KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, FEBRUARY 3-10: WAR AGAINST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 000544

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/M, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA, IIP/G/NEA-
SA, INR/B
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, FEBRUARY 3-10: WAR AGAINST
IRAQ; TERRORISM IN KUWAIT; US PRESENCE IN KUWAIT; SPACE
SHUTTLE COLUMBIA; TRAVEL WARNING; REPATRIATION CASE.


1. Summary: Support for US-led action against Iraq is strong
despite being alloyed with rhetorical angst over Israel and
other issues. The US presence in Kuwait is seen as necessary
even after Saddam is removed, but one commentator also
expresses embarrassment that "Kuwaiti soldiers are playing
cards and drinking tea" while US troops prepare to defend
Kuwait again.

The space shuttle accident was politicized, with one writer
chastising those who would gloat over it as revenge for US
Middle East policy. Among the gloaters: a commentator who
gleefully hopes that the association of Palestine, Texas
will remind the West of the daily tragedy of "the other
Palestine."

Commentary on the repatriation of an American citizen
teenager who also holds a Kuwaiti passport appears again,
with the US Embassy accused of "bearing the greatest
responsibility" for the violation of the Kuwaiti father's
parental rights. End summary.


2. Al-Rai Al-Aam reported that the GOK is leaning towards
imposing martial law. If implemented, the National Assembly
would remain in session, and the government would commit
itself "not to abuse its power." The Kuwait Lawyers
Association opposes martial law, while former MP, Ali Al-
Baghli, supports it "so that our American friends will not
be vulnerable to enemies and Kuwaitis who support Al-Qaeda."
The government will also seek National Assembly approval for
a three-month temporary law allowing the government to hold
suspects for 15 days instead of 4, if there is war against
Iraq.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmed, denied allegations that schools would be closed
after reports that two American schools have extended their
mid-year break until March 22. President of Kuwait
University, Dr. Al-Jallal, announced that the university
would resume classes on February 15 as usual, but would
issue departure forms for professors who wish to leave.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed is reported to have said that gas
masks are "on the way" and will be available to the public.
However, he is quoted as saying: "I'm one of those people
that won't put one on."

Al-Seyassa reported that the Kuwaiti military asked all
private sector transportation companies to make their
vehicles available for military use. The Ministry of Health
requested that leave for doctors, nurses, and other health
employees was suspended.

All papers reported that the Kuwaiti military has declared
two-thirds of Kuwait a restricted military zone starting
February 15. Ministry of Interior investigation teams have
reportedly started accompanying American military convoys
for protection purposes.

Minister of Defense, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, told the
Kuwait News Agency that the GCC Defense Ministers meeting in
Jeddah agreed to deploy a Peninsula Shield battalion to
Kuwait to support Kuwaiti military units.

Ministry of Information Assistant Under-Secretary for
Foreign Media, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij, in a radio interview
in Beirut said: "The Kuwaiti government plans to build camps
outside the border for Iraqi refugees. The Iraqi people and
the Kuwait people are twins." It is reported that 2100 tents
have been sent to the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border to be used by
refugees and American forces.

All papers reported Iraqi Prime Minister Tariq Aziz's
retraction that in case of an armed conflict, Iraq "does not
intend to attack Kuwait, but rather American forces in
Kuwait." Elsewhere, Iraqi Vice President Ramadan threatened
suicide attacks inside Iraq and abroad, specifically naming
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

National Assembly Speaker, Jassim Al-Khorafi, said in an
interview with Reuters: "Democracy is a double-edged sword.
If it is properly used, it is beneficial. If it is not, then
it leads to chaos." On February 3, a lack of a quorum
prevented the adjourning of the National Assembly.

A court sentenced four Kuwaitis accused of being members of
Al-Qaeda to five years in jail. Elsewhere, a Kuwaiti man was
apprehended after a shotgun, ammunition and over 200 video
cds showing "jihad" operations in Bosnia and Chechnya were
found in his vehicle.

Al-Seyassa asked religious and parliamentary figures, "When
will we see an end to the attacks against U.S. forces in
Kuwait?" Sample responses:
--Islamist Kuwait University political science professor,
Dr. Abdulla Sahar answered that these were individual acts
that will disappear with the downfall of Saddam's regime.
--Shiite MP, Abdul-Mohsen Yousef Jamal said it is not
permitted to attack the forces that come to protect us.
--Director of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies, Dr.
Sami Al-Faraj answered that these are individual acts and do
not reflect how the Kuwaiti society views the American
presence here.

All papers carried coverage of a press roundtable discussion
with Ambassador David Mack, Vice President of the Middle
East Institute, on the Iraq crisis.


3. "Let Us Share Their Tragedy"
Dr. Naji Al-Ziad wrote in independent Al-Qabas (2/3): "I
was very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of the American
astronauts and the space shuttle. Unfortunately, some
believe that America-- the enemy of Islam and of Muslims, as
they perceive it-- deserves such a punishment. . The death
of astronauts in the interest of science should not be a
chance to take revenge. We have to stand side by side with
them, just as they stood with us during our crisis in 1990."


4. "A Message to the American Ambassador"
Qais Al-Ustta wrote in independent Al-Qabas (2/3): "Many
Kuwaitis have good relations with the American Ambassador to
Kuwait, Richard Jones. The Ambassador realizes that 99% of
Kuwaitis consider America a friend to Kuwait. On the other
hand, American citizens and the American government believe
that attacks on American soldiers have increased, and that
puts the Ambassador in between. I write to you as a humble
citizen to tell you that your presence in Kuwait is
something we welcome, and to stress to you that Kuwait will
remain a safe haven for our American friends."


5. "America is at its Best"
Osam Safar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (2/3): "Those who
believe that the American role [in the Middle East] will end
after a new Iraqi government is established are mistaken.
Frankly, the need for a powerful nation such as the US will
not end, and we will not encourage them to leave Kuwait.
until another powerful nation like the US emerges."


6. "The American Palestine"
Islamist Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (2/4):
"The destiny of the Israeli space astronaut Iian Ramon ended
in a small town called Palestine in Texas. We hope that the
West would remember the Eastern Palestine and the massacres
that Israel commits against the Palestinian people. We also
wish the Western Palestine would realize the tragedies of
the Arab Palestine. We also hope that the US will give more
Arab names to its regions."


7. "Before the Strike Begins"
Waleed Al-Ahmad wrote in independent Al-Anba (2/3): "We know
that at one time Saddam Hussein served the interests of the
US, but now, Saddam has become useless. We also fully
realize that the current situation has benefited Israel.
which seems to be at the peak of its joy because the Iraqi
crisis has diverted the attention of the world away from the
terrorist acts perpetrated by Israel against the
Palestinians. We also realize it is useless to call on the
Arab world to solve the crisis. Therefore, we must support
US efforts to oust Saddam's regime."


8. Independent Al-Qabas published (2/5) an interview with
Dr. Ahmad Al-Baghdadi, liberal Political Science professor
at Kuwait University, as part of a series of interviews with
prominent Kuwaiti figures discussing extremism in Kuwait:
"When I ask for the closure of the Faculty of Sharia, this
does not mean that I am calling for the elimination of
religious education for children and youths. I want this
education to continue in the mainstream system so that those
extremists will not have the chance to join such
institutions and teach our children this extremism.
[T]raditional Salafi thinking distinguishes between the
infidel from the believer as the latter having the right to
everything and the former to nothing in the land of Islam.
Therefore, any kind of support to the infidels-- and here we
talking directly about the question of American military
presence in Kuwait and the [Arabian] Peninsula-- would not
be acceptable."


9. "An Open Letter to President Bush"
Noriyah Al-Sadani wrote in Independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (2/8):
"Your authorization for your citizens to leave Kuwait has
made us fearful of what will happen, and what kind of new
weapons will be used. What precautions have you taken for
the safety of our homeland and those living in Kuwait? . I
pray for the safety of your officers and soldiers who are
present in Kuwait, and for the safety of all people in
Kuwait. The noble objective of this war is to remove Saddam.
but what happens after that?"


10. Mohammad Musaid Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(2/9): "A friend of mine informed me that while driving
recently to his farm, he passed American and British
military vehicles heading to locations to defend Kuwait.
Later, my friend saw some Kuwait soldiers playing cards and
drinking tea. My friend is wondering if it is reasonable for
the Americans and the British to do their duties while the
Kuwaitis are playing cards and drinking tea? We should not
ask for the help of foreign soldiers when Kuwait is in
danger. Kuwaitis must defend their country. Foreign powers
are not willing to defend us every time Kuwait is in
danger."


11. "The Tragedy of a Father and his Daughter: Who is
Responsible?"
Mallallah Yousef Mallallah wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(2/9): "The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of
Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of
Communication and the American Embassy in Kuwait were all
involved in the kidnapping of a Kuwaiti child from Kuwait
and transporting her to the US. The Embassy of a great and
powerful nation should not have got involved in this case
because there are legal, diplomatic and other legitimate
ways to solve this issue. One would ask, how did the girl
leave the school and how did she go to the American Embassy?
. Whose responsibility is it at the Ministry of Interior for
not opening a missing child case at the police station? How
could the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participate in the
kidnapping of a Kuwaiti citizen? Why did the country ignore
the basic constitutional rights of a Kuwaiti citizen? The
Ministry of Communication is also responsible in this case
because it controls the borders. The American Embassy bears
the greatest responsibility for the father and the daughter.
Why didn't they find another way to solve this case? What
about the fate of the innocent child? . If any citizen has
any problem, he usually asks for the help of the government
and its institutions, but what does he do if the government
is involved in the crime? I personally know the honesty of
Mr. Al-Saffar and I call on him to try all legal and
legitimate ways to solve his case, because if we keep silent
about his case, then we will not feel safe and secure in our
own country."

URBANCIC