KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, AUGUST 25-27: ISRAELI-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003970

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 25-27: ISRAELI-
PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE; FREEZE OF HAMAS ASSETS; TERRORISM;
IRAQ



1. SUMMARY: Conservative commentators accuse the US of
"unification with the Zionists" for a "lack of condemnation"
of Israeli attacks on Hamas members and the freeze of Hamas
assets earlier in the week.

One commentator defends the US Ambassador to Kuwait, Richard

H. Jones, from allegations of "interference in Kuwait's
affairs." With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks
approaching, another bemoans how extremists "have destroyed
the image of Islam" and asks, "what will we say to the
residents of New York?"

All newspapers report popular anger and calls for government
accountability over poster advertisements that appeared
around Kuwait City this week for a new album by an Iraqi
singer Kazem Al-Saher, accused locally of ties to Saddam's
regime. END SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: All newspapers report popular unhappiness
with the appearance of posters advertising a new album
released by Iraqi singer Kazem Al-Saher, referred to in the
local media as the "spoiled child of the Saddam regime,"
with many Kuwaitis calling the promotion campaign "an
offense to the Kuwaiti POWs who were martyred in Iraq." Al-
Rai Al-Aam reports that the Public Prosecutor has refused a
request by several Kuwaiti lawyers to file charges against
the Minister of Information for allowing the posters to be
hung.

All newspapers report this week that DNA tests have
positively identified the remains of four more Kuwaiti POWs
found in a mass grave in Iraq.

Al-Anba reports that four Kuwaiti lawyers will file a
petition carrying the signature of 1000 Kuwaitis with Prime
Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad asking the government to
deliberate resuming relations with Iraq.

Al-Seyassa reports on August 26 that the committee formed by
the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) to study the situation of
the "bidoons" (stateless residents of Kuwait) will refer its
final recommendations on resolving this issue to the
government in the next 10 days. Two MPs have threatened to
bring the Prime Minister and Minister of Education before a
National Assembly no-confidence vote if a solution to the
issue is not found.

All newspapers report that Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-
Ahmad will begin a three-day visit to Washington at the
invitation on President Bush beginning September 9.

Al-Watan reports on August 26 that Kuwaiti border patrols
foiled an attempt to smuggle liquor and weapons from Iraq.

Editorials:


3. "Terrorism or Resistance"
Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (8/25:
"Leaders of the free world, the Arab League, the UN
Secretary General and the Iraqi Transitional Governing

SIPDIS
Council have condemned the bombing of the UN headquarters in
Iraq. Only the Arab satellite channels, which support the
defunct Iraqi regime and are anti-America, proclaim it as
the work of nationalists fighting to liberate Iraq from the
so-called foreigners."


4. "The Wonders of Arabs in the Devil's Countries"
Saleh Al-Shayiji wrote in independent Al-Anba (8/25):
"After the September 11 attacks, Arabs who reside in the
Devil's countries [America and the West], appeared on the
satellite channels to condemn Bin Laden and apologize for
his actions. These Arabs never tried to return to
Afghanistan, Iraq or Palestine to defend the Arab people.
Such Arabs. have no dignity or honor."


5. "The Apache Map"
Lawyer Jamal Al-Kandari wrote in independent Al-Watan
(8/25): "After the Zionists murdered Abu Shanab by using
Apache helicopters, we expected the US to condemn the attack
and call to end Israel's aggression against unarmed
civilians. Instead, the US ordered the freeze of assets of
Palestinian Islamic organizations. The US had an opportunity
to gain the sympathy of the Arab and Islamic worlds, but it
is not possible to gain that sympathy without taking action
against Zionist crimes."


6. "Unification Between America and Zionism"
Dr. Yasser Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(8/26): "In his weekly radio address, President Bush
described the Palestinians resisting the Zionists and the
Iraqi resistance against the American occupiers in Iraq as
people who are attempting to impose their evil will on the
civilized world. In his statement, he has unified America
and Zionism."


7. "Kuwaitis and the American Embassy"
Talal Al-Arab wrote in independent Al-Qabas (8/25): "The
American Embassy, and any other embassy, exists to serve its
country, not ours. The American Ambassador is one of the
most frequent visitors of all Ambassadors to diwaniyas
[Kuwaiti men's gatherings], recognizing their social and
political influence in the country. He is the most liked
foreign Ambassador for understanding the role of diwaniyas,
and for accepting Kuwaiti's criticism. The only suspicious
movements around are the movements of the radical groups who
were detained lately by the Kuwaiti security forces."


8. "What Are We Going to Say to the Residents of New York?"
Khalil Haidar wrote in independent Al-Watan (8/27):
"Religious extremism and terrorism have destroyed the image
of Arabs and Muslims in the world. Our religion has become
the religion of violating laws, of weapons, of bombings and
the hijacking of planes. In two weeks, we will see the
anniversary of the September 11 crime, the attack which we
denied and accused others of committing. So what will we say
on September 11, 2003?"


URBANCIC