Bahrain Mirror-Exclusive: Brian Dooley, director of Human Rights First's Human Rights Defenders Program, said in an article published by the Huffington Post that the Pentagon should "immediately send a clear-eyed, detailed assessment of the security situation and its implications for the estimated 8,200 U.S. personnel to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate."

Dooley indicated that "Congress was waiting this assessment from the Department of Defense," adding that "So far this is four months overdue."

He stressed that the Congress Congress has requested an analysis of "how the current security situation in Bahrain affects the safety of U.S. personnel in the kingdom," and asked the Pentagon to suggest alternative locations should they have to move.

"A further splintering of society, the continued rise of sectarianism, and the choking of all opposition and civil society voices by the Bahraini government pose a risk to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, its service personnel and their dependents," he further stated.

Dooley stated that congress needs an analysis it can use to determine a new course for Washington-Bahrain relations, adding "the Obama Administration policy of muted public criticism of the ruling family's repression, while arming Bahrain's military, is clearly not encouraging the kingdom towards reform."

"The cold, meticulous dissection of this crisis and its implication for U.S. personnel that the Pentagon owes Congress is already 115 days overdue," he highlighted.

Brian Dooley, director of Human Rights First's Human Rights Defenders Program, stressed that the latest developments in Bahrain, including dissolving Al-Wefaq, trying Nabeel Rajab, revoking Sheikh Isa Qassim's citizenship and preventing prominent figures of the civil society from leaving the country, have led a series of expert analysts to predict a worsening security situation, stressing that on June 16, Senator John McCain warned that "the latest escalation could contribute to further unrest and violence."

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