Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Gulf Air has recently issued a statement announcing the resumption of flights with Iraq after a four-year hiatus, in an anticipated move following the operation of flights between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Najaf specifically. 

What's certain is that a decision of this magnitude was not made independently by Gulf Air, but rather came based on high-level orders, much like the decision to suspend flights with Iraq, Iran, and Qatar previously.

Since 2011, many have been anticipating the next step for Bahrain, based on decisions issued by neighboring countries, specifically Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as Bahrain has tied its fate to their financial assistance. Therefore, decisions made based on this matter are mostly ill-considered, illogical, or not in the country's best interest.

Returning to Bahrain's announcement of the resumption of flights with Iraq, did the decision-maker expect Bahrainis to rush to book through the national carrier, while security approvals are still required? Or will these individuals prefer to go to Dammam Airport, which is less than 100 kilometers away from Bahrain, and does not require security approvals?

However, it is undoubtedly a decision resulting from the policies of subordination for which Bahrain has become known over the past years. Who could forget Bahrain's participation in the war on Yemen, in which it had no stake, leading to the deaths of several defense force members on more than one occasion?

Similarly, regarding the decision to boycott Qatar, which requested that Bahrain take the lead, can any official today explain Bahrain's interest in it? Wasn't the boycott harmful to Bahrain in the short and long term? Didn't Bahrain see itself outside the financial interests resulting from Qatar organizing the FIFA World Cup a year and a half ago due to the subordination policies that governed its relations with Doha? Didn't dozens of Qataris declare the financial aid Bahrain received from Qatar just a few weeks before the boycott decision, and does the decision-maker expect Qatar to provide any financial assistance to this country filled with political and economic time bombs that could explode at any moment?

Just two months ago, didn't we accidentally discover that Bahrain is participating with the UAE in a secret war in Somalia, and that it cost lives just like the Yemen war, and that Bahrain's participation would never have happened without the subordination policies, which have become a burden too heavy for the country to bear?

Unfortunately, we are living in the worst stages of the country's politics, where the decision-maker has decided that suppressing his people and not meeting their legitimate demands are worthy sacrifices for political decision-making and state sovereignty, which have become the subject of ridicule for the citizens of Gulf countries directly or indirectly, to the point where the island of Bahrain is called "Retweet Island".

Arabic Version