KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION AUGUST 18-24

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 004433

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 18-24

SUMMARY: Harsh criticism of the recent US UNSC veto is
evident on the op/ed pages of Kuwait's Arabic dailies, with
numerous denunciations of "American arrogance and double
standards" in the Arab world, and attendant calls to
reevaluate the US-Kuwait bilateral relationship.

Tensions between Kuwaiti Islamists and liberals have come to
the fore over the Ministry of Information's decision to
allow a pop music concert by young Arab singers over the
objections of religious conservatives. Despite opposition
(including a peaceful demonstration of 50 Islamists and a
bomb hoax) concert tickets were sold out. Several liberal
NGOs issued statements rejecting the Islamists' effort to
"exercise control over society by resorting to intellectual
terrorism." End summary.

Reportage

All newspapers published a statement by the Islamic Salafi
movement denouncing the Central Bank's compliance with a
State Department request to freeze the accounts of Islamic
Jihad and Hamas. The movement described the act as an
example of "Zionist infiltration" of Kuwait.

Al-Seyassa reported that a former Iraqi soldier who claims
to have been ordered to kill 40 Kuwaiti POWs is attempting
to claim $1 million offered by the Kuwaiti government to
anyone who could direct Kuwait authorities to the
whereabouts of the POWs.

All newspapers gave prominent coverage to reports that two
Muslim members of the US military have been accused of
espionage in Guantanamo.

Al-Qabas published a report indicating extreme violations in
executing criminal sentences. According to these documents,
there are 13,000 criminal sentences that have not been
implemented in Kuwait, with many accused of serious crimes
walking the streets.

All newspapers reported the death of a Kuwaiti F-18 pilot
whose plane crashed near Ahmed Al-Jaber Airbase. An
investigation is ongoing to discover the cause of the crash.

Al-Seyassa & Al-Qabas reported that a senior Shiite Cleric,
Mohammed Al-Mahri, issued a fatwa arguing that raising the
Israeli flag in Dubai is "haram" or religiously forbidden
and so is trading with Israel.

Al-Rai Al-Aam reported that the Ministry of Awqaf and
Islamic Affairs is sending a delegation to the United States
to visit Islamic centers and organizations from October 2-

19.

Al-Rai Al-Aam reported that the United States has asked
Kuwait for the privilege of participating in the Al-Zoor
power plant project and has also requested priority for
American companies in the Northern Oil Fields project.
Sources noted that this request follows a Kuwait response to
be named one of America's major non-NATO allies.

Al-Qabas published a report by the International Committee
to combat terrorism which reveals that Kuwaiti laws for
monitoring the financial transactions of charitable
organizations are insufficient. The committee forwarded
several questions to the Ministry of Social Affairs with a
90 day deadline to answer them.

Al-Qabas reported that Ministry of Social Affairs is
preparing to wage a comprehensive campaign on charity
organizations to confirm that they are abiding by
regulations.

Editorials:


3. "Towards a Democratic Position"
Liberal Abdul-Latif Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(9/21): "The legitimacy of holding the Super Star concert
is inspired from Kuwait's democratic system and from the
constitution which guarantees individual freedoms and
commits the country to foster different forms of art.
Whether the concert is or isn't popular among Kuwaitis this
is besides the point. The point is that it is my right and
the rights of others to attend and enjoy the concert. This
same argument is true for granting women political rights..
Reexamining these issues is similar to scorning the
principles of our democratic constitution."


4. "Slave traders of the Twenty First Century"
Former Minister and MP, liberal Ahmed Al-Baghli wrote in
independent Al-Qabas (9/23): "International laws forbid
human trafficking and impose strong penalties for countries
suspected of such a horrific trade.. As someone who is
concerned with human rights issues, I am always encountering
accusations made against Kuwait for mistreating expatriate
labor, especially domestic servants.. What supports such
accusations is an add that recently ran in a local
advertising newspaper which states `for sale, a Filipino
Muslim maid for KD 350, price is negotiable.'.. We can on
Kuwaiti authorities and officials to put an end to such
inhumane and irresponsible acts committed by fellow Kuwaitis
and published in our newspapers. Those who published such
an ad did not fear any punishment, that is why they went
ahead with their act."


5. "After the two parties"
Prominent Islamist Mohammed Al-Shaibani wrote in independent
Al-Qabas (9/23): "The coming few days will witness a very
strong conflict between the liberals and the Islamists,
perhaps stronger than any time before. The conflict aims at
establishing political hegemony. The liberals may achieve
some victories, especially since Kuwait has become a major
US non-Nato ally. Islamists, on the other hand, may lose a
lot if they do not deal with their local issues with
calmness and rationale. They must also cooperate with the
legislative and the executive authorities, especially since
the government has not yet given its view on issues raised
by the Islamists and when it does, such views may be too
harsh on them."


6. "Enthusiasm for their Injustice"
Islamist Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(9/23): "Ongoing American charities estimated at billions
of dollars are sent to Israeli Jews to enable them to
maintain the land they usurped and to exercise brutality and
oppression against the Palestinian fighters. Meanwhile,
terrorism has now become synonymous with Islam and Muslims
and now accusations are made against their charitable
organizations to dry the sources of their funding and
eliminate their existence. Fostering an orphan, helping the
poor, feeding the hungry, and financing the families of
martyrs in Palestine are now considered terrorist acts
punishable by law. Now in Kuwait we are faced with an
American request to freeze the assets of Palestinian
resistance groups. The decision to stop all aid is absolute
to include `all financial and moral assistance.' Now we are
left to wonder what constitutes moral assistance, unless
this includes praying that God may relieve the oppressed and
praying at the funerals of martyrs? What is left that we
are authorized to do other than eat and sleep like animals?"


7. "Take Two"
Bader Khaled Al-Bahar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (9/23):
"Hollywood's scenario in the Middle East have become very
clear. It starts with an Arab country clashing interests
with the U.S., or in reality, the Hebrew state. This is
followed by an attack and a reaction to an attack. This is
followed by condemnation of terrorism, an accusation of
ownership of WMDs and an embargo and an air raid. The last
episode involves chaos, the disappearance of the criminal
who turns into an evil spirit that continues to haunt the
hero with video taped massages. Such was the scenario in
Afghanistan, Libya and in Iraq.. Take four will be in
Damascus because Syria is accused with all the factors that
qualifies her to become the hero for the new American
scenario. It refuses to negotiate with Israel and according
to US claims, it harbors the terrorists of Hezbollah and
Jihad and Hamas and develops WMDs.. The fifth take will be
in Saudi Arabia because 15 of the 19 perpetrators of
September 11 were Saudis and a recent report prepared by
Congress links the Kingdom with terrorism."


8. "A Strategic Ally"
Dr. Hasan Abdullah Abbas wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(9/23): "In his recent press conference from Kuwait,
Secretary Powell announced that Kuwait played a prominent

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role in the war to liberate (occupy) Iraq and it is
therefore a "strategic" non-Nato ally.. The stubbornness
and challenge the US faces in the region has become
unacceptable and has necessitated forming "strategic" non-
NATO alliances. The Americans want an effective element
within Arab and Islamic countries able to influence and
facilitate passing American policies in the region. Do our
Kuwaiti officials accept such a label? I would like to
remind our politicians that Kuwait is still part of the
Islamic world. I would also like to remind them that the
U.S. is preparing a new project that antagonizes Arab and
Islamic countries, the most prominent of which are Syria and
Iran.. Let us also remember that the U.S. is still the
official international and official umbrella for acts and
killings perpetrated by the Zionist entity against the
Palestinian children."


9. "The Dinosaur and the Swamp"
Conservative Academician Dr. Jassim Al-Fuhaid wrote in
independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (9/23): "There is are better
words to describe America other than what Iranian leader
Rafsanjani used when he compared it to a dinosaur with a
bird's brain. This dinosaur's dilemma is multi-faceted.
While politicians are still trying to figure out how to
govern Iraq, the military nature of the US presence there
sheds doubt as to the nature of the alleged liberation.
Excessive use of force with the Iraqi people, has led to
increasing the antagonism with the Iraqis.. Also, excessive
arrogance has led the U.S. into more conflicts.. America is
now attempting to draw its allies to pay for its expensive
bill for occupying Iraq, but it is met with continuous
resistance because no one wants to fall in the Iraqi swamp."


10. "The Foolish Veto"
Shiite MP Abdul-Mohsen Yousef Jamal wrote in independent Al-
Qabas (9/20): "I do not know what constitutes the moral
basis of the recent U.S. veto in the UNSC which aimed at
putting a stop to the Israeli foolishness that has
transcended all taboos of killing and destructions. The
U.S. veto represents American recklessness in dealing with
humanitarian values and a disrespect for the lives of
innocent Palestinians killed daily by Israeli raids waged
using American planes.. American arrogance has reached a
level of foolishness by allowing the criminal Sharon to kill
anyone he wants without being held accountable and to
violate human rights without punishment.. Washington is
trying to make it clear to the Arab and Muslim worlds that
its is that sole superpower and that it dictates the rules
of the political game, even if this means killing innocent
people.. It is telling the Palestinians that no country
will come to your aid and that they must accept American
conditions, or in other words, Israeli conditions.
Meanwhile, Washington is sending a clear message to Tel Aviv
that whatever Israel does to the Palestinians, America will
support it in the Security Council."

JONES