KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, AUGUST 21-24: UN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003946

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, AUGUST 21-24: UN
HEADQUARTERS BOMBING; HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT; US CIVIL
LIBERTIES; ARMITAGE INTERVIEW ON AL-JAZEERA; TERRORISM



1. SUMMARY: In an interview with Al-Qabas, Senator Kay
Bailey Hutchison stated that despite the bombing of the UN
headquarters in Baghdad, "we are committed to continuing our
mission in Iraq." All papers report increased security
around foreign missions in Kuwait in response to the attack
in Baghdad.

One newspaper reports that the National Assembly is
preparing a response to the State Department's Human Rights
Report on Kuwait. One commentator seizes on the recent
anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream"
speech to rail against the "Zionist lobby and right-wing
radical plan to deny civil liberties" to Muslims in the US,
and the "failure of the American dream." A National Review
Online article praising Kuwait's religious tolerance
received coverage in all newspapers.

All newspapers report Deputy Secretary of State Armitage's
comments on Al-Jazeera that foreign fighters are
infiltrating Iraq from Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. END
SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: Al-Watan, Al-Rai Al-Aam and Al-Seyassah
reported on their August 24 front pages comments made by
Deputy Secretary Armitage during a televised interview on Al-
Jazeera, highlighting his remarks that foreign fighters are
entering Iraq from Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

All newspapers report condemnation by the Council of
Ministers (Cabinet) of the "shameful, criminal" attack
against the UN headquarters in Baghdad and denounced Israeli
brutal acts against the Palestinian people, especially
political assassinations.

Al-Qabas reports that according to Minister of Defense,
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, 40 countries have requested
permission for their peacekeeping troops en route to Iraq to
transit through Kuwait, including Japan.

Kuwaiti security forces will increase their guard around the
Kuwait UN headquarters and around foreign embassies in light
of the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, according
to Al-Watan.

Al-Qabas reports in an August 22 interview with Senator Kay
Hutchison that despite the bombing of the UN headquarters in
Baghdad, "we are committed to continuing our mission in
Iraq."

Al-Anba reports that the National Assembly's Human Rights
Committee is preparing a detailed report to respond to the
State Department's Human Rights Report on Kuwait.

All newspapers carried stories summarizing an article from
the National Review Online, written by Doug Bandow, and
praising religious tolerance in Kuwait.

Al-Anba and Al-Rai Al-Aam reported on August 24 that a
female member of the US Air Force was allegedly raped by an
Arab waiter in one of the Kuwait's five star hotels.

All newspapers report that Kuwaiti authorities halted an
attempt to smuggle 15 kilograms of hashish hidden in a
tanker truck from Iraq into Kuwait.

Editorials:


3. Liberal Sami Al-Nesf wrote in independent Al-Anba (8/23):
"People who hate Iraq and the Iraqis and want to cause a
civil war in Iraq are the ones behind the attack on the UN
building in Iraq. Needless to say, it was Saddam and the
criminal Baath organization behind the attack."


4. "De Mello and Terrorism"
Dr. Ayed Al-Manna wrote in independent Al-Watan (8/23):
"Terrorists know that the UN is not a part in the war to
liberate Iraq. The UN did not issue any resolution for that
war. [UN Representative Sergio] De Mello came to Iraq to
provide humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people. Those
who attacked De Mello were targeting the organization he
represented. They believe that they can force the UN to
abandon its mission in Iraq and thus facilitate the return
of the oppressor to power."


5. "The 40th Anniversary of Martin Luther [King, Jr.] and
the American Dream Disappointment"
Islamist Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(8/24): "Martin Luther [King, Jr.] dreamt of implementing
justice and freedom. but today we are experiencing a relapse
in civil rights which has led many people to hate the US.
The Patriot Act and the Secret Evidence law implemented
after the September 11 attacks have caused many worries.
The Zionist lobby and right wing radicals planned these
measures in order to exclude Arabs and Muslims from the
political arena. Is America waiting for a Muslim Martin
Luther [King, Jr.].?"


6. Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (8/24): "At
the time when the Human Rights Committee of Kuwait's
Ministry of Justice is preparing responses to US State
Department criticism regarding issues such as women's
political rights, we read in the American press that
American authorities have fired a Muslim police officer in
Philadelphia for wearing a hijab [head scarf] during office
hours."


7. "Unsuccessful Efforts to Confront Terrorism"
Dr. Wael Al-Hassawi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(8/21): "We are not against measures adopted by countries
to counter terrorism, but we are rather against the methods
adopted by some countries in the name of fighting terrorism.
We believe that these methods will not help root out
terrorism, but will rather aggravate the situation.
[Instead,] Muslim youth must learn to differentiate between
the concept of jihad and terrorism and criminal acts. The
governments of Islamic countries must reform their internal
systems to prevent their subjects from falling prey to
injustice, while striving to enforce Islamic Sharia in the
name of containing terrorism."


8. "Where Are We Versus the Zionist Media?"
Bader Al-Ibrahim wrote in independent Al-Qabas (8/21):
"Unfortunately, the Zionist media has managed to influence
Western public opinion, institutions and governments to such
an extent that relevant Western governments did their utmost
to establish a Jewish democratic state in Palestine and to
help Jews emigrate there. The challenges facing the Arab
world are great, and we must form a unified media strategy
to penetrate the Zionist media in order to change our image
in the Western media."

URBANCIC