KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003528 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 IN THE MIDDLE EAST Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, August 30, 2006 -- On the front page of pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah and under the title "The Lying Party and Defeated Lebanon" Editor-in-chief Ahmed Al-Jarallah penned (8/30): "Although the issue of Lebanon has become the concern of the whole world, Nasrallah is still bragging about his fake victory in spite of all the insults and humiliations being heaped on him. Nasrallah reminds us of Joseph Goebbels, the Propaganda Minister of Adolf Hitler. The media campaigns of Goebbels were also based on lies and utter untruths." -- "What Iran Wants, and Thanks to America" was the title of Walid Bu Riba's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan where he contended (8/30): "Yes, so long as Washington declares that it is committed to defending Kuwait against any external threat then we reply welcomingly to the American Ambassador in Kuwait and in our homes. Iran should be careful and calculate wisely its actions on security in the region. It should also work towards international peace and security. It should not give the West reason to impose sanctions of any kind." -- Kuwait University Political Science Professor, Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Issa editorialized under the title "The Gulf and Iran's Maneuvering" in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (8/30): "Observers of Iran think that it is on a crash course with the West and posit that the very nature of the religious regime there prohibits positive outcomes of international issues. Other observers see that the clerical regime in Iran is very clever in its political stalling, delaying and maneuvering. In both cases, Gulf States will be the first to suffer the consequences if they is not prepared for the upcoming critical period." -- In "Israel's Escape to the Security Council" Shi'a former MP Dr. Abdul Mohsen Yousef Jamal commented posited in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (8/30): "It is unlike Israel to resort to the Security Council to solve its problems with the Arabs. Rather, it had used its military to punish and take revenge upon them. That was all prior to July 12, the date after which Hezbollah was able to punish Israel and chip away at its arrogance. This caused Israel to turn to the American Administration and to request of President Bush a return to the Security Council in order to reach a political solution to stop the collapse of the army that was once unconquerable." -- Under the title "Try Again" columnist Salah Al-Fadly remarked in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam (8/30): "The repeated American attempts to create a new Middle East have failed thus far. But, that does not mean that America will give up on its plans until the end of the current administration's tenure. Hence, we must expect a continuation of chaos and tension in the region for the next two years. In fact, we might expect things to intensify in this regard as President Bush will most likely try again." -- In moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al-Saleh contended under the title "Iraq and Lebanon" (8/30): "Now is the real beginning of the birth of the new Iraq. If this birth does not happen this time after what occurred in Lebanon, then the Lebanese front may be opened again. Or perhaps another front will open until those creating violence in Iraq . . . are eliminated quietly and without much turmoil." ********************************************* * 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