TFLE01: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - LEBANON - ATTACK ON QANA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003055 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 - ATTACK ON QANA Block Quotes -------------- Monday, July 31, 2006 -- "Shame" Editor in chief Jasem Boodai wrote moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-A'am (7/31): "While Israel blends barbarism with political stupidity, America supports her principal ally's every criminal act and yet has the gall to ask 'Why do Arabs and Muslims hate us?' Since the international community persists in rhetoric about freedom and democracy, then why on earth shouldn't a massacre occur? This massacre began from the first day that Israel targeted Lebanon, and escalated with the United States' refusal for calls to a ceasefire... between the first Qana and yesterday's Qana lie countless Israeli violations... Qana has become a wreath of shame over the world's head and will become a black day in the history of East and West. It is a wreath of shame for the Whit House." -- "What More?" is moderate Arabic daily Al-Anba's editorial (7/31): "What more after 19 days of Israeli crimes against Lebanon? What more after Israeli brutality that has trod on all international laws, conventions, and human principles? What more? Why? Zionist laws have crushed the principles of internal legitimacy and exposed not only western weakness, but also Arab weakness... the Lebanese people are paying the price for Western and Arab spineless subservience and Israeli insanity." -- "Again, Qana's Blood Defeats Israel" is moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas's editorial (7/31): "Ten years ago the blood [of victims] triumphed over Israel and forced it to stop spewing its hatred against Lebanon. Once again, it has defeated Israel... the victim always defeats the executioner... once again, Qana martyrs its woman children and men, assembling its victims as a solid dam in the face of wanton power... we repeat what we have said almost a decade ago, that it is time the Arabs realize that they are partners with their Lebanese brethren in deterring Israeli aggression. Qana is presenting us with a rare opportunity to set aside our differences by directing the conflict back to the basis of the land between the Lebanese people versus Israeli settlers." -- "American Role Under Threat" is how editor in chief Ahmad Al-Jarrallah commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (7/31): "Israel's massacre in Qana will frustrate Condoleezza Rice's mission and prevent the United States from strengthening its grip on the Middle East... There is a conflict of interests between Tel Aviv and Tehran, not an alliance whose aim is to thwart America's plans to stabilize democratic regimes in the region... During this critical time, America must act fast to salvage its dignity and reputation and affirm its capacity to lead the world as the only pre-eminent power. America must exert pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire and to cease its attacks on Lebanon, exactly as it often exerts pressure on her Arab allies." -- "The Naove, the Deluded and Zionist Terrorism" is how Ahmad Al-Dayeen commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-A'am (7/31): "Israel is a Zionist, racist, aggressive and expansionist entity whose existence as a state is a fable with no historical foundations and that was founded by western imperialist powers. Thanks to the Neo-cons and the Zionist Christian right, Israel today controls the American Administration and the British Premiership... Qanas's second massacre presents a new model of terrorism supported by America and Britain, terrorism directed at unarmed women, children, old men and the disabled. It is called state terrorism. Now is the time for the naove and the deluded to understand the Zionist entity's long history of terrorism since the inception of the state of Israel. The first and second Qana massacres are ugly links to a long chain of crimes started in 1947 with the massacre of civilians in the Palestinian village of Sheikh... Regrettably, some naove and deluded people continue to parrot that the responsibility lies with Hezbollah and Hamas and the three abducted soldiers at a time when they turn a blind eye to the crimes of Zionist terrorism." -- "Shame on America" columnist Mohammed Zein wrote in the moderate KUWAIT 00003055 002 OF 002 Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (7/31): "What happened in Qana yesterday was a direct statement on the defeat of Israel and its inability to fight the Lebanese resistance. In the end, due to Israel's historic hatred toward the Lebanese, it decided to punish Lebanon by committing a massacre against women and children... The whole western world is an accomplice to the massacre and bears full responsibility. As for the Arab regimes, we won't go into that since most of them are considered to be in the throes of death... What more does Ms. Rice want for a ceasefire to be implemented? Hasn't she seen the charred bodies of women and children? Isn't that enough for a ceasefire? Shame on you Mr. Bush for raising the flag of war against terrorism, while supporting and contributing to a terrorist state that is killing children with banned American weapons. Isn't the Qana massacre a terrorist act?" -- "The Spider Web Collapses" is Dr. Abdel Muhsin Jamal's piece in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/31): "Israel's action has ended in defeat and it now turns away to heal its wounds... The next stage will be dedicated to political negotiations, which will be conducted between the Lebanese government and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on behalf of the Zionists. Therefore, the Lebanese government and the rest of the political groups must negotiate, just as Mr. Nasrallah stated. Coordination is needed from all Lebanese political players in order to achieve the best results. The American Administration shouldn't be allowed to take the sides with the Zionist extremists." -- "A World of weakness and Hypocrisy" is the title of Columnist Dr. Hasan Al-Mousawi's piece in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Qabas (7/31): "State terrorism, extremism and organized cold-blooded destruction are perpetrated by the criminal Edud Olmert while the world stands silent with closed eyes, especially the ones who claim to be defenders of human rights. The whole world is aware that Israel and all its successive governments are addicted to terrorism, killing and organized crime... This is a war of resistance and one for justice and balance. Therefore we all have to stand byQt. Following these painful events, the world must work together to correct America's mistakes and drop the policy of double standards. The world must also realize that no matter how oppressive Israeli terror is, it cannot break a noble resistance." ********************************************* * 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