KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, MAY 19: TERRORIST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002118

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA,
IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
CINCCENT FOR CCPA
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, MAY 19: TERRORIST
ATTACKS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND MOROCCO



1. SUMMARY: Leading Kuwaiti liberals take to the op/ed pages
to condemn recent terror attacks in the region and link them
to Arab world failure to address the political, social and
economic conditions that "breed" Islamic terror. Noticeably
absent is any tendency to blame the US/Israel/the West for
this phenomenon. According to writers, steps Arab
governments must take include eliminating sources of finance
for terrorists and revising educational curricula that
incite sectarian hatred and violence. END SUMMARY.

Editorials:


2. "When Terrorism Knocks the Doors"
Liberal Editor-in-Chief Waleed Al-Nesf wrote in independent
Al-Qabas (5/18): "The recent terrorist attacks in Saudi
Arabia and Morocco stressed to us that danger can reach all
of us. We in Kuwait must be more determined to end terrorism
within the framework of the law. Our strategy to combat
terrorism must be to save young men from believing in
extremism, to learn to be tolerant with others and to
eliminate the sources of finance for terrorists. We must
unite with other nations, adopt new means to eliminate
terrorism and to contribute to implementing new policies to
combat terrorism."


3. "It Is In Our Hands, Not In Bush's Hands"
Editor-in-Chief Jassim Boodai wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-
Aam (5/18): "Unfortunately, some of us have helped in the
development of [terrorism] but then handed over the problem
of combating terrorism to the Americans instead of taking
care of it themselves. Therefore, combating terrorism should
be in our hands, not in Bush's hands. [I]f we fail as
nations and a society to take the matter into our own hands,
then we deserve to live in fear."


4. "The New Terrorism"
Liberal Kuwait University Political Science Professor, Dr.
Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (5/18):
"Are Arab countries, and the GCC in particular, ready to
combat terrorism? Until now, most Arab nations have focused
on the security aspect in confronting terrorism but have
ignored the economic, social and the political facets. We
are certain that none of these countries are unilaterally
capable of confronting terrorism without the assistance of
other Western nations."


5. "Those Who Brainwash Minds"
Liberal Media Advisor to the Acting Prime Minister, Sami Al-
Nesf wrote in independent Al-Anba (5/18): "Terrorism and
suicide attacks are the result of a long accumulation of
instigations. There are only three solutions to ending
terrorism and violence: 1) Becoming tougher with the people
who instigate such actions; 2) Revising the educational
curricula that call for hatred; and 3) Holding awareness and
enlightenment programs for the Arab societies."


6. "America Is Our Friend and Ally"
Pan-Arabist Editor-in-Chief Ahmad Al-Jarallah wrote in
independent Al-Seyassah (5/18): "Currently, we have a golden
opportunity to fight terror by openly declaring our alliance
with the world's superpower, which was also severely hit by
terror. We have this opportunity, but we hesitate to seize
it just because we want to sympathize with local and Arab
opinions, which are anti-American. Kuwait might have
considered the presence of American forces on our territory
as an occupation, before the occupation by Iraq. However,
after Saddam`s army invaded Kuwait in 1990. all Kuwaitis,
including the political leadership, were then ready to
cooperate with Washington for the liberation of Kuwait. [W]e
should openly declare Americans to be our friends and
allies."


7. "Our Hearts Are With The Saudi Kingdom"
Liberal Secretary General of the Kuwait Journalists'
Association, Faisal Al-Qannai wrote in independent Al-
Seyassah (5/17): "The terrorist attack in the city of Riyadh
bears resemblance to the bombings in the US on September 11
[2001] and undoubtedly proves that the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia is also a target of terrorist acts carried out by Al-
Qaeda. Gulf countries must do their utmost to take the
preventive measures needed to provide protection and
security not only for foreigners residing in the GCC
countries, but also for all public places. Terrorism does
not differentiate between religions and nationalities, given
that many Muslims and Arabs fell victim in the Riyadh
bombing."


JONES