Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT5186
2003-11-12 14:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, NOVEMBER 12:

Tags:  OIIP KU KDMR 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005186 

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: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, NOVEMBER 12:
TERRORIST ATTACK IN RIYADH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005186

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: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION SPECIAL, NOVEMBER 12:
TERRORIST ATTACK IN RIYADH


1. SUMMARY: Condemnations of the Riyadh attacks have
dominated the Kuwaiti Arabic press this week, with liberals
and Islamists alike interpreting the attacks as a distortion
of Islam and an assault on the political structure of Saudi
Arabia and other Gulf governments. END SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad phoned
the Saudi Crown Prince and expressed the strong condemnation
of the Kuwaiti government and people of the terrorist attack
in Riyadh on November 9. Sheikh Sabah reiterated the
Kuwait's solidarity with the Kingdom and its readiness to
assist "our Saudi brothers." The Minister of Interior Sheikh
Nawaf Al-Ahmed stated, "The security of Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia are interconnected."?

Kuwait's Council of Ministers (Cabinet) strongly denounced
the terrorist acts in Saudi Arabia. The National Assembly
issued a statement that the Assembly "condemns every
terrorist act whatever its motives or pattern" and stressed
"the security and stability of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are
integral".? ?

Islamist MP Khalid Al-Adwa argued that such terrorist acts
distorted the image of Islam and Muslims, especially during
the holy month of Ramadan.

The Islamic Bloc and five Kuwaiti Islamic charity
organizations issued statements of condemnation. The
statement from the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society
termed the attacks "suicide operations, not martyr
operations," and called them a violation of Islamic Sharia
(religious law).

Kuwaiti Shiite scholars issued a statement strongly
denouncing the recent attacks by "criminal extremists" in
Riyadh and condemned the "barbaric and brutal attack by
attackers who do not believe in Islam and want to take
revenge against Muslims and pilgrims."

Editorials:


3. "Terrorism in the Name of Islam"Liberal Secretary
General of the Kuwait Journalist Association Faisal Al-Qanai
wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (11/11): "What took place
in Saudi Arabia poses a threat to GCC countries. Islamic
clerics and scholars must therefore begin a campaign to
protect religion from attempts by terrorists and criminals
to undermine the image of Islam through sabotage and

terrorist activities."


4. "Criminals, not Muslims"
Liberal Talal Abdul-Kareem Al-Arab wrote in independent Al-
Qabas (11/11): "The perpetrators [of the November 9 Riyadh
bombing] are the new outlaws, emerging from their dens to
terrify our children and threaten our security under the
pretext of being against infidels and occupiers. This is an
organized and hidden campaign against Muslims and Islam. The
campaign relies on an educated group to incite young Muslims
to carry out criminal acts and others who are ready to
sacrifice their lives for money in return for a mission that
in no way relates to Islam."


5. "What do Terrorists Want?"
Liberal Secretary General of the National Democratic Forum,
Dr. Ahmad Bishara, wrote in independent Al-Qabas (11/11):
"These terrorists exploit internal conditions [in Saudi
Arabia] such as unemployment, a deteriorating economy, and
restraints on public freedom. On the other hand, wide
freedoms are given to Islamic groups and organizations to
spread their narrow vision of life and religion. Such an
atmosphere provides fertile ground for terrorist ideology.
Confronting terrorism requires winning over regular citizens
and making them feel they are part of the battle against
terrorism. Passive citizens who lack a role in their
countries become fuel for the battle."


6. "Torturing Bodies to Frighten Nations"
Mohammad Al-Ajmi wrote in independent Al-Watan (11/12):
"The terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia coincided with the
beginning of reforms in the Kingdom through establishing an
open dialogue. This signifies that those who are behind the
attack do not believe in the language of dialogue and reject
reforms. They strongly believe in violence and killing as a
means to achieve their goals. Such terrorist attacks should
not hinder reforms. Instead, they should serve as a motive
to continue with more reforms."


7. "Riyadh's Incident"
Khudair Al-Anzi wrote in independent Al-Qabas (11/12): "We
are in a real crisis. There is no guarantee that what
happened in Saudi Arabia will not happen in Kuwait or any
other country. Extremism has become an international
phenomenon. The attacks in Riyadh and Mecca indicate we are
facing a dangerous ideology. There should be no dialogue
with such ideology, but rather eradicating such thought will
protect the whole of society."


8. "Mecca and Riyadh Explosions"
Liberal columnist and Media Advisor to the Prime Minister,
Sami Al-Nisf, wrote in independent Al-Anba (11/11): "In
Riyadh, apostates of Islam chose a safe residential complex
occupied mostly by Muslims to act out their cold-blooded
crime. Can anything justify such a criminal act during this
holy month [of Ramadan]? . Who else would benefit from such
organized criminal acts by Al-Qaeda terrorist organization
except the enemies of Arabism and Islam."


9. "Terrorism is Threatening All of Us"
Editor-in-chief of independent Al-Qabas, Waleed Al-Nesef
opined (11/10): "The terrorists who carried out the attack
in Riyadh wanted to stress that they will strike anywhere,
that their crimes will not be limited to Americans and
Westerners. These terrorist groups have declared
comprehensive war against the [Saudi] regime. The threat to
Saudi Arabia is also a threat to the GCC and the entire
region."


10. "Forbidding the Permissible"
Liberal Mohammad Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(11/10): "The key foe of the Islamic militants is America
and therefore members of Al-Qaeda threatened to strike
against the American interests. However, the regretful
attack in Saudi Arabia was not against American interests:
the landlord of the building is a Saudi citizen, and the
tenets who were killed in the attack were Arabs. Isn't this
proof that the extremists seek the destruction of Saudi
Arabia? Such terrorist acts are expected to happen again
either in Kuwait, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia therefore,
governments must be alert for extremist plans."


URBANCIC