Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Bahrain has denied a report in its state-controlled media that the United States was plotting against Arab governments.

The Manama government said remarks attributed to a former U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of an American plan to destabilize Bahrain and Egypt had been fabricated.

[ Former Joint Chiefs chairman: Obama plotted to destabilize regimes in Bahrain, Egypt – Oct. 3:]

The Bahraini Communications Ministry denied reports in the Gulf Arab kingdom’s media that quoted [Ret.] Gen. Hugh Shelton as saying that Washington was working against the regimes in Cairo and Manama, Middle East Newsline reported.

“Recent claims in local and regional media regarding comments made by Gen. Hugh Shelton are completely fabricated,” the Bahrain Communications Ministry said. “It is important to note, that the United States and Bahrain enjoy a strong bilateral relationship on many levels that has lasted for nearly seven decades.”

In early October, Bahrain’s Gulf Daily News and its sister publication, Akhbar Al Khaleej, published remarks by Shelton to Fox news in which the former Joint Chiefs chairman was quoted as saying that the purported plot by the administration of President Barack Obama was foiled by Bahraini King Hamad in 2011.

“Gen. Shelton confirmed he had never given — and will never give — such
a false statement,” the U.S. embassy in Manama said. “He also said he had
never appeared on Fox News to talk about Bahrain and that it was in 2010
when he last appeared on Fox News to present his autobiography.”

Akhbar Al Khaleej editor Anwar Abdul Rahman said he has confirmed Shelton’s remarks. An article in the Gulf Daily News said it stood by its story. Subsequently, Shelton, who retired in 2001 and has since criticized the longtime U.S. ban on the Iranian opposition, also denied the reported remarks.

“I am dismayed at reports that attribute to me false allegations
regarding U.S. government attempts to destabilize the governments of Bahrain
and Egypt,” Shelton said in a statement. “I did not make these statements,
and they do not reflect my views. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge, the
interview never happened.”

An editor at Fox News said there was no record of a recent interview with Gen. Shelton but could not rule out an interview with another Fox affiliate.

The U.S. denial of Shelton’s remarks came amid rising tension between
Manama and Washington. The Bahraini media have published criticism of
Washington’s reconciliation effort toward Iran, which angered the Gulf
Cooperation Council.

“I heard from more than one U.S. ambassador that the administration
believes history has left the ruling families of the Gulf behind,” former
U.S. ambassador to Manama, Adam Ereli, said.

“They reflect on our precipitous abandonment of Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, a steadfast ally
for 30 years, and wonder if they are next.”

  Adam Ereli, Bahrain, Gen. Hugh Shelton, Gulf Daily News, King Hamad, U.S. embassy deny reports of statements attributed to Gen. Shelton