MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT MAY 11-12: ABU GHRAIB ABUSE; IRAQ;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001505

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 MAY 11-12: ABU GHRAIB ABUSE; IRAQ;
IRANIAN-KUWAITI SHIA MEETINGS IN KUWAIT.


1. SUMMARY: Condemnation of the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners
at Abu Ghraib continues to dominate local opinion pages. A small
but consistent number of editorials also continue to appear,
praising the transparency with which U.S. authorities are dealing
with the issue, as in one column titled, "America, Be Proud of
Your Democracy." All newspapers report this week that the Kuwait
Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in the Iranian Charge
d'Affaires to protest alleged meetings at the Iranian Embassy with
Kuwaiti Shiites aiming to moderate differences among rival Kuwaiti
Shia political groups. Commentators strongly condemn this
"interference," with one calling for the expulsion of Iran's
ambassador. END SUMMARY.


2. "America, Be Proud Of Your Democracy"
Mohammd Gharib Hatem wrote in independent Al-Watan (5/11): "It is
the pinnacle of justice for the President of the United States to
apologize for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. It was also a
crowning moment for democracy when the American Secretary of
Defense testified before Congress, and when the CIA and others
were held to account. American democracy knows no flattery. I
wish our Arab leaders would seek such a civilized path, because in
our Arab countries, thousands are killed for voicing an opinion."


3. "Bush Is Disgusted And Blair Is Shocked: What About You?"
Malallah Yousef Malallah wrote in independent Al-Qabas (5/11):
"The horrifying and blatantly immoral pictures of abused Iraqi
prisoners not only shocked the American president, who expressed
his disgust, but also stunned PM Tony Blair, whose troops
committed similar criminal acts. Regrettably, a few of our
writers belittled the gravity of this case by approaching the
issue superficially, and reporting that Saddam's brutality was no
less than that of the American soldiers' in Iraq. Why try to
justify such crimes? Even the American and British people do not
accept such feeble justifications. Does your love for America and
Britain blind you against condemning such crimes and abuse? Crime
is crime and torture is torture wherever it occurs. All human
beings must be respected, whether they are Muslims, Christians or
Jews."


4. "Evasive Apology"
Dr. Yaser Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (5/11):
"What happened in Iraqi prisons was systematic abuse, adopted by
the American administration, the Pentagon and the American
military machine. This issue reveals the extent of the immoral
foundations on which the American regime stands. The whole abuse
issue would not have been exposed had it not been for the
continuous internal political conflict, which in the past led the
Republicans and the extreme right to expose Clinton's sexual
relations. Now, the Liberals came out for revenge, and exposed
the actions of the neoconservative figureheads in a bid to oust
them from power. We would like to say to the figureheads of the
American administration: Their evasive apology, baptized with the
blood of innocent Iraqis, is not wanted."


5. "Iraq's Higher Clerical Authority Toward Muqtada Al-Sadr"
Salah Al Fadhli wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (5/12): "The
problem with Al-Sadr is that he behaves as if he is the highest
clerical authority in Iraq. However, he lacks the knowledge of
how to make a decision by independent interpretation of the
sources of the law, he lacks mature religious ideological debate
and, on a personal level, he lacks charisma which can contribute
to leadership qualities. In spite of media interest surrounding
Al-Sadr, he is doomed to fail, because historically and
spiritually, the Shiite mentality was and is linked to the highest
clerical authority. This authority will take a negative stance
toward Al-Sadr and therefore, he will lose the majority of
peoples' support."


6. "What Does Kuwait Mean in Persian?"
Ibrahim Al-Duaij wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (5/11): "In
whose interest was the dubious meeting which took place at the
Iranian embassy between Khameini's representative, a few former
Kuwaiti MPs and members of Kuwait's so-called Hezbollah? Does
Kuwait need advice from Iran in matters regarded as purely
domestic? Our government did not deal firmly with this issue.
many people denounced the Ministry of Foreign Affair's timid
statement criticizing the Iranian position. We call for the
expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador and for severing diplomatic
ties with a country that still has imperial ambitions over the
Gulf states."


7. "Loyalty to Kuwait"
Mohammed Ali Al-Naqqi wrote in independent Al-Seyassah (5/11):
"News about a dubious meeting which took place between Shiite
parties calling themselves the 'National Islamic Alliance,' and
representatives of a neighboring country, is not a trivial matter.
According to reports, similar meetings will continue for the
purpose of strengthening and supporting this party in the upcoming
parliamentary elections. As citizens we have every right to
condemn the interference of neighboring countries and their
diplomats in our domestic affairs. However, we have every
confidence in our officials and their ability to resolve such
issues."

Urbancic