Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Bahrain is mounting a campaign to block the appointment
of the new U.S. ambassador to the Gulf Cooperation Council kingdom.

Two petitions have been organized against President Barack Obama’s
nominee for the new U.S. ambassador to Manama. The online petitions said
Thomas Krajeski, approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct.
18, was a supporter of the Shi’ite revolt against the Sunni leadership in
the spring of 2011.

“Bahrain has not officially participated but is allowing the petitions
to gather signatures, which clearly signals its support,” a Western diplomat
said.

The petitions asserted that Krajeski was a key critic of human rights
violations by Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, during the
Shi’ite revolt. They also said Krajeski met with Al Wefaq, the Shi’ite
opposition alleged by Manama to be financed by Iran.

In October, Bahrain’s Sunni-dominated parliament passed a resolution
that expressed no-confidence in Krajeski. The deputies called on King Hamad
to veto the appointment of Krajeski, who earlier served in Iraq.

“He has a volatile agenda against Bahrain,” parliamentarian Ali Ahmed
said.

  Bahrain, Bahrain petitions against Obama’s ambassador appointee, Barack Obama, Iraq, Shi’ite, Thomas Krajeski