KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - AL-ZAWAHIRI'S THREATS, SYRIA, AND

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003687 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 - AL-ZAWAHIRI'S THREATS, SYRIA, AND 9/11 Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, September 13, 2006 -- Liberal Kuwait University Political Science Professor, Dr. Shamlan Yousef Al-Issa penned in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah under the title "Al-Zawahiri's Threats" (9/13): "Ayman Al-Zawahiri's threats to Gulf States did not come of nothing. They are the result of his confidence and knowledge of the presence of cells and organizations capable of carrying out these threats... Today, we must emphasize our national unity and exert all efforts, civilian and military, to face these terrorist threats." -- Under the title "Amongst the Raised Heads" Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed Al-Jarallah commented on the front page of the newspaper (9/13): "It seems that the Syrian President is not in charge of the regime. After the cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel and until now many international community figures give Bashar Asad a leading role and considered him a decision-maker. They are now surprised that Asad has no credibility, is unable to make a decision, and cannot be party to an accord." -- "Will 'Osama' Take After 'The Master'?" was the title of satirical liberal columnist Fuad Al-Hashem's piece in moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan in which he inquired (9/13): "The question to the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden is, what has been the benefit of the Islamic world from the demise of 3,000 Americans -- 700 of whom were Muslims -- in New York in 2001? Does bin Laden have the same amount of courage as Hassan Nasrallah to admit his mistake and regret what he has done?" -- Titled "September 11, Events and Lessons" Liberal Political Science professor Dr. Shafiq Al-Ghabra's piece appeared in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam in which he contended (9/13): "The events of September 11 killed the innocence of humanity. As a result it is now normal for me and other Arabs and Muslims to be subjected to stricter search procedures than others at many of the world's airports. It is also apparent that the reputation of the Arab and Islamic world has been marred by terrorism in many corners of the globe." ********************************************* * 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