"People in the Gulf don't think that there is real opposition" in Bahrain

"... Abdullah al Askar, deputy head of the Shura Council's foreign relations committee, said "the Saudi people appreciate" that Mr Obama took note of the fact that "Iran is putting its fingers into the internal affairs of Bahrain." However, "people in the Gulf don't think that there is real opposition" in Bahrain that can dialogue with the government because the Bahraini opposition wants "to bring down the government and establish an Islamic republic" influenced by Iran. On the other hand, Mr Askar thought Mr Obama was too wishy-washy on Syria,... Sociologist Khalid al Dakhil agreed that Mr Obama was not tough enough on Syria. "He knows that reform is almost impossible with this regime. It's incapable to make any political reform," he said..."