MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT SEPTEMBER 10-13: 9/11,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003148

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 SEPTEMBER 10-13: 9/11,
EXTREMISM.


1. SUMMARY: The anniversary of 9/11, arriving just after an
extended crackdown here on Islamists allegedly planning
terror operations in Kuwait and Iraq, has apparently forced
many commentators to take an uncharacteristic look within.
Many decry the lack of progress the Arab World has made as
the U.S. has pursued the war on terror, and condemn the
damage 9/11 and continued worldwide terror attacks have done
to the image in the West of Islam and Arabs. Adnan Fares
wrote in independent al-Seyassah (09/12): "Islamists put
Islam in a tight spot where it is accused of what it is not.
What is requested is that Islamic clerics who are not
involved in leading and inciting terror defend Islam and
clear it of the charge of terrorism. We call upon you to
unite and save us." END SUMMARY.


2. "Who is Responsible for Extremism?"
Dr. Ibrahim Behbehani wrote in independent al-Qabas (09/10):
"Extremism is a phenomenon that expands according to how it
is marketed, and to people's acceptance of it. Extremism in
Kuwait is not inherent in our society, but rather brought in
from outside the Kuwaiti House. But blame still falls upon
us for our government has had a role in turning a blind eye
to the conduct and stances of some extremists. Didn't the
government pave the way for these groups when it allowed
them to hold camps in the desert that lead to the
brainwashing of youth and children? What I wanted to say is
that Globalism, in its advanced mass communications'
abilities, has aided extremism in spreading. Therefore, I
would like that the curators of the Committee on Studying
Terrorism be aware of those factors, and of how influenced
we are by them. Extremism in all its religious, political,
and ethnical forms is nowadays a global issue, and what
matters is that we provide clean air and healthy living
conditions for our children to grow up in."


3. "11 X 1= ZERO"
Jassem Boodai, Owner and editor-in-chief of independent al-
Rai al-A'am wrote (09/10): "It has been three years since
the attacks of September 11th and we wonder what progress
has been made in our region regarding development programs,
political participation, progress of education and
development of curricula, eradicating illiteracy, democracy,
public liberties, economic reform, social justice, and Human
Rights. Isn't the absence of these goals and others what we
have come to believe as the `International Conspiracy'?
Isn't their absence another target of those who brought the
Twin Towers down, since poverty and oppression are the fuel
of extremist movements? Three years since the demolishing of
the two towers equals Zero in Arab calculations. Shyness
would be the best strategy when speaking of the "Other's"
responsibility, when we can't move beyond the Zero."


4. "Who Speaks of Human Rights?"
Mohammad Yousef wrote in independent al-Anba (09/11): "Do
all Arab capitals apply the principles of Human Rights in
their prisons? Aren't Arabs and non-Arabs imprisoned in Arab
jails? Don't the security forces in Arab countries use
violence and beating in their prisons? Haven't electricity,
fire, bloating, and the tying of hands and feet been used in
torturing prisoners? Don't the Arab prisons have detainees
who have been there for tens of years and are still awaiting
trial? Don't many Arab detainees die in Arab prisons without
anybody knowing about them? Haven't some Arab countries
kidnapped people from other countries that oppose them and
placed those individuals in prison? What happened in Abu
Ghraib prison was a big matter indeed, and we are not
defending the irregularities, for a crime is a crime no
matter how it occurs. We wish that the pens which have
written attacks on U.S. violations of Human Rights do the
same for protecting the rights of Arabs from the hands of
the Arabs themselves."


5. "Death in Iraq"
Sami Abdullatif al-Nisif wrote in independent al-Anbaa
(09/11): "Commenting on the Associated Press' interview
with the father of one of the Kuwaiti juveniles who had gone
to Iraq to fight against coalition forces, we applaud Othman
al-Zahameel who went to all lengths in order to save his 17-
year-old-boy from death. Not only did this man save his son
and the youths accompanying him from death, but he also
insisted on not allowing anyone to exploit the children of
others, and hence thankfully, filed complaints against the
instigators of the youth. This helped shed light on the
sleeper cells that were awaiting orders from abroad to carry
out terror campaigns in Kuwait. The truth that every parent
must keep in mind - after the spread of death of many youths
in our society by means of drugs, car accidents, or
terrorism - is that inside each youth are two conflicting
personalities, and that the bad may overcome the good if
parents are unaware of this."


6. "Fatwas of Clerics in the Loss of the Innocent"
Jamal al-Sweifan wrote in independent al-Anba (09/12): "The
kidnappings that occur nowadays in Iraq are nothing but
criminal operations aimed at blackmail. Incidents first
start with threats to the respective governments, and then
change into financial claims. It would be best that all Arab
media agree not to broadcast any of those groups' news so as
not to cause dissent among Arabs regarding the groups'
affiliations and not to aid them in spreading their foul
message. Finally, we say may God punish all those who have
aided those misled groups in word, or money, or even what we
have heard of some fatwas advocating the killing of
civilians in Iraq. If this fatwa be true, then why is it not
directed towards countries that have been fighting Islam and
Muslims in the farthest ends of earth for hundreds of
years?"


7. "The Sheikhs of Islam and the Sheikhs of Terror"
Iraqi writer Adnan Fares wrote in independent al-Seyassah
(09/12): "Hareth Dari, Head of the Iraqi Muslim Cleric's
Authority, calls kidnappers, thieves, and people who behead
human beings `Brethren.' Yousef Qaradawi, Head of the
International Muslim Cleric's Authority, calls for the
killing of American civilians in Iraq. Ali al-Sistani calls
on Shi'as to march on al-Najaf to save Muqtada al-Sadr.
Khomeini embraces and sponsors the head and members of al-
Qaeda. Islamists put Islam in a tight spot where it is
accused of what it is not. What is requested is that Islamic
clerics who are not involved in leading and inciting terror
defend Islam and clear it of the charge of terrorism. We
call upon you to unite and save us."


8. "Pigeons Farewell!"
Abdullatif al-Du'aij wrote in independent al-Qabas (09/13):
"Our government, and the governments of the world, are
requested to take preemptive, defending steps against those
who threaten our existence as there is a big difference
between voicing one's opinion, and inciting terror - such is
Qaradawi's and Tantawi's remarks. Had Qaradawi called on
Qatar to attack al-Aideed base, and Tantawi on Egypt to
fight Americans there, it would have been an internal Qatari
or Egyptian matter. But these muftis incite terror away from
their countries. I believe our government should request
that the international community set laws banning
interference in others' affairs. How can our government sit
silent when Qaradawi, the head of an official organization,
in Qatar -a member of the GCC- calls for the destabilization
of our safety? Islamic currents have for long been
befriended and it is about time that our official "doves"
resign and be replaced by those who are better able to deal
with terrorism, wherever be its source.


9. "It's Our Turn to Ask (Why Do They Hate Us?)"
Bahraini editorialist Sawsan al-Sha'er wrote in independent
al-Watan (09/13): The American people have been silent
regarding the damage the Conservative Right has inflicted on
America's reputation, and its policy of preemptive strikes,
and racism. I wish we Arabs had also been silent when
Muslims and Arabs committed atrocities in the world. We
applauded them, and hence we have become equal to the U.S.
in people's hatred of us. Our flags are burnt, our mosques
attacked, and our lives endangered. After having never had
problems as Gulf citizens in obtaining entry visas to
countries, we have become the group most prone to expulsion
and doubt. We have become equal to monsters, whether they be
Americans, Israelis, Hindus, or Russians, and we are not
better than any of them. They have their monsters and we
have ours. May our learned and our blood-applauding elite be
pleased!"

Tueller