KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, OCTOBER 17-26: IRAQ: MADRID

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004959

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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, OCTOBER 17-26: IRAQ: MADRID
DONORS CONFERENCE; WAR ON TERROR; OIC SUMMIT IN KUALA
LUMPUR; TURKISH TROOP DEPLOYMENT; US TREASURY VISIT TO
KUWAIT; ISLAMIC CHARITIES; WOMEN'S RIGHTS


1. SUMMARY: Some MPs oppose Kuwait's support of Iraqi
reconstruction, saying money should not be given to the
"enemy occupier." A liberal commentator writes that
Islamists reject the aid because they are opposed to
"liberal concepts." Another comments on the memo by
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld made public this week, saying

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it "demonstrates the failure of the American policy."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir's comments at the OIC
Summit last week drew mixed responses, being described by
commentators as "worthy of coming from an Al-Qaeda
spokesman," and as "courageous and factual." A conservative
commentator believes "the lack of any Western response" to
comments by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Lt. Gen.
William Boykin is evidence of a "Western double-standard."
Another conservative describes Western civilization as
"racist and obsessed with power."

A recent visit to Kuwait by a Treasury Department delegation
prompts one writer to proclaim, "we will make charitable
donations whether America likes it or not." Newspapers
report this week the loosening of a ban on money transfers
by Islamic charities. END SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: At the Madrid donors conference, Kuwait
announced a 1.5-billion-dollar aid package to Iraq, one
billion of which has already been disbursed. Al-Anba reports
that four MPs strongly rejected donating money "to an enemy
who occupied our country" and argued that Kuwaitis should
have priority to this money.

Al-Rai Al-Aam and Al-Qabas report on their October 21 front
pages that Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Dr.
Abdullah Al-Matooq, declared support for women's political
rights with the condition that women who run for office be
veiled, do not wear make-up, do not travel without a male
family companion, and do not mix with men. He added that
Islamists will be the greatest winner if women are granted
political rights.

All newspapers report on October 25 that the Ministry of
Social Affairs and Labor loosened a ban on the transfer of
charity funds abroad, authorizing five charities to send
money abroad, but only through the Central Bank.

Al-Qabas and Al-Rai Al-Aam newspapers reported on October 25
that the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society and the Islamic
Social Reform Society denounced Osama bin Laden's threats
against Kuwait.

All newspapers report that Yemeni anti-terrorism authorities
released a Kuwaiti Islamic preacher, Jaber Al-Jalahma,
detained at Sanaa airport. Al-Jalahma is reportedly known
for his extremist ideas and has been detained previously by
Kuwaiti authorities.

All newspapers report that DNA tests have identified the
remains of 11 more Kuwaiti POWs killed by the ousted Iraqi
regime.

All newspapers report that Kuwaiti medical doctor, Dr. Ahmed
Al-Shatti, was awarded "Man of the Year" prize at the World
Awards ceremony in Hamburg for his treatment of the young
Iraqi Ali Abbas who lost both arms and his parents during
the war in Iraq.

Al-Watan reported that the Kuwaiti security officials
apprehended a Syrian interpreter working for the US military
for attempting to smuggle whiskey and gin from Iraq into
Kuwait.

Editorials:


3. "Political Islam and Iraq"
Director of Kuwait University's Center for Future and
Strategic Studies, Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in independent
Al-Seyassah (10/26): "[A number of MPs] object to the
government's decision to donate to Iraq [because they]
reject the American presence in Iraq and the region. The
political Islamists such as the Salafis and the Muslim
Brotherhood believe that the American presence in the region
may push Arab and Islamic governments to adopt democracy and
freedom of expression. and such liberal concepts are
rejected by these groups. We thank the Kuwaiti government
for its courageous stance. "


4. "Good Morning, Mr. Secretary"
Professor of Political Science Department at Kuwait
University, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hadban wrote in independent Al-
Seyassah (10/25): "The memo sent by the US Secretary of
Defense Rumsfeld to his senior officers clearly demonstrates
the failure of the American policy adopted by President Bush
on what is known as war on terrorism. This memo represents
an American awakening after the prolonged sleep of the
American administration and reflects a misunderstanding of
the nature of the Arab and Islamic worlds. However, it is
obvious that the awakening of the Secretary was only
momentary, for he was able to define the problem but failed
to find a solution."


5. "The Worst of the OIC Summit"
Liberal Lawyer Hassan Al-Essa wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(10/19): "The low point of the [Organization of Islamic
Conferences or OIC] summit was the statement made the
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir. We would have imagined
such a statement coming from a terrorist like Ayman Al-
Thahawry of Al-Qaeda. Such statements demonstrate to the
world that Islam and Muslim leaders are anti-Semitic and
therefore grant the right-wing extremists in Israel the
ability to act freely."


6. "Running the World by Power-of-Attorney"
Former MP and conservative Shiite Dr. Abdul-Mohsen Yousef
Jamal wrote in independent Al-Qabas (10/22): "[US State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher] declared that Prime
Minister Mahathir's statements were insulting. In return, we
have not heard any of these Westerners objecting to
statements made by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Lt. Gen.
William Boykin. We hope that the Western-Islamic dialogue
can be conducted without threats and ridicule of one's
religion. We also hope that everyone be allowed to criticize
Zionist terrorism and that [Zionists] not be granted power-
of-attorney to run the world and destroy it, especially
since they are known for corruption, world destruction, and
inciting wars."


7. "Saving Iraq"
Liberal Chairman of the Political Science Department at
Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in independent
Al-Seyassah (10/19): "Despite the fact that six months have
passed since the liberation of Iraq, the situation is still
unstable due to US mismanagement there. For instance, the
American decision to allow Turkish forces to enter Iraq as a
peace force is clear proof that the US administration knows
nothing about the history of Iraq."


8. "We Will Contribute Despite America"
Dr. Khalid Al-Qhass wrote in independent Al-Watan (10/17):
"We will contribute [money] to help the needy and widows and
in building Islamic centers whether America likes it or not.
We don't care if the American Treasury [Department]
delegation objects to our contributions or not. We make
contributions to suppress terrorism not to nourish it. We
will contribute to prove to ourselves that we have freedom,
dignity and the ability to make our own decisions without
the need to adhere to the nonsense of the American
administration."


9. "It is Over"
Amena Al-Musawi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (10/24):
"The Zionist attack against Syria, the US-Zionist campaign
against Iran under the pretext of its involvement in nuclear
program and the green light granted to Israel by President
Bush is a scenario written by Israel and implemented by
American-Zionists in the American Administration. [W]hat is
a real surprise is that there are people who still believe
that the US came to this region to grant us the dream of
democracy."


10. "Does Islam Have a Civilizing Project?"
Former MP and President of the Gulf Institute for Future and
Studies Strategic, Islamist Ismail Al-Shatti, wrote in
independent Al-Watan (10/26): "Conflict has always been the
basis of relationships in the West, and life is based on a
power struggle. Such a perspective has resulted in a racist
culture, biased towards certain races at the expense of
others, and obsessed with possessing power. This culture has
ended up with a capitalist system that worships freedom as
long as it guarantees its progress at the expense of
justice. Since creation, history has never witnessed a
civilization that has threatened life with extermination and
destruction as Western civilization has done, and Man has
never seen such a racist and arrogant leadership lead the
world towards its downfall with such hysterical speed. The
Islamic project cannot keep up with the physical and
information achievements of Western civilization. It can,
however, present a new perspective, one that redeems the
purity [of Man] contaminated by the Western civilization
using weapons of mass destruction."


JONES