Anyone following the news knows that Bahrain continues to experience disturbances. Although they are isolated and much smaller now, they often include acts of violence, destruction of property or efforts to obstruct movement through the capital. This demonstrates that the vast majority of Bahrainis are willing to trust the reform process the government has begun and that the hard line opposition is increasingly isolated.
Inevitably, these are described as "pro-democracy demonstrations," although few writers have bothered to report whether the ideology of these groups is truly democratic. These protests often include leaders of groups claiming to be defenders of human rights in Bahrain. They enjoy substantial support from the international human-rights community, as do the medical professionals whose questionable behavior was cited by the Commission. They report as impartial human-rights observers on the very demonstrations in which they participate. This does not seem to trouble the human-rights organizations that have invested so heavily in building their credibility.
Nonetheless, the government of Bahrain is committed to pursuing an aggressive path of reform and reconciliation, and it has already taken a number of important steps to reinstate workers and students, guarantee the proper treatment of persons under arrest, reform and retrain the security forces, prosecute those responsible for abuse and broaden participation in government.
Bahrain has always been an outpost of progressivism and tolerance in the Arab world. The excesses we have set out to correct are an aberration that emerged in a period of unprecedented stress for which we were woefully unprepared.
Bahrain's redemption begins with the acceptance of truth based on the findings of the BICI. Progress will come if everyone makes that commitment - including the opposition, the international human-rights community and the international press.
It's easy. Just read the report.
