TFUSO1: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: KUWAITIS EXTEND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003957

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO PREL KU KATRINA AID
SUBJECT: TFUSO1: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: KUWAITIS EXTEND
UNPRECEDENTED CHORUS OF SUPPORT FOR AID TO KATRINA VICTIMS

Ref: A. 3951


1. Summary: Kuwaitis from all sectors of society and across
the ideological spectrum have joined in praising the
Government of Kuwait's decision to offer $500 million in
aid to Hurricane Katrina victims, and effusive pledges of
support covered the front pages of nearly every Kuwaiti
newspaper. Kuwaiti Islamists, including Minister of Awqaf
and Islamic Affairs Abdullah Al-Matooq and Sharia College
Dean Dr. Mohammed Al-Tabtabae, offered some of the
strongest support for the GOK's offer, a chorus likely
designed to offset isolated extreme Islamist voices
pronouncing Hurricane Katrina a divine punishment of
America. End Summary.

PRAISE FOR THE GOVERNMENT FROM PARLIAMENT
--------------


2. Acting National Assembly Speaker Abdul Wahab Al-Haroun
led a number of MPs in congratulating the GOK for its offer
of assistance. "We cannot forget the tremendous role of the
United States in standing by us during the invasion of the
Saddam Hussein regime of Kuwait," Al-Haroun told Kuwait
News Agency (KUNA),the state newswire. "Kuwait's donation
to victims of Hurricane Katrina is in line with the
international outpouring of help to the American people in
their current time of difficulty."


3. Other MPs, from across the political spectrum, joined in
offering their support. Islamist MP Musallem Al-Barrak, a
frequent critic of U.S. policy, told one daily newspaper,
"We are deeply moved by what has happened to our ally. We
have to help them because they stood by us during our
tribulations." Pro-government Islamist MP Ali Al-Hajeri
praised the GOK "for doing the right thing," saying to an
Arabic daily that, "the United States stood shoulder to
shoulder with us during the Iraqi invasion." Moderate MP
Issam AL-Dabbous added, "It is our duty to offer help to
Americans." Pro-government MPs Mohammed AL-Fajji, Barrak
Al-Noun, and Abdullah Al-Fahma also offered public
statements in support of the GOK offer.

THE ISLAMIST RESPONSE: "$500 MILLION IS THE LEAST WE CAN
OFFER"
-------------- --------------


4. Perhaps responding to the Ambassador's strongly-worded
letter of rebuke to a newspaper which ran a column by an
Islamist writer and Ministry of Awqaf official claiming
that Hurricane Katrina was a divine punishment of America
(reftel),the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs,
Abdullah Al-Matooq, told Al-Watan Arabic daily, in a
statement carried on the paper's front-page, that "Gloating
is not part of Islam and is not Kuwaiti behavior, and $500
million is the least we can offer to America."


5. Other isolated Islamist comments speculating that the
hurricane was divine punishment provoked similar rebukes.
Responding to such a statement by extreme Islamist and
Sharia College professor Hamed Al-Ali, who rejected the
GOK's offer of aid to the U.S., Sharia College Dean Dr.
Mohammed Al-Tabtabae said, "Islam urges Muslims to help the
needy. Reservations regarding these donations are
baseless." Islamist lawyer and respected human rights
activist Mubarak Al-Mutawa also rejected Al-Ali's
statements, and urged Kuwaitis to feel sympathy for the
victims of the hurricane. Bader Al-Nashi, the Secretary
General of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (Muslim
Brotherhood) called on all public and private groups to
extend assistance to America, and asked for parliamentary
approval of official support.

LIBERALS AND OTHERS REBUKE GLOATING, PLEDGE HELP
-------------- ---


6. Calls by leading liberal groups and individuals consumed
the front page of Arabic daily Al-Qabas. Chair of the
National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee MP Mohammed Al-
Saqer said that the hurricane "is an occasion for audacity"
in assistance. Ahmed Bishara, the Secretary General of the
National Democratic movement, called for more support for
America. And National Democratic Alliance Secretary General
Khalid Al-Mutairi rejected those who opposed sending aid.

ONLINE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE
--------------

7. Kuwaiti bloggers also joined the chorus, rudely rebuking
the few Islamists who rejected aid offers from the GOK and
calling for support for the hurricane victims. A blogger
known as "Kuwaiti Chopper Dude" wrote: "I wished sooo [sic]
hard that I could be on a plane to go help these people,
but me thousands of miles away with family obligations is
not permitting me to do the only humane thing, instead, I
did the only thing I could. I donated, and if you have the
heart, you would too." Another blogger, known as
"Desperately Wandering," wrote: "Tonight I'll pray for [the
victims], and for their families because in their
frightened faces I see my own family. Should I become a
victim of a disaster. an American will be saying a prayer
for me too."

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