If you don't think that other Middle East leaders aren't freaking out about the collapse of the Mubarak regime-- think again. Kuwait and Bahrain are using good old fashioned capitalism to keep their rulers out of hot water.
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah ordered the distribution of $4 billion and free food for 14 months to citizens in order to stave off grass-roots protests. Each of the 1.12 million native citizens will get 1,000 dinars ($3,572) in cash as well as free essential food items until March 31, 2012, according to reports.
Bahrain is handing out generous cash grants to citizens and promising more freedom to the media as it moved to defuse an aggressive social network campaign calling for a Valentine’s “Day of Rage” on Monday. The king announced that he would hand out 1,000 dinars ($2,650) to every family in a move officially connected with the 10th anniversary of constitutional rule but is widely seen as an attempt to buy off the country’s marginalized Shiite majority and disenchanted youth before they take to the streets.
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