KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AMERICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003444 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 - AMERICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, August 23, 2006 -- "Zionist Lies" was the title of Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim's piece in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas in which he stated (8/23): "Filthy lies are the core of the Zionist movement, its methods and goals. Therefore, we are not puzzled by their latest lie that Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, was the aggressor and that they are in a defensive posture. Sadly, this viewpoint was adopted by the conservative American President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Zionist lies and treachery have destroyed a peaceful country." -- In "Evil Powers Against the Muslim World" Abdul Latif Saif Al-Atiqi penned in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (8/23): "Amidst the massive destruction not seen by humanity since the Second World War one sees desperation in the eyes of the children and the elderly. Yes, Israel destroyed Lebanon with all this destruction and killing. However, it was not able to destroy the Lebanese person whose will and morale remain defiant of all the evil powers of the Zionist." -- "Iran the Sole Benefactor" was the title of Faisal Abdullah Al-Lafi's piece in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas where he held that (8/23): "I am sure that the only benefactor of the war is Iran. It was able to dodge the American military and strengthen its negotiating position with regard to the nuclear issue. It was also able to demonstrate to the world that it is a regional hegemon to be reckoned with and respected. It has also made clear that any aggressive acts against it will lead Israel, Syrian, Lebanon, and Iraq into a war that will expose the American army in Iraq to annihilation and the destruction of Israel." -- Under the title "Four Inescapable Facts" Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa editorialized (8/23): "First, Hezbollah exposed the truth behind the myth of 'the undefeatable Zionist army.' Second, the resistance's victory against the army who beat all the Arab regimes in six days proved to the west that they can no longer rely on their classic military superiority. Third, the resistance was able to establish a new balance of power in the region despite the international and political siege upon it. Fourth, Hezbollah placed the ball in the people's court and demonstrated to them that they can be victorious against the Zionist enemy and eliminate it from existence." -- In "Arab Meat Markets" Dina Al-Issa noted in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/23): "1. Fresh Lebanese meat from the south slaughtered by American smart bombs at the hand of the Dracula Olmert and the rest of the international terrorism team. ¶2. Cut and wrapped Palestinian meat slaughtered the Jewish way with American weapons and high-level rabbinic blessings. 3. Authentic Iraqi meat (unorganic) slaughtered due to American and British entry into the Iraqi swamp after ousting Saddam's regime and a desperate American attempt to create a free and democratic regime." -- On the front page under the title "Lebanon War Postponed Only" Editor-in-chief of the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah remarked (8/23): "Such a vicious war that did not achieve any of its objective can only be considered a 'postponed war' whereby the involved parties will resort to military options when they fail to make any headway in diplomacy... Under these circumstances the international community cannot hope to contain this war through UN peacekeeping forces. The power of Satan in Tehran and Damascus must be rooted out." ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * KUWAIT 00003444 002 OF 002 LEBARON