KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAQ, THE GULF, AND SYRIA

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000378 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 - IRAQ, THE GULF, AND SYRIA Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, March 14, 2007 -- Under the title "How Iraqis View Their Relations With Kuwait?" Abdul Latif Al-Saqer penned in pro-government daily Al-Seyassah (03/14): "It must be said that the area of a state or the size of its population do not determine its right to sovereign existence. These alone do not determine whether it has the historical ingredients for independence. And just because a small state exists amidst bigger and stronger states, this does not negate its right to exist.... The most important ingredient of independence is historical existence, the exercise of sovereignty and the existence of an independent leadership." -- Liberal political science professor Dr. Shafeeq Al-Ghabra inquired in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai under the title "The Beginning of the Year 2009 in Iraq?" (03/14): "Will the American plan in Iraq succeed? Much of its success or failure will depend on the Iraqis and resolving points of contention with neighboring countries. Most Arab countries, with Saudi support, seek to reestablish security in Iraq." -- Under the title "Military Spending or Political Extortion" liberal columnist Ahmad Al-Deyain stated in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai (03/14): "It is hard to fathom the reasons for the huge military expenditures by the GCC Countries. The only rational explanation is that it is 'protection money' paid by our countries out of pure political considerations to the major powers." -- Conservative Islamist Shiite, critical of U.S. policies Dr. Sami Khalifa contended in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai under the title "To Those Concerned With the Environment" (03/14): "Radiation levels in the environmental have horrifically skyrocketed since the Bush administration came to the region to combat so-called international terror. The British Center for the Production of Nuclear Weapons states in its latest report that, due to the use of depleted uranium during America's wars on Afghanistan and Iraq and by the Zionist enemy against Lebanon, the region has reached record high levels." -- Under the title "Iranians' Dissent Embarrasses the Regime" Nasser Al-Otaibi editorialized in pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah (03/14): "The coming days will reveal new information about the military presence or sleeper cells in Iranian and Syrian food restaurants. Recall that I predicted this is a previous article entitled 'Today is so similar to yesterday?' I wish these words to fall upon the right ears." ********************************************* * 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