Saudi Arabia: 'That thing in Bahrain, was not a crackdown!'

"... The level of denial about Bahrain, which is the kingdom’s key concern in the region, was startling. One delegate said there was “no major crackdown” in Bahrain, despite the fact that the security forces opened fire..... Another shura member said that Bahrain’s Shia community, was essentially content... the Saudis’ failure to accept that Bahrainis had any legitimate claims for political reform and greater equality was alarming. There was an admission from one panelist “something must be done” about Bahrain’s unpopular prime minister, who initially at least was the chief target of protesters’ anger. But that was as far as it went, and that panelist stressed that his was not the majority view in Saudi Arabia..."