In Bahrain, government forces have attacked protesters just hours after lifting a near three-month martial law. Human rights activists say rubber bullets, stun grenades, shotguns and tear gas were used in the crackdown on protesters in 20 villages. In the capital, Manama, large groups of police officers descended on locations where demonstrators had called for protests. The Obama administration has been largely silent on the Bahraini government’s efforts to crush the protest movement. Bahrain is a key U.S. ally and home to the Navy’s Fifth Fleet.