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