Merry Christmas. Somebody Had A Party

This is an interesting old photo, isn't it? At some point a rat got part of it, but ...

it's still as easy as pie
to identify two still in the public eye.

Must have been a classy establishment. It's not the Italian-tailored, Savile Row and Jermyn Street attire that you and Khalifa and one of the bin Daij or bin Mubarak brothers were wearing, or the petite covered candles on the tables or the (no doubt) ice water in the pitcher and glasses on the teeny, tiny table. No, look at the occupants of the table behind your head. Blondie gave away the game. Did you know? She might have worked for us, but I cannot confirm.

Oh look! You signed it, right over the lamp. So sweet, just like the look on your face. You boys are are smiling about something, that's for sure. (Hmm, maybe it's necessary to click on the photos to see ALL the details.)

I dunno. What does it say?

Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Casual Photos, Bahrain 1965

Remember when I said the photos were upcoming. Well, here's a photo for the ages. Well, from ages ago, like many of the others in the collections. I know you will be surprised. It's true. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Uncle Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa with his cigarette and qahwa Arabiyya at the old race track, Bahrain 1965, while the island was still a British Protectorate. Where's that photograph of Anne, anyway? You know, the pretty English woman we teens were told was his wife when she came to the bowling alley in Awali and we were there, too.

And here's another, this time with his shades on. He always was a shady character.

but ever so handsome, according to the older ladies. He was smiling at Mother.

Big Things in Little Packages

Is it not strange that your security services in Bahrain somehow missed the importation of rather large amounts of explosives? That they somehow didn't find bomb-making facilities when they can find someone in the bathroom in the middle of the night?

I recall thinking it strange that somehow a bomb was brought into the U.S. Consulate in Bahrain between September 1980 and March 1981 and missed by security, ours and yours. I didn't find out who did it before leaving, but I think the "how" was said to be in small packages.

Of course that was before finding out that you were involved in the so-called coup attempt that your government blamed on Iran. Still at it, yes?

Photographs and Letters

They will be up shortly. Your long, wondering wait will be over.

Send The Khawalids with Nasser and Khalid to Yemen

So, mister self-crowned king, you're going to send two of your sons to show off their military skills in the Saudi's disastrous war in Yemen, according to an Al-Arabiya article today. So brave of you.

It would mean much more to the majority of Bahrainis if you'd send off the Khawalids to Marib as well, before the Hajj and the change in Saudi leadership upcoming. It will save the Khawalids from the necessity of kissing the nose of the "young general," the 28-year old displacing his older cousin to become the new crown prince, cleverly manipulating a father who, as we say, is a taco and enchilada short of a combination plate.

Saad Hariri Is An Idiot

You're welcome.

He's nothing like his father except for the mustache dye.

Rice

I need some rice. Also, the grand piano and the small villa to put it in, as you promised. I've finished my service as your political advisor and truly hope that you take my advice.

I learned what your promises were worth long ago, so perhaps others may break their promises to you.

I don't need your rice. It is miserly anyway.

Retirement Age

You've reached it. Retire already. Take your cane to steady yourself as you walk away. You won't need your uncle or Khalid or Abdullah to carry you anymore. You can do it all by yourself. Prove Danny O'Leary wrong. He said that you'd have to be carried all the way.

Birthday Suggestions

This year I offer some further suggestions for your birthday. First, you should pardon Sheikh Ali Salman of Al Wefaq today.

Next, send uncle Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman to Saudi Arabia and a glorious retirement with all his children, grand children and great-grand children. He deserves it and so does Bahrain.

Third, you should publicly confess and apologize for your role in the 1981 coup, along with those of Khalid and Khalifa, the so-called Khawalids. You know what you did. Bahrainis should know, too.

Finally, you should abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Salman in order to "spend more time with your families."

#FreeAliSalman

https://twitter.com/hashtag/freealisalman

Happy birthday, Hamad. Many happy returns.

Anticipation

It's coming tomorrow. Wait for it.