KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION DECEMBER 12-16: CAPTURE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 005737

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 CCPAUSDOC FOR
4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKSUSDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION DECEMBER 12-16: CAPTURE OF
SADDAM; ATTACKS ON US SOLDIERS IN KUWAIT; LETTER BOMBS TO
NEWSPAPERS.


1. SUMMARY: News of Saddam Hussein's capture was trumpeted
in banner headlines on the front pages of all Arabic dailies
as "The End of the Tyrant" and "The Mother of All Good
News." Commentators call for a public trial and hope that
Saddam's capture will contribute to a "change in the Arab
mentality that glorifies criminal leaders like Saddam."
Media reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad
stated that Kuwait would not seek the extradition of Saddam
to Kuwait for trial, according to newspaper reports.

All newspapers report on December 16 that a Kuwaiti man and
three accomplices were arrested in connection with three
separate shooting attacks on December 15 against US soldiers
that slightly injured two soldiers, and a fourth against a
bus carrying foreign workers that injured seven. Al-Seyassah
reports on December 17 that the primary suspect stated, "I
hate Americans and there is no justification for their
presence in Kuwait after the arrest of Saddam." On December
17, all newspapers report that eleven more suspects were
arrested in the case, including an Egyptian and a Moroccan.

On December 12, all newspapers report that an employee at Al-
Seyassah Arabic daily was injured by a letter bomb addressed
to editor-in-chief Ahmed Al-Jarallah. A second letter bomb
addressed to Al-Seyassah was intercepted, as were two others
addressed to Al-Qabas Arabic daily and the Kuwait Writers
Association, all mailed from the same place in Lebanon.
Commentators denounce the letter bombs as "terrorist acts
targeting Kuwait's freedom of speech and democracy." END
SUMMARY.


2. News Stories: All newspapers published news of the
capture of Saddam Hussein in banner headlines on their front
pages over the image of Saddam in full beard during a
medical examination after his capture. All Arabic dailies
included special sections in today's editions dedicated to
Saddam's capture. Headlines include:

- "The End of the Tyrant" (Al-Qabas)
- "Fall of the Devil" (Al-Watan)
- "Captured, Humiliated" (Al-Anba)
- "The Cowardly Criminal Found in a Rat Hole" (Al-Seyassah)
- "The Mother of All Good News!" (Al-Rai Al-Aam)

Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah stated, "We
look forward to effective involvement in the trial of
Saddam," Al-Qabas reports. Al-Rai Al-Aam reports that "the
trial of Saddam is the biggest obsession of the Kuwaiti
people." All papers report that Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr.
Mohammad Al-Sabah received a phone call from Secretary of
State Powell during which Secretary Powell congratulated
Kuwait and the Kuwaitis on Saddam's capture.

On December 16, all newspapers report a statement by Prime
Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad that Kuwait would not seek
the extradition of Saddam to Kuwait for trial.

On December 16, all newspapers report the arrest of a
Kuwaiti man and three accomplices in connection with three
separate shooting attacks against US soldiers on December
15 that slightly injured two soldiers and a December 15
attack on a bus carrying foreign workers that left seven
injured.

On December 12, all newspapers report that a letter bomb
addressed to the editor-in-chief of Arabic daily Al-Seyassah
and English daily the Arab Times, Ahmed Al-Jarallah,
exploded as Al-Jarallah's assistant tried to open it,
wounding the assistant slightly. Security officials
intercepted three more booby-trapped parcels, all mailed
from the same place in Lebanon as the Al-Seyassah package,
and addressed to Al-Qabas Arabic daily, Al-Seyassah Arabic
daily and to the president of the Writer's Association.

Al-Anba reports on its December 16 front page, "Handcuffed
Saddam in Kuwait for Three Hours." The paper reports that
"an informed diplomatic source" told the paper that Saddam
was flown to an airbase in northern Kuwait after his
capture, and then to an American military facility in Qatar
for questioning.

All newspapers report on December 13 that security at
Kuwait's airport, borders and postal facilities has been
stepped up and leave for police and security officers has
been cancelled in advance of the December 21-22 GCC Summit
to be held in Kuwait.

Al-Watan reports that Jordanians and Palestinians in Jordan
are saddened by news of Saddam's capture, and that Kuwaiti
students studying in Jordan are concerned and fear a
backlash.

Editorials:


3. "The Nest of Illusions"
Editor-in-chief of independent Al-Watan, Mohammad Al-Jassim
opined (12/15): "The US must exploit this moment to further
its goal of changing the current Arab mentality. Arabs feel
humiliated at the capture of Saddam, but this should be a
turning point in changing Arab psychology, which glorifies
criminal leaders like Saddam. The United States must bring
Saddam to trial soon in order to deliver a direct message to
the Arabs, saying: `Saddam suppressed you just like other
leaders do by depriving you of your freedom and humanity and
sacrificing your blood for their power."


4. "God Gives Time, But Never Neglects"
Dr. Sami Khalifa wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (12/15):
"This is the end of the tyrant, which was dictated by God.
We hope the world will witness an Iraqi public trail for all
the crimes Saddam committed, and that he will not to be
hidden away by the American administration as was done with
other Baathist leaders."


5. "I Hope Bin Laden is Next"
Liberal Abdelatif Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(12/15): "The capture of Saddam alive is a striking
achievement for the coalition forces and a knock-out blow
for terrorism. However, many Arabs may refuse to believe
news of [Saddam's capture], just as they refused to believe
the death of Saddam's sons. His capture will put an end to
Arab and Muslim pipedreams of resisting the coalition
forces. Saddam's capture is also a blow to the Arab
mentality that opposed the liberation of Iraq. We
congratulate the Iraqi people, and we hope the capture of
Bin Laden alive soon."


6. "The Fall of Saddam is the End of an Era"
Liberal Dr. Ahmad Al-Rubei wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(12/15): "The fall of Saddam is a strike against the Baath
party and their supporters who carry on terrorist actions
and international terrorism. [Saddam's capture] will
contribute to the stability of Iraq. His capture is a lesson
for all tyrants that injustice cannot continue."


7. "The Letter Bomb"
Mohammad Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Qabas (12/12):
"The person accused of sending the letter bomb has not only
attacked the [Al-Seyassah] newspaper, but also the stability
and security of Kuwait. We hope that such acts will not
contribute in justifying restrictions of freedom of opinion
and in so doing help those who sent the letter bomb to
achieve their objectives."


8. "In Confronting Terrorism"
Liberal Secretary General of Kuwait Journalist Association
Faisal Al-Qanai wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (12/14):
"It is normal for Kuwait to be the target for acts of
terrorism due to its freedom of expression and democracy.
However, terrorism will not stop the progress of freedom and
our belief in democracy."


MORAN