KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN, MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND U.S.

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004460 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, MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND U.S. VETO Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, November 15, 2006 -- In progressive Arabic daily and under the title "Iranian Armament Craze" Talal Abdul Karim Al-Arab stated that (11/15): "We say and reiterate that it is not in the interest of Iran to challenge international will or involve itself in an arms race with the rest of the region. Neither is it in its interest to make threats with its power and missiles. Certainly Iran is not a superpower, but rather a country of the Third World and its economy depends mainly on oil." -- Kuwait University Political Science Professor, Dr. Abdullah Khalifa Al-Shaijy penned in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan under the title "Reading Into the Results of the American Elections: Results of the Bitter Harvest... Voting for Change and a New Course" (11/15): "The results of the recent Congressional elections in the United States were catastrophic for the Republican Party. However, the Republican president still has many cards to play, cards of power and pressure. Enemies of America should not think that the United States will be hesitant to defend its interests." -- "Arab Shame and the Diminishing of International Conscience" was the title under which Walid Bou Rabba inquired in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan (11/15): "America is still thinking unilaterally and encouraging Israeli tyranny, oppression, and war crimes. How can the Security Council exercise its powers while America is blocking it from doing so by the use of the Veto?" ********************************************* * 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