In fact, that's a major source of discontent in Bahrain. Not only are the security forces recruited from outside, but the members are fast-tracked to citizenship as part of a deliberate government strategy to alter the demographic balance.[*] (All detailed in a report by a government employee who--somewhat ironically--was himself of foreign origin and found himself forcibly deported for his pains.) And if that weren't enough, they may already have allowed Saudi forces into the country in order to help suppress the unrest. In any case the Al-Khalifa family wouldn't hesitate to do that if they felt their position seriously threatened. (The Saudis, who have their own restive Shia minority just across the border, might even attempt move in unilaterally if they saw the situation deteriorating.)
But as I mentioned earlier, I think Bahrain is more like Egypt than Libya because of its susceptibility to outside pressure. I mean, the US has its freakin' 5th Fleet there, after all! It's no coincidence that violent suppression of protests in Bahrain came to a halt after a phone call from Obama and I think the army's unwillingness to fire on its own citizens in Egypt was at least somewhat influenced by the administration's vocal comments about "reviewing" the $1.3 billion in military aid they get from the US annually.
[*] Which, of course, nurtures an ugly nativist streak among the Shia opposition. This is especially regretful, because Bahrain is one of the few Gulf states that's actually humane in its treatment of immigrants.
no subject
But as I mentioned earlier, I think Bahrain is more like Egypt than Libya because of its susceptibility to outside pressure. I mean, the US has its freakin' 5th Fleet there, after all! It's no coincidence that violent suppression of protests in Bahrain came to a halt after a phone call from Obama and I think the army's unwillingness to fire on its own citizens in Egypt was at least somewhat influenced by the administration's vocal comments about "reviewing" the $1.3 billion in military aid they get from the US annually.
[*] Which, of course, nurtures an ugly nativist streak among the Shia opposition. This is especially regretful, because Bahrain is one of the few Gulf states that's actually humane in its treatment of immigrants.