Recent legislation has been passed by the US
State Department that allows for the resume of arm sales to Bahrain. Conflict
arises with this decision because many people believe that the US should not
aid a country that purposefully represses peaceful protesters. In Bahrain, the
ruling regime has been cracking down on anyone who stands in the way of their
power, such as human rights activists, and opposing leaders. The reason the
State Department went through with this legislation is because the leaders have
said that they have fully implemented the recommendations of the Bahrain
Independent Commission of Inquiry, but in reality, have only established 5 out
of the 26. In the last paragraph, the author, Ron Wyden, states that he
strongly disagrees, and that, “The United States should only restart these arms
sales in response to real reform, not continued repression,” (Wyden para.
12). Wyden is definitely considered a
credible source based on the fact that he has significant experience in the
field of foreign policy, and that he has been in the House of Representatives
for 15 years. He has been in the senate for almost 20 years. The audience of
his op-ed is most likely adults aged 21-35. These are the people that are most
involved in the news, and the one with very strong political views. Wyden’s
purpose is clear; to argue that the passing of the bill to resume arm exchange
with Bahrain only shows that we are supporting repression, and not reform. He
delivers this message with rhetorical devices such as allusions. In the middle
of the editorial, he alludes to the prior events that have happened in the
Middle East, where peaceful protests lead to violence and chaos, started by the
regime trying to repress their activists. For this reason, I believe Wyden to
be successful in conveying his message of the fact that we must not support
those trying to repress freedom.
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