Repressing Democracy, With American Arms

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/opinion/sunday/kristof-repressing-democracy-with-american-arms.html?_r=1

Kristof focuses on the proposed $53 million arms sale with Bahrain that Obama must decide whether to approve. He concedes the fact that Bahrain does serve as a useful buffer state between Iran and America, and U.S. naval bases are stationed in Bahrain. Kristof then raises doubts whether America should support the Kingdom of Bahrain since it supports "systematic, violent oppression." By providing arms to tyranny, America is ruining its own reputation to uphold democracy. Kristof enforces this opinion by writing about two victims of the Bahrain regime which emphasize the Bahrain government's evils.