explore some of the challenges the world might face in the coming months. barack obama has given the green light to lure increasing taxes on wealthy americans in a move to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff it follows months of political bickering among us lawmakers right up until the january first deadline and to no deal could have meant billions of dollars of tax hikes and spending cuts which were due to also must come into effect economics expert mark skies a says that although the immediate crisis has been avoided the main underlying problems remain unresolved. the good school clerk is just more theater from bankers and politicians trying to distract people from the underlying root catastrophe that is a bunch of girls and franker who are manipulating the system day in and day out the strong the economy the first go clip was just more

fresh brush has so reaganite in bahrain with police to gassing undertaking protesters who demanded equal rights under none to discrimination by the authorities. new reports reveal that the f.b.i. was aware of an assassination plot against occupy wall street acts of it but now that i was asked that. the latest findings show moron the monk teachers in the u.k. he is a twat but as educators complain of a lack of support from the government. this is all she coming to life for most go hello and welcome to the program. the rain has begun the new year in much the same way as a finnish filled one with a fresh wave of protests across the gulf monarchy security forces and the company again use ted danson on to government demonstrators demanding more rights on the release of political prisoners that was several arrests as police continue that clamp down on dissent now approaching the two year mark after eighty people have been killed and thousands detained since the uprising began in february twenty seventh human rights groups are calling on bahrain's sunni rumors to start a dialogue with the oppos

in the persian gulf arab countries where there are striking similarities out there with kuwait in bahrain in terms of how protesters are dealt with both countries have been off the media radar though compared to other arab nations which enjoy those uprisings why is that you think. it's obvious that the united states and nato countries desire to keep their thousands of troops in kuwait and in fact when i was just say that the summer family are probably better than they could be having them they could be even worse than they are and as we've seen of course there been demonstrations in bahrain and of course saudi arabia where i'm not being covered on any corporate media it's very difficult to cover the brutal suppression of human rights in these nato and u.s. backed dictatorships there is no way that countries like the one i'm speaking to you from let alone washington or the united states will countenance democracy in these countries and let's hope that those demonstrators and people striving for democracy in kuwait and in bahrain will some of the strength to keep on supporting democracy let

to the weekly here on r t with me rory sushi the world update in just a sec but for now police in bahrain have again violently suppressed an anti-government demonstration with the unrest in the kingdom approaching the two year mark the protesters are calling for a transition to a democratically elected government and better rights for the country's shia majority asma darwish from the european bahraini organization for human rights claims that security forces from abroad are trying to stoke the violence by firing tear gas into the homes of unarmed civilians. security forces who are of working for the ministry of interior and my brain are practicing a lot of buy in ends and a lot of violations to human rights when confronting when pro-democracy protests and behave in and out of practice took place in many different video does and areas around behaving and all of them all of them got a. crack they were a crackdown by that by the security forces and behaving who are mostly and not by me and they are working and an end of any super interior and the they were brought from different countries fo

consumer law center, criticized the deal, telling the associated press -- opposition activists in bahrain are vowing to continue protests despite the court's decision to uphold the prison terms of 13

or there have been too short and bahrain has unlike to what the what they are claiming like they are in karjat human rights in different countries arab countries but when it comes to buying they use double standard so the process there is here and by having a look they are those radical processors they are the minority and not the majority but they are using such methods to prevent them violent security forces from entering their religion and attacking it on armed civilians and children like we witnessed and a big deal and also of the four year old child being affected by security forces with tear gas canisters. this is a. this week a lot of stumped allowing the u.s. military to detain terrorist suspects indefinitely including americans without charge or trial the national defense authorization act it also extends the restrictions on transferring detainees out of guantanamo for another year a veteran congressman dennis kucinich thinks that of the move is ultimately part of a pattern that undermines democracy right now we're much more of a garrison and garrison plus. a powerful milita

troubles bring once again in bahrain as police crackdown on a pretty democracy volley with flashlights not hearing at city again only just a few minutes. trying on promises human rights groups crying foul of america's defiance which allows suspects to be detained indefinitely and keeps the gun time of a prison open. barack obama has given the green light to a new increasing taxes on wealthy americans in a move to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff it follows months of political bickering among us to make this right up until january the first deadline and option could have meant billions of dollars of tax hikes and spending cuts which were due to automatically come in to fact economics expert says that although an immediate crisis has been avoided the main underlying problems remain unresolved the fiscal cliff is just more theater bankers and politicians trying to distract people from the underlying root catastrophe that is a bunch of girls and frankly who are manipulating the system day in and day out the strong the economy the fiscal cliff more bro more theater it doesn't really focus o

police in bahrain have again violently surprised an anti government demonstration with unrest in the kingdom approaching the two year mark protesters are calling for a transition to democracy elected government and better rights for the country's share my choice eisma darwish from the european bahraini organization for human rights claims that security forces from abroad are stoking the violence by firing tear gas into the homes of unarmed civilians. security forces who are working for the ministry of interior and my pain are practicing and all to by and then i love to violation of human rights when confronting when pro-democracy protests and behaving a lot of process took place and many different villages and areas around behaving and all of them all of them. and they were a crackdown by that by the security forces and by hey who are most to be and not by me and they are working. and them and so and period and they they were going from different countries foreign countries like pakistan and jordan and syria and yesterday and the village where i live in and it was tear gas to city by

or there have been two should and bahrain it is unlike to what to what they are actually making like they are in cars and human rights in different countries arab countries but when it comes to buying they use double standard so the process there is here and by having although they are those rights because process they are the minority and not the majority but they are using such methods to prevent of them violent security forces from entering them there is their religion and attacking it on armed civilians and children like we witnessed and a big deal and also of the four year old child being attacked by security forces with tear gas canisters. and you can always log onto our web site for more opinions and analysis about the protests ongoing in bahrain you know the score it's a r.t. dot com. now it's been revealed that the f.b.i. knew of a plot to assassinate members of the occupy wall street movement but didn't alert them to the potential danger it follows revelations that the bureau was spying on activists from the very start of the protests and even branded them domestic terror a

fleet based in bahrain to attack the islamic republic today. u.s. military planners could hope that bahrain's population would be passive, as i think they assumed maybe each five years ago -- maybe even five years ago, but today that clearly seems reckless. for all the ridiculing many american policy elites do of the islamic republic, the islamic republic's appeal to regional publics actually works. it works to constrain the united states and hostile, unrepresentative, pro-western governments neighboring iran. iran has also worked to reip force these -- reinforce these aspects of it soft power strategy over a number of years by picking what we would call winnerrers. for example, hamas, hezbollah, shia groups in iraq, even the muslim brotherhood in egypt as its political allies in key regional arenas across the middle east. and this yearslong bet by the islamic republic of iran on these groups has paid off, because now their regional allies have become the most influential players in their respective arenas today. the result is that today it is