Saudi Arabian troops entered Bahrain on Monday, answering "a request by Bahrain for support" in the face of that country's increasingly bold anti-government protests. (The BBC clarifies what the Saudi media meant by "support": "It is believed they are intended to guard key facilities such as oil and gas installations and financial institutions." Which sounds about right.) The troop commitment is one part of a deployment by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which besides Bahrain and Saudi Arabia counts among its members Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (the latter of whom has committed 500 police officers). The UN and the U.S. have encouraged restraint and dialogue; and, thanks to those Saudi troops, the oil installations and financial institutions will remain open for as much restraint and dialogue as possible. [BBC]