Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT2854
2006-07-16 11:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - BOMBARDMENT OF BEIRUT

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9936
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2854/01 1971129
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161129Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5788
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002854

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA,
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION

SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - BOMBARDMENT OF BEIRUT


Block Quotes
--------------

Sunday, July 16, 2006

-- Editor-in-chief of pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed
Al-Jarallah remarked on the front page of the newspaper in
"Political Fields for Iran and Syria" (7/16):

"Sadly, in Lebanon and Palestine, Iran and Syria are contending with
the international community, especially the United States. No one
is benefiting from this struggle; not the Arabs, not the Lebanese,
not the Palestinians. Tehran and Damascus are using these fields to
settle their differences with the international community. They do
not care for the blood of the innocent who are slaughtered. Nor do
they care about the destruction that has set these two countries
back a few decades."

-- Talal Abdul Karim Al-Arab inquired in progressive Arabic daily
Al-Qabas under the title "A Roaring South and a Sleeping Golan"
(7/16):

"Why is the south insanely roaring and the Syrian Golan fast asleep?
Many are also asking why did Iran not plant Hezbollah on Syrian
soil, especially the occupied Golan, instead of planting it in the
south, which was not occupied in the first place? Syrian-Iranian
relations, since the bloody revolt against the Shah, have been very
close and powerful to an extent that has made it and still makes it
threaten Arab interests."

-- In progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas, liberal writer Abdul Latif
Al-Duaij penned "Time to Free Lebanon" (7/16):
"We agree entirely with the Saudi statement on the situation in
Lebanon.... Hezbollah fighters hide amongst civilians so they can
cry before the world when a child is killed whom they have hidden
behind or an old woman whom they have used for a shield; enough
misinformation and claims of bravery and Jihad."

-- Moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam's columnist Salah Al-Fadly
commented in "Praise Your Hands" (7/16):

"Despite the heroic role played by the Hezbollah fighters, it is not
strange to hear some dissonance that will denounce or have
reservations against this honorable stance of Hezbollah. These
voices will claim that the balance of power is not in our favor and
that the timing is not right and that this operation will affect the
tourism season and that Israel will destroy the infrastructure."

-- Ali Mohamed Al-Fairouz stated in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai
Al-Aam under the title "An Unwarranted War on Palestine and
Lebanon"(7/16):

"There cannot be a peaceful settlement between the two sides with
Israel's avidity for Palestinian land. Israel takes a savage path
towards achieving peace. As it cries over its soldier, the Israeli
government should realize that the Palestinian people have the right
to live on their soil. Amid such conditions, Israel wakes up and
decides to renew its hostile attacks against Lebanon targeting its
people and destroying their land."

-- In moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan, Ahmed Mohamed Al-Fahd
editorialized in "What Has Hezbollah Achieved?" (7/16):

"I write about Lebanon to criticize what is called 'The Hezbollah
Republic.' This republic has acted foolishly during these already
hard times revealing that its leadership did not comprehend the
Israeli lesson well. This also demonstrates their willingness to
bury all of Lebanon and the Lebanese for them to parade their
muscles before the media."

-- Abdul Mohsen Mohamed Al-Hussainy noted in moderate Arabic daily
Al-Watan under the title "Who is Responsible for Events in Lebanon?"
(7/16):

"Today, Arabs must more than any other time put an end to
irresponsible actions. It is incomprehensible, as the Saudis said,
for a single entity to pull the Lebanese government without its
agreement or any coordination with the Arab countries to declare war
on Israel."

-- Kuwait University political science professor, Dr. Shamlan Yousef
Al-Issa observed in his pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah
piece titled "Farewell to Moderation" (7/16):


KUWAIT 00002854 002 OF 002


"It is not fair to blame HAMAS, Hezbollah, Syria or Iran without
examining all aspects of the problem. Laying blame is not enough
today. What is needed is a mechanism to guarantee the rights of the
Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. The Zionists' war on Lebanon has
created a new problem. It has convinced the Arab and Islamic public
to support Hezbollah and Palestinian resistance, and to consider
them legitimate and a basis for Arab pride."

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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/
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