DEATH OF THE AMIR: KUWAITI BLOGGERS SUDDENLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000148 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PPD, AND R LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL KDEM KU SUBJECT: DEATH OF THE AMIR: KUWAITI BLOGGERS SUDDENLY SERIOUS REF: 05 KUWAIT 0514 ¶1. A number of Kuwaiti web-logs (blogs) have expressed an outpouring of grief at the January 15 loss of the Amir, Shaykh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (See reftel for background on Kuwaiti blogs.) Most of the blogs lament the Amir's passing and hope for a good future for Kuwait. Many of the young people who author these blogs, normally an irreverent group, have become very serious in their posts about the Amir. They saw him as a progressive leader, and many refer to him as a second father, "Baba Jaber". For many of these bloggers, Shaykh Jaber was the only ruler they have known in their lifetime. A site, titled "Our Jaber," that has been in existence for some time has even been revamped to allow people to express their condolences online: http://www.jaberna.com/. ¶2. Some excerpts from the blogs: "My heart lamented, as my eyes weeped, and I felt the world all around me mourn as our Jaber made his way to his final resting place and leave us forever.." "We have every right to be worried.. and upset. I know I am. It's a sad day. Allah yerHuma (God bless him)." "I loved you...you were my second father, my protector...." "I still can't believe it.. All of a sudden everything looks soo different.. and it feels weird" "I am really sad and don't know what to say...i feel like I'm lost..i feel like I lost a father and I don't know how will it be without him...i hope things will go on ok after he is gone." "It is a strange feeling of mourning cause I always known him as "Baba Jaber", he has been the ruler since my birth and well you get used to these things. I remember this school trip back in the 80s and like all bad kids we were in the back of the bus and it was making a U-turn, and this car was behind us and it was Sheik Jaber driving it, totally chill driving his car smiling and waving. We were all excited and jumping around. That's what made him so special, he never did that whole pomp and entourage thing, he was a simple man. Even his assassination attempt in 1985 the car he was driving was a Beige Chevrolet Caprice. My Father was right around the corner when that thing happened and he jokes "If I didn't take pictures of you on Friday I would have had pictures of that". Also another image of him that comes to mind is his speech to the UN in 1990 that was just so moving both vulnerable and yet strong in asking for help to free your country. He will be missed, and who ever follows him will have very big shoes to fill in not just the running of a country, but being the father figure of a whole nation." ¶3. These comments and more can be found at the various blog entries linked to below: My Space: http://charismaticq8ia.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/death-of-kuwaits-icon.html Reductio: http://shadyq80.kuwaitblogs.com/ 2006/01/15/im-worried/ Chillout Kuwait: http://chilloutkuwait.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/blog-post 15.html Passionate Soul: http://pinkbubblegumpuppylove.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/blog-post.html A3sab: http://a3sab.blogspot.com/2006/01/mourning.ht ml Life is a Journey: http://ra1.blogspot.com/2006/01/ blog-post 15.html Flamingoliya: http://flamingoliya.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/baba-jaber.html Angel of Peace: http://saraangelofpeace.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/blog-post.html Design 82: http://design82.blogspot.com/2006/01/ blog-post.html Savior Machine: http://www.2by4.org/archives/ 2006/01/15/lining-the-streets/?p=953 Frankom: http://www.frankom.com/?p=44 KUWAIT 00000148 002 OF 002 Swair: http://devilishlyabstract.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/rip.html iDip: http://idip.blogspot.com/2006/01/ from-denial-to-grief.html Forza Q8: http://www.forzaq8.net/archives/2006/ 01/15/rest-in-peace/ Reflections: http://misscosmokuwait.blogspot.com/ 2006/01/ena-lilah-wa-ena-elaihee-raji3oon.htm l Jackie: http://www.rubduckie.com/blog/?p=587 ******************************************** Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** LeBaron