Most of the world muslims are SUNI ( > 85%). Majority of SHIA muslims live in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain.
One remembers Saddam, a Suni leader of the Shia majority in Iraq. He is no more now, but a similar case exists in Bahrain; A Suni king rules the Shia majority.
In the past couple of days something unprecedented happened in Bahrain. The Saudis sent two rounds of troops to help the king of Bahrain control the uprising. The US in the past commented against the leaders in Egypt, Lybia, and Tunisia, but failed to comment on the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia explicitly. It is no secret that the US want to see/spread democracy only in a few countries of their choice.
Saudi Arabia is the primary source of oil to the US and probably the Saudis have asked the US to stay out of Bahrain conflict. In essence the Saudis have silently claimed it is their business to take care of the Shiites in Bahrain.
Will Iran (only other Shiite country) take any drastic decision to protect the Shiites in Bahrain? - is the key question. We should watch out for their answer in the next few days.
The US has a strong base both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Should Iran act, we know who the US are going to support...
The Bahrain conflict thus has the potential to do some serious damage to the current Middle East geo-political situation. If anything serious happens the oil prices might even go higher than $200 a barrel.
The US media is focused on Japan for now, but what happens to Bahrain is more important to the US.
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