Al_Khalifa - First Light

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FIRST LIGHT

FIRST LIGHT

Modern Bahrain and
its Heritage

HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA

First published in 1994 by

Kegan Paul International

This edition first published in 2011 by

Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa 1994

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 10: 0-7103-0494-3 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-0-7103-0494-0 (hbk)

Publishers Note

The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent. The publisher has made every effort to contact original copyright holders and would welcome correspondence from those they have been unable to trace.

Dedication

To the memory of the Unknown Soldier who defended our land throughout history

To those who are pledged to truth and justice in the cause of progress for our nation

To my son Salman and the new generations of this country

I dedicate this book

Contents

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Preface

We who have grown up and lived under the skies of Bahrain owe our nation a weighty obligation. The love we hold for our homeland is in the spirit of our religion which confirms that patriotism is an article of faith. Just as there are patriots in the history of every people who sacrificed to serve the nation which nurtured and protected them, our tradition tells of the many who have shed their blood for this land and given everything for its sake. God grant that we, the people of Bahrain, may continue to devote our resources (and our minds) to its glory and that we may, to some small extent, redeem a portion of the debt we owe it.

It is clear from both the ancient and the modern history of our region that God has ordained that in order that our nation may survive, we must be animated by a noble warrior spirit. Strength is one of the essential requirements of a state whether in its purpose, its structure, or its defensive capabilities. It should be strong in leadership, in its economy and in the use of technology, as well as in its sciences, arts, literature and laws. God exhorts us to be strong: Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies (Sura Anfal V60). Deterrence has always been and continues to be an essential national strategy.

Strength in the service of justice is a requirement of both individuals and nations: A strong man of faith is better and dearer to God than a weak one

Everyone can serve the cause of national defence according to the degree of his resources and abilities, for we have much to defend: One who fights without material resources is a martyr; one who fights for his property is a martyr; and one who fights for his honour is a martyr

The power which God has ordained us to develop must continuously evolve in order to keep pace with scientific and technological progress. We need to develop scientific knowledge and apply it wisely in order to progress. It requires enlightened minds and determined spirits to carry civilization forward. A nation is strong when its people are imbued with faith in their religious and cultural heritage, as well as confidence in their own abilities. Only in this spirit are we able properly to defend ourselves.

The region has witnessed many crises and conflicts engendered by foreign forces in their struggle to gain hegemony over it. These dangers will never subside as long as these elements continue to covet us, and hence there is no alternative to creating a competent and effective Arab military force to defend the development of our region and its resources. This is the real meaning of co-operation and the common destiny of the various states. It will enable us to reduce and avoid dangers. The Defence Force is only an exemplary aspect of our discharge of our sacred duty towards the motherland. Our hopes and expectations are pinned on it. It has the honour of defending the country and protecting values, heritage and independence so that it may inspire confidence, and its citizens enjoy security and stability.

In view of Bahrains geographical and demographic limitations, and in order to face the challenges we have mentioned, we have to follow a policy of self-reliance after placing our trust in God. We must select effective modern weapons which can offset the deficiency in manpower. It requires constant training for our armed forces organized in small self-contained combat groups capable of confronting an enemy effectively. This should enable us to carry out a general mobilization, taking into consideration the integrated military co-operation among GCC states within the framework of Arab collaboration.

Our holy struggle in Gods cause should be the essence of this military strategy. We should try to achieve a comprehensive civilizational renaissance in all its varied expressions in every Arab and Muslim country, benefiting from the lessons learned from the past in coping with the vital issues of the day which particularly affect our destiny. Our region forms the eastern wing of the Arab nation whose security is indivisible and this requires constant alertness in its defence.

This is the main reason for my dwelling on the importance of the Defence Force, and for giving this account of its inception and some of my modest experience in this field, although we are still at the beginning of the road. This is reflected in the title of this book First Light that is, in military parlance the advent of a new day which brings the opportunity for fruitful achievement.

To illustrate the purpose of this book I have briefly drawn on my own first experiences in choosing military service and then in developing the Defence Force. I have outlined its aims and our experiences with it, leaving the details to the accounts of individual commanders.

Since no good work can be completed without joint, dedicated efforts, I thank all those officials and advisers who participated in the preparation of this book.

I wish my colleagues in the service of our nascent state all success and prosperity as travellers in the same boat. God alone is our guide along the right path.

A Brief Geographical and Historical Survey

T he Arab Gulf lies between the Arabian Peninsula in the west, Iran in the East, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman in the south and Iraq in the north. The length of the Gulf is about 430 nautical miles and its width varies from 160 nautical miles at its widest to 21 nautical miles at its narrowest point which is at the Strait of Hormuz. In view of the depth of its bays which are suitable for anchorage, its calm waters and navigability, it became an important maritime centre. Its shores attracted the establishment of various settlements and forts throughout history.

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