MEDIA REACTION: Iran

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001391 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: Iran Block Quotes -------------- ¶1. Saturday, April 22, 2006 -- The moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Anbaa published "The nuclear scenario" by Mr. Mifrih Al-Noumis Al-Anzy in which he wrote: "There are four possible explanations for the current crisis in the Gulf: one, Iran's interference in Iraqi domestic matters to cause the failure of the American project in Iraq; two, Iran's possession of nuclear weapons means that others will possess it also; three, Israel's failure to balance the military power of Arabs and Muslims; or, four, America and its allies see that the Iranian government is radical and may use nuclear weapons for terrorist purposes." -- The progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas printed "Iran bathes in acid water" by Mr. Ghassan Suliman Al-Otaibi in which he stressed: "The boiling points between Iran and the international community are threefold. In the Gulf, it is Iran's occupation of the three islands belonging to the UAE and its threats to export its revolutionary model to the Gulf States. In the Arab world, there is no doubt about Iran's interference in Iraq and its goal to change the demographics of the country to better the Shiites' situation. Internationally, Iran insists on possessing nuclear technology allegedly to be used for peaceful purposes." -- The progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas printed "The Iranian nuclear program" by Mr. Qais Al-Ostah in which he wrote: "We remind our neighbor that the Soviet Union after reaching the highest levels of nuclear technology realized that the economic well-being of its people was much more important than the any armament program. The leaders in Iran must realize that the world has changed and if there were to be a conflict it not only would be with the United States of America, it also would be with the entire world, except for Syria, HAMAS, and Hezbollah." -- The moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Watan printed "Iran on the Iraq path" by Dr. Ayed Al-Manaa in which he wrote: "Despite its insistence on occupying the three islands belonging to the UAE and the accusations by Americans and Iraqis of interference in domestic matters, Iran's intentions in the Gulf are clear. It overlooked the official and grassroots support for Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war. Also, its opposition to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and its agreement on military intervention in 1991 and 2003 show its interest in peace." ¶2. Sunday, April 23, 2006 -- The progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas printed "The Iranian nuclear threat is the Iranian nuclear threat" by Mr. Badr Khalid Al-Bahr in which he wrote: "We need to realize that water is water, air is air, and that the Iranian nuclear threat is an Iranian nuclear threat. Despite what Mr. Ghloum Abbas is trying to fool us with. The Bushehr nuclear reactor is not an environmentally friendly reactor with butterflies and mist coming out of it. Its waste is contaminating the water of the Gulf from which we eat and drink." -- The moderate Arabic-language daily Al-Watan published Dr. Abdullah Khalifah Al-Shaiji's article titled "Who will stop a nuclear Iranian superpower" in which he wrote: "Iran's nuclear ambitions are not for the sake of having a nuclear umbrella over it to protect the regime and avert dangers and stand in the face of threats. It is meant to transform Iran into an undisputed regional superpower so it can negotiate through its nuclear capabilities in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gulf." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LEBARON