Foiling assassination plot: New success for Bahrain's anti-terror policy

Manama, Dec. 26 (BNA): The verdict pronounced by the Military Court on Monday has highlighted two major undeniable facts that reflect the potential of the good land of Bahrain and the great tasks undertaken by those fully dedicated to defending its capabilities and protecting its lands. The first fact is that the Kingdom continues to be targeted by the forces of evil that are filled with hostility for its leaders and with hatred for its men and women. The second fact is that Bahrain will remain steadfast in the face of anyone who tries to undermine its stability and will strike with an iron fist anybody who plans to harm the security of its people. Bahrain is among the few countries that are blessed to be the home of outstanding people who have wholeheartedly dedicated their bodies and souls to their homeland and who endeavour day and night to protect its sons, daughters and iconic figures and to defend its numerous achievements, various accomplishments and frequent gains. Several indications and conclusions can be reached from a careful reading of the details of the case considered by the Military Court. They are in their core the source of strength of this country and the foundations of its ability to withstand the despicable onslaught and the huge amount of slander and aggression that have invariably been confronted bravely and courageously by the bold sons and valiant daughters of Bahrain. Among such indications, there is the deep belief by Bahrain and its various institutions, particularly the Bahrain Defence Force, in the need to confront quickly and directly any attempt to sow the seeds of strife and terrorism within the country or in any of its establishments, first and foremost the Bahrain Defence Force. This well-anchored belief holds a greater significance when the attempts are commissioned or supported by outside forces and shamelessly exploit weak souls to fissure the cohesion of the nation and the unity of society. This is self-evident in view of the nature of the terrorist crime that was thwarted and some of the details that have been revealed. The members of the terror cell, some of whom are fugitive, are organisationally linked to one another, have their connections abroad and receive their mandates, instructions and orders from there. The cell also has extensions and funding and inflammatory arms deployed in some neighbouring countries, including Iran. They even receive logistical support and direct funding from there, as confirmed by the case documents. This ominous conspiracy cannot be separated from the terrorist attacks, acts of vandalism and rioting in Bahrain that targeted security men, facilities, citizens and residents. This is confirmed by the criminal record of the convicts. Many of them were implicated in previous crimes and convicted by courts of law. Many of them were also implicated in external conflicts and received intensive training on how to use firearms, explosives and other incendiary devices. However, and despite all the threats, conspiracies and plots, the verdict was a great source of comfort and reassurance for it proved, once more, that the Bahrain Defence Force was totally ready and fully apt to deal with the situation. The Force was able to detect the conspiracy and to monitor closely its threats and tentacles while its anti-terrorism agencies were capable of identifying and arresting the conspirators and of investigating their links with one another and their relations with criminal cells both in Bahrain and abroad. The conspirators were naturally referred to justice to answer for their questionable action against their homeland and their crimes against its sons and iconic figures who have devoted their lives to serving it in every possible way. The arrest and trial of the conspirators by a court of law are highly significant in validating the impressive efforts by the Bahrain Defence Force under the directives of His Majesty the King and the follow-up by its Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to contain extremism under all its forms and to combat terrorism in all its manifestations with the assistance of other security agencies. These efforts are also highly significant in securing the domestic front of the homeland in general and in preserving one of its most important institutions, especially that the Bahrain Defence Force is tasked with safeguarding the independence of the country and protecting its sovereignty while it makes absolutely sure that it is not affected by anything that may in any way disrupt its national duties and its sacred missions. Another indication that was highlighted by the trial was the deep sense of patriotism within the various institutions and agencies of the state, the high level of commitment within the departments involved in combating terrorism and the extensive awareness of the commanders of the Bahrain Defence Force itself and its officers of the magnitude and seriousness of conspiracies targeting Bahrain as a nation, people and leaders, both in past times and at the moment. Such conspiracies and plans - that were started long ago - and all desperate attempts to sow the seeds of strife and chaos have failed thanks to the tight cohesion of the men and women of Bahrain with their leaders, the Kingdom's uncompromising commitment to combat terrorism and eliminate its reasons regardless of any form it may take. The solidarity of the people of Bahrain with the competent national institutions and agencies, especially the Bahrain Defence Force with its special links to all Bahraini homes, has also been instrumental in foiling attempts to target the nation. The achievement by the counterterrorism efforts within the Bahrain Defence Force in foiling the attempt to assassinate the Commander-in-Chief is an indication of the success of the numerous initiatives, plans and actions launched by the Kingdom over the years to minimise and eliminate any despicable attempt driven by criminal ideas to target the internal security of the homeland. It also demonstrates the critical role of the competent agencies in dealing successfully with terror groups that have since 2011 committed several criminal acts that targeted the achievements of Bahrain, the most recent of which was the bombing of the oil pipeline in Buri early in November.