KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ISLAM, IRAN, PALESTINE, AND IRAQ

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003595 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 - ISLAM, IRAN, PALESTINE, AND IRAQ Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, September 6, 2006 -- "Islam and the United States of America" was Mohamed Ahmed Al-Mekhaizim's piece in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas in which he contended that (9/6): "In the West, and more specifically in the United States of America, the notion that there are no moderate Islamists and that all Islamists must be eliminated is the real epitome of hostility between the East and the West. Islamism is a reality that cannot be eliminated, but extremism must be eliminated. Just as there are moderate Christians and others that are extremists, there are Islamists that are moderate and others that are extremists." -- "Kuwait Is in Danger" was the title under which Faisal Al-Masoud Al-Fahaid commented in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (9/6): "The demonstrations [this summer] in Kuwait saw the participation of some members of Parliament who witnessed the burning of the American flag. This could mean a lot if we set our emotions aside for a moment. These demonstrations were to protest the heinous American involvement in the hostility against Lebanon. Many participants may have participated simply to protest American involvement. However, some took part for sectarian reasons such as to support Iran. This is a grave danger to Kuwait's unity, specially when considering possible events of interest to the Persians, who are historically known for their stubbornness." -- Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa penned under the title "Who Is Behind the War in Iraq?" in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam (9/6): "The daily killing of hundreds of Iraqi civilians is one of the most important fruits of the American Administration's plan. It aims to attract hundreds of sleeper cells of Al-Qaeda as well as those whose goal it is to support Iraqi 'resistance.' It [the American Administration] does this by enticing them with fight against it in Iraq. The American Administration exploits the instability of the country since the fall of the dictatorial regime in 2003. It redirects the objectives of the resistance from fighting the occupiers to confronting Iraqis, and not differentiating between the guilty and the innocent." ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * TUELLER