Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KUWAIT1399
2004-04-29 09:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT APRIL 24-28: MIDDLE EAST: VANUNU'S

Tags:  OIIP KU KDMR 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001399 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT APRIL 24-28: MIDDLE EAST: VANUNU'S
RELEASE, BUSH ENDORSMENT OF SHARON'S PLAN; IRAQ: ANTI-U.S.
UPRISINGS, BRAHIMI PLAN, REHIRING BAATHISTS; GMEI.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001399

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT APRIL 24-28: MIDDLE EAST: VANUNU'S
RELEASE, BUSH ENDORSMENT OF SHARON'S PLAN; IRAQ: ANTI-U.S.
UPRISINGS, BRAHIMI PLAN, REHIRING BAATHISTS; GMEI.


1. SUMMARY: Continued criticism of Pres. Bush's perceived
closeness to Sharon and tacit approval for Sharon's "crimes" gave
way slightly as the week went on to calls for increased security
in the wake of the Riyadh bombings. Nabil Al-Fadhl wrote in
independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/24),"As Kuwaitis, we place our
country and our security in the highest priority, because other
Arabs and Muslims cannot provide us with such safety. Therefore,
no one has the right to demand death to our allies, who provide us
with security and safety. For the ones who believe that suicide
bombings are the answer, you can leave Kuwait and die with your
beloved martyrs." Still, the perception of Bush's support for
Sharon makes a mockery, in the opinion of local writers, of Arab
World democratic and human rights reform efforts such as the GMEI.
END SUMMARY.


2. "Credible Witness"
Former Islamist MP Abdel Mohsin Jamal wrote in independent Al-
Qabas (4/24): "Mordechai Vanunu was released after eighteen years
of incarceration. The first thing he did after his release was to
call on Dr. Baradei to inspect the Nuclear Reactor at Dimona. The
question is: will Dr. Baradei, director of the IAEA, respond to
Vanunu's appeal and reveal Israel's secret nuclear program? Or,
for that matter, will President Bush, who has been accusing
Islamic countries of developing nuclear programs, dare ask Israel
to place its reactor under international scrutiny? I doubt either
would dare. El-Baradei must cease issuing statements against Arab
and Islamic countries, and must demand Israel open up its nuclear
facilities for inspection instead. The same applies to the
American president, or else international law will become a tool
used by super powers to pressure lesser countries. Vanunu's story
is another tragic incident caused by the Zionist entity, which,
has become a threat to international security as shown by a recent
poll conducted by Europeans."


3. "Sharon, The Arabs, And The Palestinians"
Jaber Al-Hajri wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/24): "Ariel
Sharon entered history as a bloodthirsty character who is filled

with hatred towards humanity. There is no doubt that he even
exceeds Bin Laden in terrorizing, and violating human rights and
international law. However, it is only when the Palestinians
unite, and unite their political agenda that a solution can be
achieved for the Palestinian problem. Furthermore, members of the
Palestinian Authority must deal with this issue with a little bit
of conscience and honesty, away from personal interests, which
destroyed and continue to destroy the Palestinian cause."


4. "Mixing Cards"
Ali Ahmad Al-Baghli wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/25): "In the
past, the United States has never dedicated its efforts to solve
the Israeli-Palestinian problem in a final, realistic and
acceptable solution to the two parties. The United States must be
blamed for the way it handled the problem. However, part of the
blame must also be laid against the Palestinians, and the Arabs
who are negatively inflaming their cause."


5. "Sharon The Terrorist"
Adel al-Mize'el wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/25): "One slap
after another, is the treatment meted by Sharon to the ones
rushing after his crumbs. This is your fate for accepting the
West's doctrine, Bush's initiative, and Sharon as a friend and
master. You have offered unlimited support to Israel, until it
grew into a monster. You have become a meek nation engulfed in
humiliation. Never in history has this nation become so weak and
ineffective."


6. "Let Us Thank Sharon"
Amna Al-Mousawi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/27):
"During his recent press conference with Sharon, Bush Junior
wasn't bashful about entirely legitimizing all the crimes
perpetrated by Sharon against the Palestinians. He did not
demonstrate any regret about his country casting a VETO, to
prevent the Security Council from adopting a resolution that would
have condemned the assassination of Hamas leader, Sheikh Yaseen.
Furthermore, he was devoid of any shame when he linked the GMEI
with the Middle East economic partnership, which was seemingly
engineered to rescue Israel from her current economic crisis. Nor
did he show shame for linking the liberation of Iraq to the
security of Israel. He also never denied once, his preference to
remain silent about Israel's controversial security wall, or about
the settlements that are being built by Israel on Palestinian
land. Yet still, many here denounce anti-American feelings, but
what do they expect? That we kiss the top of Bush's head and lick
the doorstep of the White house seeking his approval?"


7. "President Bush, No"
Dr. Abdel Rahman Al-Awadi wrote in independent Al-Anba (4/28):
"We always associate the name Bush with your great father who was
a principal defender of Kuwait. When you were elected as
president, we had high hopes that you would have learned from the
wars and conflicts of the region, and that you would be first to
lift the injustices befalling the region's nations. However, we
were stunned to see you with the butcher of the area, who seized
the rights of the Palestinians and who imposed a walled ghetto,
which Jews claim that they suffered from at the hand of the
Europeans. I don't know what is the way out for you, are you that
alarmed that you would not win the upcoming elections for the
second time? Are you that sacred of the Jewish lobby that is
wholly exploiting the American people? President Bush, we are
deeply surprised that you support such a criminal, and overlook
the fact that nations cannot be vanquished. Your support of this
criminal has made you a party to an unequal conflict. Nations and
states will go on, while colonialism will eventually be destroyed
and obliterated. You must know that solving the Palestinian
issue, is the key which will enable you to enter our region and
receive our unmitigated support."


8. "Advice Them Instead Of Defending Them"
Dr. Wael Al-Hassawi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/25):
"Those who stand alone in admiration of the United States have my
sympathy, because, they stand alone against the majority Arab,
Islamic and Kuwaiti public opinion which condemns US policy bias
toward Israel. But, in spite of our condemnation of the Riyadh
and Iraq bombings, these aberrant perpetrators must be uprooted
because they leave misery in their wake. However, we must concede
to logic and reality that these groups derive their actions and
justifications out of the injustices meted out toward the
Palestinians. Israel's brutal practices in Palestine have paved
the way for the extremists to persuade Muslims, that those actions
such as the Riyadh and Iraq bombings are in retaliation to the US
support for the Zionist conspiracy against the Arab and Islamic
world.'


9. "Kuwait's Hawks"
Abdel Latif Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/25): "We
call on a more active and realistic participation that agrees with
the future political importance which Iraq will gain. We must
declare a clear and decisive support toward the coalition's policy
in Iraq. We must also offer tangible support, not only
politically but also militarily toward American policy in Iraq.
Since Kuwait is the closest to Iraq, it is Kuwait that will be
affected by the type of powers that will govern the future
policies of Iraq. That is why we should be the largest
contributors."


10. "Rehabilitation"
Abdel Latif Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/26): "Two
months after the fall of Saddam Hussein, I wrote that the American
Administration was making a big mistake to ban the Baath party
from future political participation in Iraq. These days, it seems
that the American Administration is reviewing its calculations in
a bid to weaken its foes by gaining the support of former Baath
party members. This decision to rehabilitate former Baath members
is a step in the right direction, and the US civil administration
must enforce its decision despite opposition. Former Baath party
members are not criminals nor loyal to Saddam Hussein; like the
majority of Iraqis, they are victims of a deposed regime."


11. "Iraq ... A Slide Into War"
President of the American University of Kuwait Dr. Shafiq Al-
Ghabra wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/26): "The recent
events which occurred in Fallujah, Najaf and Baghdad are evidence
that such events have given birth to a new military and combat
spirit which could have a devastating effect against Iraq and its
sympathizers. It is an indication of the deteriorating situation
in Iraq, and a reflection of negative practices, which have been
dogging Arabs and Muslims since 9/11. Iraq today is at a
crossroads, either it chooses to accept this historic opportunity,
or slide into a coma. Should the United States retreat from its
commitment to Iraq, Iraq will left to face an internal conflict it
would not be able to control."


12. "Iraq's Democracy"
Mohammed Musaed Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/27):
"If America was serious about spreading democracy in Iraq, then it
should not prolong the matter any further, time is not in
America's favor. The Iraqi opposition is intensifying against the
American and coalition presence. Yesterday's press showed a
picture of a nine-year-old girl being searched by an American
soldier in a revolting manner. Does this American democracy,
which will be brought and implemented in Iraq, consider this child
a suicide bomber? How can Iraqis learn democracy when they see
its godfathers unable to distinguish between an innocent child and
a combatant?"


13. "They Deserve To Die"
Nabil Al-Fadhl wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/24): "The
terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia are a result of a culture of
violence, which we allowed to spread in the Gulf region. Also,
our naivet was an ideological breeding ground for terrorism to
grow in our societies. As Kuwaitis, we place our country, and our
security, in the highest priority, because other Arabs and Muslims
cannot provide us with such safety. Therefore, no one has the
right to demand death to our allies, who provide us with security
and safety. For the ones who believe that suicide bombings are
the answer, you can leave Kuwait and die with your beloved
martyrs."



14. "Is Everything Burning?"
Dr. Yaser Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/27):
"Members of the Iraqi Governing Council have lost credibility, due
to their association with the occupier who has been committing
massacres in Iraq. Therefore, the role played by UN envoy,
Lakhdar Brahimi, is crucial for the American Administration in
Iraq. As a Muslim, he adds a moral legitimacy to the American
Administration, as well as international legitimacy for being the
UN Secretary General's representative in Iraq. Therefore, the
massacres, which the Americans intend to perpetrate in Iraqi
towns, the imposition of long-term American military hegemony, and
the selling of Iraqi lands and resources all are legitimate
objectives for Brami and members of the subsequent Iraqi
government."


15. "The Credibility Of The GMEI"
Ammar Taqi wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/28): "Following
the war on Iraq last year, the United States realized that the
ideal way to defeat terrorism was not by military means but by
adopting a new strategy which aims at encouraging democracy in the
Middle East. That is how the Greater Middle East Initiative was
conceived. Unfortunately, the United States' vision of democracy
and its Human Rights record contradict the reality on the ground.
The United States' record on Human Rights alone is enough to
unravel the credibility of the White House. The greater Arab and
Islamic opinion has come to the conclusion that the present United
States Administration bears no legitimacy or credibility for a
fundamental reason, in that it equates terrorism with legitimate
resistance. The continued occupation of Iraq, the policy of
terrorizing the Palestinians on the one hand, and terrorizing
Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon on the other, in addition to the
unlimited support it offers Israel, helped to reinforce the loss
of America's credibility."

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