U.S. Silence on Bahrain Crackdown Ignores Iraq Factor

Current U.S. policy toward Bahrain neglects the potential adverse
consequences on U.S. interests in Iraq. If Iran were the
only country outraged by the suppression of the Bahraini protests, it
would have made sense for the United States to focus on preserving its
strategic relations with Bahrain and Saudi
Arabia. But the crackdown has infuriated Shiites in Iraq, where
they dominate the central government.