TFLE01: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AMERICAN AND LEBANON,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003007 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: TFLE01: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AMERICAN AND LEBANON, SECRETARY RICE VISITS REGION SIPDIS Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, July 26, 2006 -- "Ms. Condi... " Mohammed Musaed Al-Saleh wrote moderate in the Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "I have not met Ms. Rice in spite of the way she is governing the Arabs and the world... This Condi arrived in Beirut only to tweak Israel's ear for a cease fire... this, after Lebanon lost 400 martyrs including women, children, in addition to thousands of injured civilians. From her, we expected a just word, but the first statement she 'bombed' us with was that she did not agree to a cease-fire before releasing the two detained Israeli soldiers. Of course, its Condi's right to have sympathy toward 'detained Israelis.' However, the Secretary apparently has not heard about the thousands of Lebanese and Palestinian detainees held in Israel... we advise her to direct her statements to Israel, because America is Israel's subordinate." -- "Shame on the World" is how a female columnist calling herself "Philosopher" commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Anba (7/26): "This war is not a confrontation between Hizballah and Israel, nor is it a case of two abducted Israeli soldiers. This goes beyond that. Israel has allowed itself to become judge and jury by choosing a sovereign country that is a member of the United Nations and other international organizations to become a theatre for destructive Israeli operations while using Hizballah as an excuse to wage this war. The whole world is participating in Israel's heinous crime against the Lebanese people... Ms. Condoleezza Rice stated that there is a 'new Middle East.' What does she think she is doing? What new Middle East is she talking about? Whose interests will this new Middle East serve? Certainly not the interest of Arabs, but the interest of an entity that was planted years ago in the middle of the Arab body, which despite antibiotics for this body to accept it continues to be rejected. Ms. Condoleezza Rice stated that it was early for a cease-fire. What on earth is she waiting for? Doesn't she see the amount of destruction?" -- "Difficult Delivery" was the title of Ahmad Al-Dayeen's commentary in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-A'am (7/26): "Perhaps the 'New Middle East' midwife, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, understands now that this is a difficult delivery. Especially after she realized the difficulty Israel is facing in achieving field victory. Perhaps the midwife's concern when she stopped in Israel was to legitimize the international 'labor contractions' cover, and give Israel more time to achieve victory on the ground. What new Middle East can be established by aggression, destruction, forced immigration, occupation and with the collusion of Arab corrupt and tyrannical regimes? How could we expect for this new Middle East to emerge amid continued and complete disregard to finding a just solution to the Palestinian cause, the continued occupation of the Golan Heights, Shebaa farms and Jerusalem's status? How could we expect a future whose main goal is to subjugate all Arabs and impose on them racist expansionist Zionist mastery? -- "New Islamic Middle East" is the title of Columnist Dr. Abdul Muhsin Jamal's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "Let Condoleezza Rice think as she pleases, let Bush release statements as he wants, let them support the Zionists, and give them the green light to slaughter Muslims, destroy their houses, schools, mosques. This will not surprise us, because this is exactly what they did in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Guantanamo, and in Abu Gharib prison with the collusion of the Europeans. They can say and do whatever they please. But, for him and her, to dare and draw our future and the future of our countries, we say: NO. The new Middle East will be Islamic God willing; we will draw it with the souls of our martyrs. In the new Middle East, the value of the Arab and Muslim being exceeds that of buildings and bridges, therefore, neither Bush nor Condoleezza rice will dare buy us with their bribes." -- "Israeli Invasion of Lebanon: History Repeats Itself" is how Faisal Al-Fuhaid commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "America's ugly role in ignoring the destruction in Lebanon is not dissimilar to its indifference to Israel's wreaking havoc in the KUWAIT 00003007 002 OF 003 occupied Palestinian lands. Will Secretary Rice play a semi-neutral role in an attempt to save American diplomacy? For the Arabs, the American diplomacy is viewed more as a nightmare than a savior despite some positive American initiatives such as the Liberation of Kuwait and Iraq; nonetheless, America is like a cat that eats her newborn litter. The war in Lebanon is a mere model to what the future holds on a regional or a wider Arab scope... our suffering will continue for decades to come." -- "Where is Humanity?" is how Ashwaq Al-Mudhaf commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anba (7/26): "This is the destruction and wanton killing of women, children and unarmed civilians. Israeli shelling of schools, hospitals, even the UN headquarters did not escape the monstrous Israeli attack. For the sake of two Israeli soldiers, the Zionist state is killing of semblance of life in Lebanon, as if it had waited for such an incident in order to wage an unjust and disproportionate war. Where is humanity from these events, where are those organizations who claim to be protecting human rights? Or is the life of an Arab in the Middle East of no value? The shameful silence of all international organizations toward the tragedies befalling the Lebanese people is a disgrace. We appeal to the Western and American Ambassadors of the so-called developed nations to intervene." -- "A Pity" is Iqbal Al-Ahmad's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "To gain sympathy, some Arab states continue to thrive on nationalistic slogans... this occurred during the recent Arab Foreign Ministers' meeting when Qatar's Foreign Minister expressed sympathy laced with mild revolutionary rhetoric toward Hizballah. However, only a few days passed when international media reported that smart bombs were moved from Qatar to Israel... through America of course, in order to bomb Hizballah's fortifications. Did Qatar need to behave in such a manner? Isn't it time to stop fooling the Arab peoples? It is regrettable that we Arabs cannot learn until we are slapped so hard that our teeth rattle." -- "[Foreign] Minister, don't be silent" is the title under which Qais Al-Osta penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "The Iranian role in the region is becoming unbearable. Beginning with the occupation of the UAE islands to their intelligence operations in some Gulf countries. In addition to the political role it is playing in Iraq and Lebanon... whoever is in sympathy with Iran should inform her that the world has changed and that Iran's attempts to influence the young generations in the Gulf countries is a thing of the past. We urge Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah not to stay silent and to exert an active political role vis-`-vis Iran." -- "Disproportionate War" is how Ghassan Al-Otaibi commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/26): "The reason for this disproportionate war is not because Hizballah detained the two Israeli soldiers. Had that been the case, Israel would not attempt to destroy a whole country as it is doing now. This war will create tens of radical militia groups similar to Hizballah. No two would disagree that Hizballah has committed a heroic act, but what is the use if Israel destroys a whole country and Lebanon is presented to the Zionist entity on a silver platter? Might cannot solve this problem. Only with dialogue can something be achieved. Only recently, the U.S. fully supported the Lebanese government and today it has completely abandoned it. All this ongoing tragedy for the sake of two detained Israeli soldiers... is this the sort of justice America and Europe are talking about? America's credibility is lying in the balance; it must govern with common sense and pressure Israel to comply with international conventions and not pressure the victim instead of the aggressor." -- "Who Is Responsible for the Bloodshed" is Sami Al-Nisif's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anba (7/26): "With regard to the war in Lebanon, the blame lies solely on the shoulders of Hamas who originated the policy of kidnappings without weighing properly the consequence of such actions. Then, Hizballah followed suit despite seeing the destruction and killing in Gaza for the sake of one abducted Israeli soldier who will eventually be returned to Israel." KUWAIT 00003007 003 OF 003 -- "With Jews, Only the Sword Would Do" is Mohammed Zein's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (7/26): "The abduction of the two Israeli soldiers was not the reason behind Israel's unmitigated aggression against Lebanon. The goal of this aggression is to destroy Lebanon, vanquish its people and tear up its will. Only an enemy state can do such a thing. The Jews are a sick disease and are evil. Therefore we cannot imagine any sort of peace between them and us. Their culture is based on killing and destruction. The only way to sort them out is with a sword. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * TUELLER