KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION JANUARY 8-12: BAKER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000189

SIPDIS

INFO GCC COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY CAIRO
AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
AMEMBASSY RABAT
AMEMBASSY TUNIS
AMEMBASSY SANAA
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
SECDEF WASHDC//OASD-PA//
USDOC WASHDC
DIA WASHDC
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//

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
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KU KDMR
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION JANUARY 8-12: BAKER
TRIP/IRAQ'S FOREIGN DEBT; IRAQ: KUWAIT ISLANDS; KUWAIT
CURRICULA REFORM; IRAN EARTHQUAKE AID


1. SUMMARY: Kuwaiti MPs and the head of the Shiite clerics
in Kuwait have reacted angrily to the reported suggestion by
the Vice President of Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National
Congress that Kuwait should lease two of its islands to Iraq
to use as ports. The leading editorial in daily Al-Watan
proclaims, "Kuwait will not allow a repeat of the ambitions
of Saddam Hussein." In anticipation of James Baker's trip to
Kuwait, a conservative writer states that any debt relief to
Iraq should only be given in exchange for an equal value of
reconstruction contracts for Kuwaiti companies.

A meeting between Embassy Political Counselor and the
Secretary General of the conservative religious Salafi

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Movement was extensively reported in three Arabic dailies on
January 9 with a full transcript of the conversation. The
head of Shiite clerics in Kuwait, Baqer Al-Muhri, reportedly
denounced the meeting in his Friday sermon, while one
moderate Islamist writer praised the meeting as "a step in
the right direction."

A government committee reviewing the Islamic studies
curricula recommended the removal of a number of Quranic
verses from the primary curriculum because they are
"inappropriate to the age level." A conservative Islamist
commentator states that those Kuwaitis supporting curriculum
reform are complicit in an American "war to eradicate our
identity." END SUMMARY.


2. News stories: Comments reported in all papers this week
by the Vice President of the Iraqi National Congress (INC),
Mudhar Shawkat, that Kuwait should lease to Iraq two Kuwaiti
islands led to strong denunciations by Kuwaiti MPs, as
reported by Al-Seyassah on January 9. Al-Rai Al-Aam reports
that the head of the Shiite Clerics in Kuwait Baqer Al-Muhri
opposed "leasing one inch of Kuwaiti land."

On January 9, Al-Rai Al-Aam, Al-Qabas and Al-Anba carried
extensive coverage, including a full transcript, of a
meeting between Political Counselor Richard Bell and the
Secretary General of the conservative Salafi Movement

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(a.k.a. "Scientific Salafis"),Dr. Hakem Al-Mutairi. Al-Anba
and Al-Seyassah report on January 10 that during his Friday
sermon, head of the Shiite Clerics in Kuwait, Baqer Al-
Muhri, strongly attacked the Salafi movement and its
Secretary General for engaging in such a dialogue.

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Al-Rai Al-Aam reports on its January 12 front page that an
Iraqi national detained attempting to enter Kuwait from Iraq
was found to be carrying leaflets "calling for Jihad and
killing the Americans" in Iraq and in Kuwait.

Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States, Sheikh Salem
Abdullah Al-Sabah, announced that a Kuwaiti security
delegation will visit Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo for
four days to inspect their health and living conditions,
according to Al-Qabas, Al-Rai Al-Aam, and Al-Anba.

Al-Qabas reports that Ministry of Education Assistant
Undersecretary for Curricula Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-
Musaileem, stated that the Ministry does not have a budget
for curriculum reform.

Al-Qabas also published the recommendations of the committee
for reviewing the Kuwaiti Islamic Studies curricula, which
include a recommendation to remove certain Quranic verses
from primary school religion books because they are "not
appropriate to this age level."

Editorials


3. "Iraqi Debts"
Conservative Dr. Sami Naser Khalifa wrote in independent Al-
Rai Al-Aam (1/10): "James Baker will pay a visit to the
Gulf countries including Kuwait to urge them to write off
Iraqi debts long due to these countries. The issue of debts
is considered a matter of sovereignty, therefore the Kuwaiti
government has no right to unilaterally arbitrate the issue
without referring it to the National Assembly. [T]he Kuwaiti
government must lay a clear groundwork for dealing with the
American guest by not allowing compromises. It is important
that the government links writing off Iraqi debts to
receiving [for Kuwaiti companies] contracts for
reconstruction projects in Iraq of equivalent value."


4. "Hungry, but Chewing Gum"
Opening editorial in independent Al-Watan (1/12): "Iraq is
in need of massive capital to rebuild its economy, and to
rehabilitate and modernize its infrastructure. Building
Iraqi harbors on Kuwaiti land is certainly not `Iraq's top
priority.' We say to the [Iraqi National Congress], .
through your suggestion of leasing the [two Kuwaiti]
islands, you are either trying to extort Kuwait for your own
financial purposes, or to impose Iraqi sovereignty over
Kuwaiti land. Kuwait will not allow a repeat of the
ambitions of. Saddam Hussein."


5. "War of Ideologies"
Salah Al-Sayer wrote in independent Al-Anba (1/11): "In the
meeting which took place between the Secretary General of
the Kuwaiti Salafi movement, and the head of the Political
Section at the US embassy, the dialogue lacked a definition
of the meaning of the `state,' which differs in meaning in
liberal Western political ideology and in the Arab political
ideology. No matter how much the Salafi Secretary General
talks about democracy, political parties and exchange of
authority, the ideology of a secular state is totally
rejected by the Salafis."


6. "The Salafi-American Meeting"
Moderate Islamist Faisal Al-Zamel wrote in independent Al-
Anba (1/12): "The meeting which took place between members
of the Salafi movement and the First Secretary at the
American embassy is a step in the right direction. [Head of
Shiite clerics in Kuwait] Al-Muhri's criticism of the Salafi
meeting with the representatives of the American embassy
makes me suspicious of the frequent meetings [Shiia]
Islamist groups are having with the Americans, as the
Americans have become a tangible reality in Iraq."


7. "Muslims Until Judgment Day"
Dr. Bahija Behbehani wrote in independent Al-Watan (1/10):
"All [those Muslims] that attack and criticize curricula
reform must recognize that a notable number of academics who
are themselves Muslims will fearlessly defend the Islamic
religion will not allow for any change in religious
curricula. We are Muslims until Judgment Day."


8. "The War to Eradicate Identity"
Conservative Islamist Dr. Sami Khaled Khalifa wrote in
independent Al-Rai Al-Aam (1/12): "For the past three
years, [the American administration] has been very active in
attempting to destroy our cultural identity, and to vilify
the spirit of our religion. There are some [in Kuwait] who
are trying to apply these American dictates, by pronouncing
a need to amend the religious message, reform curricula,
Westernize our culture and renounce terrorism according to
the American principle stated by president Bush--`you are
either with us or with terrorism.' We are in great need of a
massive popular movement that will take up comprehensive
political and economic reforms which reject American
hegemony."


9. "The Culture of Eradication"
Malallah Yousef Malallah wrote in independent Al-Qabas
(1/11): "This is not the time for political debate or
ideological analysis [concerning Iran]. It is the time for
humanitarian assistance so as to alleviate human suffering
[of the earthquake victims]. We would have preferred for any
American "humanitarian" assistance to include the millions
of American dollars [of Iranian assets], frozen in America
for over twenty-four years, to be returned with interest to
Iran for reconstruction purposes."


URBANCIC