In his speech to the United Nations, President Obama reaffirmed that the US is a “close friend of Bahrain” and that he has hope for the so-called National Dialogue, decried as a farce by the majority of Bahrainis. Eight days before the by-elections, the Obama administration demonstrated their firm partnership with the Bahraini dictatorship by selling them $53 million in arms, including equipment that could be used against protesters.