Bans on the sale of US weaponry to Bahrain have been described as “unhelpful in every regard” by a top American commander, who was based here as he oversaw naval operations in one of the most tumultuous regions in the world.
It follows criticism by some politicians and rights activists in the US, who opposed the US State Department’s decision in June to lift a ban on security assistance to the Bahrain Defence Force and National Guard put in place after 2011.
However, US Vice Admiral John Miller told the GDN that the decision to remove the ban was a correct one.
“Bahrain is a key partner for us and a great partner for us,” he said.
“We recently lifted the Foreign Military Sales hold with Bahrain, I’m very supportive of having lifted the hold. I don’t think it did us or the Bahrainis, or the relationship with the Bahrainis, any good.
“I thought it was unhelpful in every regard. Certainly the US is a big supporter of human rights and we appreciate the efforts the Bahraini government is taking to improve their human rights record – and we applaud the efforts.
“Every government works on human rights and every government should, but if you look at what we do in the Fifth Fleet here in Bahrain – we couldn’t do the job we do throughout the entire region without the tremendous support of the Bahraini government.
“Anything we do to help them (Bahrain) improve their military capability helps us do our job, helps security throughout the region and we ought to be doing that and I’m supportive of it.”
Vice Admiral Miller was speaking shortly after handing over command of US Naval Forces Central Command, the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
The post is normally held for two years, but he served in the role for three years and four months at a time of massive instability – even for the Middle East.
“It’s a big job, but you get a lot of help,” he said.
He declined to divulge what his next role might be, but added “I’ll certainly be back one way or another”.
“Most of my time as a flag officer I have been in this region and half that time I’ve lived here (in Bahrain),” he said.
“This is kind of home for me and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve come to love Bahrain and the Bahraini people. It’s almost hard to believe I’m leaving.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever completely leave. Some part of it will stay with me.”
One reason for that is his experiences in Bahrain, where he has lived for the past five years.
“I am enormously grateful to the people of Bahrain who have been so kind and hospitable, not just to me but my family and to our sailors,” he said.
“It’s unique, particularly here in the region. There is no other place in the region, this is the only (naval) base we have and this is the only place where our families live in Bahrain.
“We don’t live on the base, we live among the people. They are our friends, they are our neighbours and it’s unique and special.”
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