KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN, IRAQ, AND LEBANON

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004574 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, IRAQ, AND LEBANON Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, December 06, 2006 -- In progressive Arabic Daily Al-Qabas and under the title "Warning Alarm" Faisal Abdullah Al-Lafi stated that (12/06): "The Iranian Republic has proven that it is a state with a clear message and one that operates intelligently and wisely in order to avoid a war with the dominantly powerful U.S. war machine. The prospect of the Iraqi resistance taking power in Iraq will change the political map of the region and will plunge it into horrible localized wars." -- Liberal Faisal Al-Mas'oud Al-Fuhaid inquired under the title "What Are Kuwaits' Options?" in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (12/06): "What are Kuwaits' options under the current tense situation in Iraq? What are our national options? What are our options within the GCC? Our options for the sake of protecting Kuwait and its future should be ready and carefully scrutinized before 'crying over spilt milk'". -- Under the title "Worse Than Civil War" Kuwait University Political Science Professor, Dr. Abdullah Khalifa Al-Shaijy penned in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan (12/06): "The curse of Iraq continues to cast its shadow on the American political system after the outcome of the recent American elections. Apparently our region is preparing for further escalation, violence and more crises. There are no solutions in the horizon that would ease a situation threatening to explode on more than one front." -- Under the title "'Arab' Lebanon Blown By the Wind" Dr. Khalid Al-Janfawi editorialized in pro-government daily Al-Seyassah (12/06): "What is currently happening in Lebanon is but a 'political invasion' that, on the surface, is foreign and non-Arab aiming to turn the Middle East into a battle ground for religious and sectarian struggles." -- Under the title "A Time to Contemplate in Lebanon and Iraq, Not for Revenge" MP Ali Salem Al-Dokbasi argued in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa (12/06): "We urge the sensible people in Lebanon and Iraq to think in terms of their countries' interests instead of plunging into the tunnel of retaliation and killings for the purpose of settling accounts." -- Islamist Faisal Abdul Aziz Al-Zamil in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa under the title "Iraqi Sunnis Are a Complete and Utter Political Loss" contended (12/06): "There are no reliable leaders among the Sunnis in Iraq. Current Sunni leaders represent only themselves. Even against their rivals they require a leadership that is capable of representing them and one that is up to the challenge." ********************************************* * 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