TFLE01: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AMERICA AND THE ARABS

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003158 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 - AMERICA AND THE ARABS Block Quotes -------------- Sunday, August 6, 2006 -- Under the title "Why Did America Change?" Salah Montasir penned in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas(8/6): "In America's view Israel has changed and become a peace seeker while the Arabs have become the only ones refusing peace. The wolf [Israel] has become a sheep whom the Arabs want to devour. That is why America supports the 'Israeli sheep' against the 'Arab monsters.'" -- "Are You Not Ashamed?" was the title of Salah Al-Fadly's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam in which he editorialized (8/6): "After the failure of Arab regimes with all their powerful armies to defend their sovereignty and the dignity of their peoples, the alternative and successful model has become Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been able to terrify Israel and bomb its capital, and after four weeks of fighting Hezbollah still stands strong. Arab regimes should consider the reasons for the widespread support for Mr. Hassan Nasrallah in order to understand the critical position it is in." -- In "Did America Lose Its Allies?" Lawyer Rashid Al-Radan commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/6): "Today, strategic analysts are saying that the United States has lost its Arab allies and friends by supporting Israel during its war on Lebanon. What America built in years, it lost in days because it destroyed Lebanon and displaced its people.... But if the League of Arab States and the Arab countries did not do a thing or lift a finger, then how can some claim that America has lost its allies in the region?" -- Bandar Ayed Al-Zafiri held in "Do Not Let Them Burn a Brother" printed pro-government daily Al-Seyassah that (8/6): "The role we hope Kuwait will play, and for which it is qualified, is not one that is hostile toward America. We assert that it will serve American interests in the region. America presents itself as the guardian of values in the world, and today it stands before a great test. We will go so far as to say that all humanity is before a great test to save the region." -- "Nasrallah Must Be Held Accountable" appeared on the front page of pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah in which Editor-in-chief of the Ahmed Al-Jarallah stated (8/6): "We all know that Israel is not alone and that America and the world support it. The odd thing is that we endeavor against it despite our knowledge of its alliances. After we lose we quickly justify ourselves by saying that we were fighting not Israel, but America. Since war is our priority and we know that we are fighting America not Israel, they why do we not prepare and have shelters, stockpiles of food and oil, and indestructible energy sources?" -- In "Lebanon and the Liberals" Eid Al-Dwaihis inquired on the pages of progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (8/6): "All Arab countries, indeed all countries, should fight Israel to force it back to its international borders. If this action were taken on its own, and not as a result of the Arab countries' weakness and America's support to Israel, then it is our duty to thank Hezbollah and HAMAS. There is not doubt that there are civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure during resistance. But, has power not been the only means to achieve justice throughout history?" ********************************************* * 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