KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - HEZBOLLAH

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003269 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 - HEZBOLLAH Block Quotes -------------- Sunday, August 13, 2006 -- On the front page and under the title "Confront Reality, Accept Defeat," Editor-in-chief of the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah wrote on 8/13: "There is no winner in Lebanon. Hezbollah's defeat has affected everything in Lebanon - including its people, buildings, and infrastructure. However, some Lebanese politicians, who are followers of the Syrian regime, will not be able to avoid coming up with misleading statements praising Hassan Nasrallah for achieving victory." -- "Hezbollah Won and it is Over" by Salah Al-Fadly appeared in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam on 8/13 where he editorialized: "Hezbollah proved that Arab humiliation and servility are based on psychological defeat. Psychological defeat is now Israel's biggest loss and at the same time Hezbollah's achievement. Therefore, using morale and physical standards, Hezbollah won and it is over." -- In "Lebanon was Destroyed and Israel did not Win," Anwar Al-Harby penned in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah on 8/13: "Now, the fierce political and diplomatic battle will begin. The fears of this battle are much greater than those of the military battle. We hope that the unity amongst the Lebanese will remain and not be penetrated since the negotiators will be Lebanese. Everyone has the feeling that Lebanon will return as it was, and stronger, especially when logic rules the discussions on national interests." -- "Excusing" was the title of Adnan Zaid Al-Kazmi's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan in which he commented (8/13): "Despite all the wide-spread destruction and killings, Israel did not achieve any of its objectives, especially since it wanted to exterminate Hezbollah. Israel wanted to eliminate Hezbollah and destroy its missile arsenal, which is why the cease-fire is a type of admission of Israel's defeat and the firing of the last bullet on the so-called 'new Middle East.' America feels the pain of the difficult birth of this Middle East." -- "So Lebanon Wins" was the title of the opening piece on the front page of moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/13): "Hezbollah is now forced to leave southern Lebanon where the Lebanese army will deploy. This was demanded by all the Lebanese entities during the time of peace and Hezbollah refused for different reasons. The question is, will Hezbollah enter the political arena as a peaceful Lebanese political party and not as an independent state inside Lebanon?" ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * LEBARON