KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION, MARCH 12: IRAQ; BLIX

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000900

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/M, 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, MARCH 12: IRAQ; BLIX
REPORTS; TURKEY'S REFUSAL OF US TROOPS; SHARED VALUES
CAMPAIGN


1. Summary: Kuwaiti commentators show predictable sympathy
to the US position with the UNSC and the Turkish
Parliament's refusal to accept US troops for an attack on
Iraq. Blix's "indecisive" reports are blamed for
contributing to the disunity on the Security Council.
Opposition to war in Iraq continues in Islamist circles with
the radical Islamist "Salafist" group calling for opposition
to this "new Crusade."

A writer attacks the Department's Shared Values campaign,
declaring that the State Department has abandoned it due to
excessive criticism and the realization that US policies are
to blame for its poor image in the Arab world.

On the news pages, three more Kuwaitis were arrested on
suspicion of providing intelligence to Iraq. The trial of
Sami al-Mutairi, charged with the January 21 murder of
American civilian defense contractor Michael Pouliot and the
injuring of his colleague, began on March 12. End Summary.


2. News Stories: The Kuwaiti Salafi Movement (conservative
Islamist) issued a press release denouncing American plans
for war against Iraq, and calling on the Arab and Islamic
worlds to confront this "new Crusade."

The Kuwaiti Criminal Court began hearing of the case of Sami
Al-Mutairi, charged with killing American citizen Michael
Pouliot and injuring his colleague in a shooting attack on
January 21, 2003.

Three Kuwaitis were arrested on suspicion of providing
intelligence to the Iraqi regime.

Three Americans were detained for photographing military
installations and sensitive areas of Kuwait International
Airport.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs, refuted Iraqi claims that the holes which
were made in the border fence earlier this week were an
aggression to which Kuwait will be legally held responsible:
"Passages in the border fence were made on our land, and
this is our right."

Daily Al-Qabas reports that Washington is expected to order
the departure of its non-essential diplomats and their
families from Kuwait, Israel and Syria this week.

Kuwait Airways has reduced the number of flights to some
destinations during the month of March.

Kuwait Petroleum Company states it will close two refineries
if war breaks out.

The Ministry of Health has begun vaccinating emergency
medical workers against smallpox.

The Humanitarian Operations Center, a liaison center for
relief NGOs and the US military, was opened in Kuwait City
on March 11.

Peninsula Shield troops may be assigned to undertake
humanitarian operations and to protect Iraqi refugees as
necessary.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah hailed Jordan's support of
Kuwaiti issues in the recent Arab and Islamic summits, and
King Abdullah's refusal to meet Ali Hassan Al-Majid, the
military governor of Kuwait during the 1990-91 occupation,
on a recent Arab trip.

Editorials:


3. "The Turkish Dilemma "
Dr. Yacoub Al-Sharah wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-Aam
(3/11): "Turkey has disappointed the US by not allowing it
to deploy its forces in preparation for the expected war on
Iraq despite Turkey's military and political agreements with
the US. [T]his crisis is expected to get worse unless there
is a sudden reversal of the Turkish parliament decision, or
if Turkey does not offer alternate solution that coincides
with the American demands."


4. "The Blazing Reports"
Lawyer Jamal Al-Kandari wrote in independent Al-Watan
(3/11): "The gray Blix's reports regarding WMD in Iraq have
contributed to creating a big gap among the 15 [Security
Council members] at the UN. His reports were not decisive,
despite the fact that he was convinced that Iraq had
violated the resolutions. He imagined that being courteous
with Iraq would contribute in Iraq's response to disclose
its WMD. Blix's elastic statements in his reports have sowed
sedition among the UN members."


5. "Even in America There are Foolish Propagandists"
Islamist Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(3/11): "There are ignorant propagandists in the Isalmic
world who deform the true image of Islam, just as there are
foolish propagandists such as Senator Joseph Biden. [that
are] radical extremists who distort the US image because
they simply do not understand Islam. Both types of
propagandists, Islamists and Americans alike, are considered
a threat to the security and stability of their societies.
The contradictory concepts of US efforts to improve its
image, and its [Middle East policies] have led the US State
Department to call off the Shared Values campaign in the
face of criticism by Muslim Arabs in the US and abroad."


6. "Your Father's Worries"
Mohammad Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Qabas (3/11): "To
President George Bush, I share your father's worries at
seeing his son walking alone on an unpaved road in preparing
to make a decision against Iraq. [G]iven the circumstances,
it would be wise to give international inspectors more time
to scrap Iraqi WMD, as put forth in a plan supported by
France, Germany, Russia and China. Mr. President, we once
again share your father's worry about you and about the
world. The question is, does ousting Saddam Hussein and his
regime justify the enormous expected losses to be incurred
by the US?"


7. "USA: The Shelter for People from Tyrants and
Suppressors"
Nahar Al-Mikrad wrote in Independent Al-Watan (3/12): "We
cannot hide our admiration for the people and the great
nation of the USA. America does not hide facts and its
record is crystal clean. America confronted the Nazis and
their allies and ended their dreams of expansion. We, as
Kuwaitis and GCC citizens, appreciate the American stance
and we can never forget their sacrifices for liberating us
from Iraq. Today, the US and Britain are standing ready for
the zero hour in order to remove the tyrant in Iraq."

JONES