Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01KUWAIT3757
2001-12-15 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
how-toP 151429Z DEC 01 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0466 INFO ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 003757
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITIS DENOUNCE BIN LADEN
UNCLAS KUWAIT 003757
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITIS DENOUNCE BIN LADEN
1. KUWAITI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OPINION LEADERS
DENOUNCED THE BIN LADEN TAPE RELEASED BY THE PENTAGON
DECEMBER 13.
2. ASKED HIS VIEW OF THE TAPE, KUWAIT'S ACTING PRIME
MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER SHAYKH SABAH SAID: "EVERYONE
WHO HEARS SUCH THINGS WILL DEFINITELY BE SHOCKED WHEN HE
HEARS THE ONE WHO MURDERS PEOPLE LAUGHING AND HAPPY.
THEREFORE, WE REJECT SUCH THINGS." SHAYKH SABAH MADE THIS
STATEMENT TO LOCAL REPORTERS UPON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON
DECEMBER 14.
3. KUWAIT'S ARABIC DAILY "AL-ANBA" QUOTED THE VIEWS OF AN
UNNAMED OFFICIAL SOURCE AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN AN
ARTICLE PUBLISHED DECEMBER 15. ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER,
THE OFFICIAL SAID THE TAPE REPRESENTS A DEFINITE CONVICTION
AGAINST BIN LADEN AND DECISIVE EVIDENCE ABOUT HIS
INVOLVEMENT AND THAT OF HIS ASSOCIATES IN THE SEPTEMBER 11
ATTACKS.
4. A LIBERAL COLUMNIST, FOUAD AL-HASHEM, PUBLISHED A PIECE
DECEMBER 15 IN THE KUWAITI ARABIC DAILY "AL-WATAN" ABOUT THE
BIN LADEN TAPE. AL-HASHEM ARGUED: "NO HUMAN BEING HAS EVER
SEEN THE DEVIL.... (BUT) THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS SHOWED
THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT THE REAL DEVIL LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE
APPEARED ON THE TAPE FOUND BY THE AMERICAN FORCES. WE SAW
HIM AS HE LAUGHED...AND AS HE EXPLAINED HOW HE HAD EXPECTED
LESS DESTRUCTION AND FEWER DEATHS FROM THE ATTACK ON THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER. DO YOU NOW KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL LOOKS
LIKE?"
JONES
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITIS DENOUNCE BIN LADEN
1. KUWAITI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND OPINION LEADERS
DENOUNCED THE BIN LADEN TAPE RELEASED BY THE PENTAGON
DECEMBER 13.
2. ASKED HIS VIEW OF THE TAPE, KUWAIT'S ACTING PRIME
MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER SHAYKH SABAH SAID: "EVERYONE
WHO HEARS SUCH THINGS WILL DEFINITELY BE SHOCKED WHEN HE
HEARS THE ONE WHO MURDERS PEOPLE LAUGHING AND HAPPY.
THEREFORE, WE REJECT SUCH THINGS." SHAYKH SABAH MADE THIS
STATEMENT TO LOCAL REPORTERS UPON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON
DECEMBER 14.
3. KUWAIT'S ARABIC DAILY "AL-ANBA" QUOTED THE VIEWS OF AN
UNNAMED OFFICIAL SOURCE AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN AN
ARTICLE PUBLISHED DECEMBER 15. ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER,
THE OFFICIAL SAID THE TAPE REPRESENTS A DEFINITE CONVICTION
AGAINST BIN LADEN AND DECISIVE EVIDENCE ABOUT HIS
INVOLVEMENT AND THAT OF HIS ASSOCIATES IN THE SEPTEMBER 11
ATTACKS.
4. A LIBERAL COLUMNIST, FOUAD AL-HASHEM, PUBLISHED A PIECE
DECEMBER 15 IN THE KUWAITI ARABIC DAILY "AL-WATAN" ABOUT THE
BIN LADEN TAPE. AL-HASHEM ARGUED: "NO HUMAN BEING HAS EVER
SEEN THE DEVIL.... (BUT) THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS SHOWED
THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT THE REAL DEVIL LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE
APPEARED ON THE TAPE FOUND BY THE AMERICAN FORCES. WE SAW
HIM AS HE LAUGHED...AND AS HE EXPLAINED HOW HE HAD EXPECTED
LESS DESTRUCTION AND FEWER DEATHS FROM THE ATTACK ON THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER. DO YOU NOW KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL LOOKS
LIKE?"
JONES