US balancing act on Bahrain
US faces tough task advocating democracy while dealing with key strategic ally in the region.
Published On 19 Feb 2011
Barack Obama, the US president, has called on Bahrain to exercise restraint following a violent government crackdown on protests.
However, with the US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, Obama is having to balance calls for democracy with his countrty’s strategic interests in the region.
Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington.