KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - LEBANON AFTER THE WAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003306 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 - LEBANON AFTER THE WAR Block Quotes -------------- Tuesday, August 15, 2006 -- "Return of the Occupiers to the South" was the title of Editor-in-chief Ahmed Al-Jarallah's article on the front page of the pro-government Arabic-language daily Al-Seyassah, (8/15): "Instead of serving the national interests of Lebanon, Hezbollah's excuses are aimed at helping Iran to achieve its goals. The short-term goal of Hezbollah is to give Tehran an opportunity to escape the pressure of the international community, which has given Iran time until the end of August to end its uranium enrichment program and comply with the regulations of the IAEA." -- Liberal writer Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Duaij stated in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Why Lebanon?" (8/15): "Because Lebanon is the most democratic and free of the Arab regimes. Because Lebanon has the most educated and cultured of Arab peoples. Because Lebanon is the fastest growing and most developed Arab country. Because Lebanon is a real life example of self-development. Because Lebanon is a threat to its neighbors; its Christianity is dangerous, its democracy is dangerous, its press is dangerous, its satellite channels are dangerous, and its industry and tourism are dangerous." -- "Moment of Test" was the title of the opening piece on the front page of moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan in which the staff editorialized (8/15): "It is the moment of test for Hezbollah in Lebanon and its sympathizers in all countries, and among them Kuwait. Yesterday, Hassan Nasrallah announced that he would help refugees and those who were harmed, as we can only hope he does. But, he called for a delay of the discussion of disarming Hezbollah and tied it to the Shebaa farms, which has originally been a Syrian claim. If Nasrallah continues with his demands, we will continue in the same vicious circle." -- In "Nasrallah and the Arab Street's Victory" Abdul Mohsen Mohamed Al-Hussainy commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/15): "What we are seeing today in Lebanon is not much different from what we saw during the Kuwait and Iraq liberation wars. In the beginning Saddam would deliver an enthusiastic speech threatening and promising to annihilate the invaders and return them to their countries in coffins. We all saw how the Saddam who promised and threatened was found in a lowly hole in the ground." -- "The More Important Question" is what Dina Al-Issa posed in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/15): "If Israel was to carry out a military act against us, what would we do? Do we remain helpless and watch the violations, murders, and displacement. Do we turn the other cheek so as to win America's sympathy and say to them, please stop them from harming us and pillaging our countries?" -- In Khalid Al-Obysan's "Master of Arab Resistance" in pro-government daily Al-Seyassah, he wrote that (8/15): "If Mr. Hassan Nasrallah was Jesus himself, the prophet of peace, or the last of the prophets [note: meaning Muhammad], that would not have stopped those who accepted the position of disgrace and desertion, and who rallied public opinion against the master of Arab resistance, from turning him over to the Zionists to crucify him." -- "Israel's Quagmire, Netanyahu is coming" was the title of Dr. Khalid Ayed Al-Jinfawy's piece in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah where he remarked (8/15): "What is to come for the region during the next weeks and months may be worse and harsher than before. Israel's loss in its barbaric war against Hezbollah and its destruction of Lebanon will make it the laughing stock of the Middle East. This will not be accepted by Israeli voters and most political leaders who will begin sharpening their knives for Olmert who is seen by many as hesitant." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s KUWAIT 00003306 002 OF 002 Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LEBARON