TFLE01: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - LEBANON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003027 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 - LEBANON Block Quotes -------------- Saturday, July 29, 2006 -- "Thick and New" Mohammed Musaed Al-Saleh wrote in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/29): "Condoleezza Rice says she wants to implement a new Middle East project... American policy loves to label events, such as fighting terrorism without specifying the meaning of terrorism. Despite the change in names, things are the same if not worse for America's policy... the state of affairs in the counties that America has allegedly attempted to help have not changed, such as Afghanistan, where the Taliban have resumed their operations. America has also failed to capture Bin Laden and Al-Zawaheri. In Iraq, the situation is worse than before the American occupation. In Palestine, America's policy has failed, and the same could occur in Lebanon, Somalia and the Sudan. It seems that wherever America placed its events turn for the worse." -- "Lions in Rhetoric, but Ostriches in Action" commented Adel Al-Tukhaim in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/29): "Israel has waged three wars against the Arabs -- in 1956, 1967 and 1973 -- and not one Arab country was able to inflict damage as deep as Hizballah and the Lebanese resistance have done to Israel today. They have succeeded in breaking the psychological barrier of our armies and regimes, proving just how fragile the third most powerful army in the world is. If such a weak resistance group as Hizballah could with primitive rocket technology inflict so much damage against the Israeli army, then just imagine if a regular Arab army was to enter this war with sophisticated missile technology?" -- "Your Pen Is a Weapon of Resistance" Khawla Al-Qazwini wrote in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/29): "So many Arab intellectuals continue to praise America by justifying her tyranny and oppression. It is regrettable that Arab media has turned its poisoned pens toward the heart of a resistance that fate has singled out to be the resolve and force of all oppressed peoples. This war created a national uprising that will gravely reflect on the Arab region... it reinvigorated the life and hopes of the oppressed when the resistance embarked to confront the enemy; it also exposed the conspiracy against Muslims by powerful countries. It has become abundantly clear that real terrorism is a beast in the shape of Israel and her protectors who want to solely dominate the region by stripping it of any military power." -- "Compensating the Lebanese" is the title of Columnist Jaber Al-Hajri's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/29): Since the Der Yaseen Massacre in 1948, which was perpetrated by the Zionists against the Palestinians, many more no less bestial and inhumane acts, such as at Sabra and Shatilla, bear witness to the evil and contemptible base on which was created the racist state called Israel. From the beginning, no one demanded compensation for the Palestinian people. Today Lebanon is destroyed because the so called 'only democratic country in the Middle East' decided to wage a barbaric war for the sake of two criminals who are members of the Israeli army. How happy must Condoleezza Rice be with this great achievement. It is a credit that will be offered to her master in the White House... will the Arabs (I doubt) ask for compensations for Lebanon after the Israeli Holocaust?" -- "Opinion from a Jihadi Point of View" is how Dr. Abdel Muhsin Jamal commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/29): "One thing that neither the Zionist enemy nor the Americans have considered . . . is that each time they try to eliminate the Palestinian resistance it becomes stronger. And each time they fight Hizballah it receives massive support. Zionists and their supporters are fighting the Jihadi [struggle] ideology, a concept of the Muslim faith. This means that they are fighting the Muslim's spirit of jihad, which in turn makes Arabs cling more to this ideology. Events in southern Lebanon and Gaza are crystallizing peoples' desires on this issue, and their hopes are being addressed through this resistance. This kind of spiritual dimension cannot be understood by Condoleezza Rice or President Bush. In fact, by humiliating the Arab peoples, they are succeeding in reinforcing this ideology. We can see this in the thousands who are demonstrating in support of Hizballah." -- "Great Chance to Rescue Lebanon" is Editor in chief Ahmad KUWAIT 00003027 002 OF 002 Al-Jarallah's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (7/29): "The U.S. objected to an early ceasefire. However, this plan can establish a solution implementing the Taif accords, and enforcing the UN resolutions 1559 and 1980, which call the disarmament of Hizballah and the Palestinian militia as well as border demarcation and an exchange of ambassadors with Syria. This could establish a peace agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv in addition to putting an end to a series of wars in the region." -- "PM Sinora" is how Saleh Al-Shayji commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anba (7/29): "PM [Prime Minister] Sinora must agree to the demands of the international community. Condoleezza Rice's call for a comprehensive ceasefire is the ideal and most durable solution. PM Sinora must announce his agreement to hand over the two Israeli soldiers despite Hizballah's objections." -- "Facts About Israeli Aggression on Lebanon" is the title under which Qasem Awad penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-A'am (7/29): "This aggression portrays the Zionist entity as devoid of the simplest human principles and legal standards, and its deep-rooted adherence to monstrous and barbaric values that only understands the language of blood, killing and destruction. Hizballah's steadfastness and its ability to shell Israeli cities and settlements created an unprecedented sympathy toward them and especially toward its leader Nasrallah... Hizballah was able to demolish the halo surrounding Israel and prove to all that Israel's omnipotence largely created by the Zionist lobby is but a hollow shell." -- "They Plot... God Conspires in Return" is how Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-A'am (7/29): "The extent of the plot weaved in Tel Aviv and Washington against the Arabs becomes clear; the insistence of Zionists and White House leaders to abort international efforts that call for a ceasefire is evidence that the aggression on Lebanon goes beyond the known reasons. This, especially after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statements of a 'New Middle east'... however, international sympathy with Hizballah has started to reflect negatively against Washington's devious plans in the region. This battle is waged by Hizballah on behalf of all Arabs; it is a battle where the resistance is fighting for the honor and dignity of all Arabs and Muslims against Zionist plotters and Condoleezza Rice." ********************************************* * 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