KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - KHALID AL-SHAYKH, IRAN, AND IRAQ

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000396 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 - KHALID AL-SHAYKH, IRAN, AND IRAQ Block Quotes -------------- Sunday, March 18, 2007 -- Under the title "Who Will Believe the Pentagon Reports After Today?" Mohammed Zain inquired in pro-government daily Al-Seyassah (03/18): "All this was done by a Pakistani boy named Khalid Al-Shaykh? He planned and executed the September 11, 2001, attacks using hijacked passenger jets in the United States and planned more than 31 terrorist operations in many places with a variety of targets? This is what the Pentagon stated in a report distributed recently alleging that the Pakistani boy confessed to all the above during a hearing in Guantanamo." -- In progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas Hassan Al-Issa stated under the title "Shame" (03/18): "When the foreign media states that the terrorist Khalid Al-Shaykh Mohamed is a Kuwaiti-born-and-raised Pakistani citizen, we Kuwaitis should be ashamed and feel sorry for what happened. Our shame is greater than the government, whose only defense was to repeatedly deny that Khalid Al-Shaykh is Kuwaiti and point out that he is Pakistani. We forget that his conscience developed in Kuwait and was nurtured here." -- In conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan and under the title "God Help Us" Mubarak Al-Hajiri inquired (03/18): "Iran's insistence on developing its nuclear program, the international community's refusal to let that happen, and the current standoff makes us fearful of what could happen to the region.... What precautionary measures have we taken to avoid being dragged into this prospective war?" -- Under the title "Positive Developments Before the Arab Summit" Dr. Shafeeq Al-Ghabra penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai (03/18): "Iraq will remain a place for conflict between, on the one side, the Iraqi government and the United States and, on the other side, all those bearing arms from all segments. This struggle will be long and difficult." -- Dr. Jalal Al-Rasheed concluded his article titled "And a Sorcerer for a Deputy Minister of Education" in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai with the question (03/18): "Dr. Ayad Allawi's statements on democracy in Iraq, when he said that democracy is not as important as security and employment, are extremely dangerous. If democracy is to be curtailed in Iraq, then a tyrannical regime will return quickly and will follow the Saddam model. Will that be good for Iraq?" -- Under the title "Iraqi Developments" economic researcher Amer Al-Tameemi contended in pro-government daily Al-Seyassah (03/18): "Security is of the utmost importance to Iraqis and the Americans and all those who are interested in Iraqi affairs at the present time. It is not easy to ignore the death of 30-100 Iraqis daily and three to four American soldiers daily. Not to mention the dozens of Iraqis or coalition soldiers injured without any thought to ending the terror and sectarian violence." 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