Bahrain to hire ex-US police chief for reforms

Posted by: I am a Sunni Monday, 5 December 2011 8:10 AM[UAE] - USA

Will the former police chief of Florida be given the freedom to act based on what he sees right. His experience was in a democratic country and he is going to an autocratic government. I think the former police chief experience would be beneficial once Bahrain is democratic.

Posted by: Vicky Sunday, 4 December 2011 5:53 PM[UAE] - Canada

However, I bet Mr.Timoney's didn't test his success against a monarchic structure and spin-as-you-go regulatory structure. Despite all its diversity, Miami has a set of universal law enforcement system. Mr.Timoney will have to find out if he gets the space to float fresh ideas and tweak decades old mind set in Bahrain. Otherwise, the inspirational move might turn out to be a cosmetic exercise.

Posted by: Nasreen Sunday, 4 December 2011 9:42 AM[UAE] - Bahrain

It still amazes me how the media is still using the shia majorty story "protests by majority Shi'ite Muslims against the Sunni-led government." when in reality it has been cleared a number of times that this is not the case and there are no official statistics on it.

Posted by: Khalil Saturday, 3 December 2011 4:07 PM[UAE] - Bahrain

Yousif, you are wrong ! newly hired US officers will realise that people like you are not thankful at all no matter what the government does for you !!

Bahrain will do its best to protect its people and the country in the best interest for the future of Bahrain. These guys will never be thankful as all they want is violence and riots !

We shall focus in the betterment of the country with or without trouble makers

Posted by: Mohammed Saturday, 3 December 2011 1:01 PM[UAE] - bahrain

This shows the concern and good will of Bahrain and begin implementing reforms.

Asusual, Bahrain will do everything in the interests of its people as they have done in the past but still some thankless crying babies will never cease to cry, no matter what good the country might do for them.

There is saying that these crying babies in Bahrain must know "DONOT ASK WHAT COUNTRY HAS GIVEN TO YOU, BUT ASK YOURSELVES WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO YOUR COUNTRY"

In last few months, these crying babies have tarnished the Bahrain's reputation by spreading lies, disturbed peace in this lovely country, brought economy down by creating havoc/riots, and they are so blind to understand that in the long run, it is going to effect all of us in Bahrain.

Posted by: Adam Ali Rothstein Friday, 9 December 2011 4:20 PM[UAE] - USA

@Berational

Your logic is the same as, "All the other kids are doing it, so why can't we?" Just because others do it doesn't make it right.

I "single out" Bahrain because the subject under discussion is Bahrain, not any other country.

Posted by: Berational Wednesday, 7 December 2011 8:40 AM[UAE] - UAE

Adam, name one country that does not discriminate among people in public sector jobs. Some do it for power, some racism, some religious, etc. So why single out Bahrain it it does. Autocratic governments do it openly, democracies find other ways (corruption, etc). Discrimination is everywhere, you need not go thousands of miles away to Bahrain to prove it, you can see it in your backyard, if you have the eyes to "see" it.

Posted by: Adam Ali Rothstein Tuesday, 6 December 2011 9:15 PM[UAE] - USA

@keenObzerver:

The Bahrain government has discriminatory policies, plain and simple. You say it yourself when you say, "I have to agree that Shias have limited access to army and police jobs."

And it "imports" Sunnis, not just for the police but for the local population, to change the demographic balance against Shias. That is why it is so open to giving citizenship to Sunnis from Pakistan, etc.

@mohammed sharbatly
"Being a national of the country doesnt qualify everyone to become a military or a police officer. "

That is called discrimination, in this case, against the Shias.

Posted by: mohammed sharbatly Sunday, 4 December 2011 5:06 PM[UAE] - bAHRAIN

to adam....Yes....no big deal. Profiling of people is a state and government right. Speciality when hiring people in Military and security forces.

Being a national of the country doesnt qualify everyone to become a military or a police officer.

Posted by: keenObzerver Sunday, 4 December 2011 5:06 PM[UAE] - UK

@ Adam Rothstein
Obviously you think you are 100% right.

Shias have full access to high ranking Govt jobs and before the riots held positions including; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Health, etc..
They had the majority seats of the elected parliament before quitting en masse.
They dominate the private sector, practically control the economy, an overwhelming number of leading businesses are owned and run by Shias.
Bahrain shias are not a single community, some are Arab, and others are Persian, and have historically mixed loyalties. Imagine how these riots would have been if the rioters were armed with police/army weapons ?
I have to agree that Shias have limited access to army and police jobs.
Bahrain police is dominated by expats, not even local Sunnis.
However the Goct has been recently open to increased local recruitment, with many shias working in community police programs.
Almost all the people i know in Bahrain support the Govt and the recent reforms.