KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN AND LEBANON

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003474 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 - IRAN AND LEBANON Block Quotes -------------- Monday, August 28, 2006 -- "Let It Be a Nuclear Weapon" by Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa appeared in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam (8/28): "Yes, we look forward to the leadership in Tehran declaring their production of a nuclear weapon for strategic deterrence. This declaration will be the beginning of the end of the Hebrew state, which cannot be sustained without its military superiority. The West's threats of economic and military confrontation are nothing but a mirage. Iran in 2006 is most certainly not the same Iran as in 1979." -- Mousa Turki held in "Iranian Achievement" in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa that (8/28): "The Iranian nuclear issue has two possibilities. Either the major powers reject Iran's response in which case China and Russia stop their opposition and agree to impose sanctions through a new Security Council resolution. Or, the major powers accept Iran's response and begin negotiating based on the suggestions made in the response. This would mean a middle-ground solution based on European offerings and Iranian responses." -- Dr. Bdul Mohsen Yousef Jamal commented under the title "The Foray of Bush's and Olmert's Plans" in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (8/28): "The concurrence of the American administration and the Israeli government to draw up a new political map in Lebanon depends on a policy of 'chaos' that leads to the destruction of the infrastructure such as bridge as well as the displacement of people." -- In "Lebanon, a Home for All" Amer Al-Hajri editorialized in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa (8/28): "The Lebanese should not bury their heads in the sand. They should return to the negotiating table away from any external influence, be it Arab or foreign. They must declare that Lebanon comes first. They must declare that the nation will be the only legitimate power and the sole speaker on behalf of all, Muslim or Christian." -- Under the title "The Arabs, America, and Criticism" Abdul Mohsen Mohamed Al-Hussainy penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan (8/28): "Of the reasons why our situation continues to deteriorate is that we do not accept criticism, we do not hold failed leaders accountable, and we do not learn from our mistakes. We must be more courageous and accept criticism and be held accountable for our errors. If we want to avoid the problems of the past, then we must form investigative committees to report on every issue and all that is done." ********************************************* * 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