KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 1:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004053

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 31-SEPTEMBER 1:
MOSQUE BOMBING IN NAJAF; DEATH OF BAQER AL-HAKIM; TERRORISM;
IRAQ


1. SUMMARY: The Kuwait Ministry of Interior denies media
reports of the arrest of two Kuwaitis in Iraq in connection
with the August 29 bombing in Najaf that killed Shiaa cleric
Mohammad Baqer Al-Hakim. While Al-Hakim's death is viewed as
a great loss, one Shiaa writer feels Al-Hakim's "martyrdom"
will rally Iraqis to unify, and hopes this attack will
"speed up the process of handing over security to the Iraqi
people."

The series of bombings in Iraq over the last weeks leads one
writer to fear that terrorists may seek to infiltrate Kuwait
to carry out similar attacks. An Islamist commentator labels
US involvement in Iraq a "failure" and states that
coalitions forces are "oppressing the Iraqi people rather
than helping them." END SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: A Ministry of Interior official denies
international media reports that two Kuwaitis have been
arrested in Iraq in connection with the bombing outside a
mosque in Najaf that killed Shiaa cleric Mohammad Baqer Al-
Hakim.

All newspapers report official condemnations of the Najaf
bombing from the Council of Ministers (Cabinet),Minister of
Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah and the Speaker
of the National Assembly Jassim Al-Khorafi. Crown Prince
Sheikh Saad is reported to have sent a condolence cable to
the family of Mohammad Baqer Al-Hakim.

Al-Rai Al-Aam reports on September 1 that a female member of
the US military reportedly was sexual assaulted by an Arab
expatriate on August 16.

All newspapers report that a Ministry of Interior vehicle
and a Saudi truck carrying an aid shipment were stolen from
near the Kuwaiti border at gunpoint by Iraqis in military
uniforms.

Editorials:


3. "Terrorism is Among Us"
Saud Al-Samaka wrote in independent Al-Qabas (9/01): "Those
who are behind the assassination of Baqer Al-Hakim were
aiming at causing a civil war in Iraq after the end of
Saddam's era. It is not enough to just issue statements of
condemnations and to discuss combating terrorism after every
attack carried out by Al-Qaeda organization. The source of
terrorism today is among us. Terrorism was not grown in
Afghanistan or Pakistan-- it was grown here in the Gulf
region."


4. Shiite MP Abdul- Mohsen Yousef Jamal wrote in
independent Al-Qabas (9/01): "The death of Baqer Al-Hakim
is a tremendous loss for Iraq. His death, however, will also
be an important factor in strengthening Iraq's unity. It
will help Iraqis realize the importance of their unity and
the importance of deciding on pending issues before things
get out of control. Al-Hakim's martyrdom will expedite the
birth of a new Iraq according to his vision and one that the
Interim Governing Council had adopted and the majority of
the Iraqi people will approve. His martyrdom is a strong
blow to Saddam's cronies who are corrupting this earth. His
martyrdom will also be a strong deterrent to the forces of
occupation so they may speed up the process of handing over
security to the Iraqi people and to help establish their
forces and institutions in order to prevent the situation
from deteriorating."


5. "Who Will Save Iraq?"
Liberal Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-Seyassah
(8/31): "It seems that the situation in Iraq will
deteriorate more especially after the assassination of
[Baqer] Al-Hakim. This makes it uncertain if it is possible
to achieve peace without the foreign presence in Iraq. The
problems in Iraq today are not due to internal disputes
among the parties, but because these parties and sects have
adopted the language of terrorism and violence, instead of
adopting the language of dialogue and tolerance. We, as
Arabs, must demand that coalition forces remain in Iraq
until it is stable and a new constitution is written. We do
not want another Somalia or Afghanistan near us."


6. Islamist Dr. Wael Al-Hasawi wrote in independent Al-Rai
Al-Aam (8/28): "It is clear that the Americans have failed
to manage Iraqi affairs. The situation in Iraq is steadily
deteriorating and Iraqis are now wondering about the
intentions of the Americans in Iraq. They are increasing the
suffering of Iraqis by oppressing them instead of working on
solving their problems."


7. "The Dilemma of the Son"
Bader Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (8/31):
"Americans found out that the Bush Administration has
deceived them by claiming that Iraq posses WMD and that Iraq
is a threat to US security and to the world. George Bush
will not win the next election despite what he did for the
Jewish State and for the Jews. His orders to freeze Hamas'
assets and the pressure he applies on the Palestinians will
not do him any good. He will not get the votes of the Jewish
community or of the American right wing extremists who are
manipulated by the Zionists. The next stage requires a
popular American leader that has to be smarter."


8. Saleh Al-Shayiji wrote in independent Al-Anba (8/31):
"Those who believe that bin Laden or Arafat or Qadafi are
the only Arab terrorists are mistaken. The Arab mentality
and those who believe in it are also terrorists because they
are incapable of developing and adapting to life. The Arab
mentality totally ignores others: it is hostile to the East
and the West."


9. "Terrorism is on the Way"
Hassan Al-Sayegh wrote in independent Al-Anba (9/01):
"Saudi Arabia was exposed to a number of terrorist attacks
carried out by Al-Qaeda. The Jordanian Embassy and the UN
headquarters in Baghdad were also attacked and caused the
death of many people. In light of the above, I do not rule
out the possibility that some terrorists will infiltrate
into Kuwait to carry out attacks on Kuwaiti soil in order to
weaken and disturb the stability and security of Kuwait."

URBANCIC