KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - PELOSI VISIT, IRAN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000491 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 - PELOSI VISIT, IRAN Block Quotes -------------- Saturday, April 07, 2007 -- Under the title "Diplomatic Wars" Shiite critic of U.S. policy Dr. Abdul Mohsen Jamal editorialized in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (04/07): "At the end of the day, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the political science professor, should learn lessons of political and diplomatic reality from Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has the constitutional power to grill "Condi" whenever she pleases." -- Liberal Hassan Al-Issa commented in progressive Arabic daily under the title "Unfunny Joke" (04/07): "The Iranian leadership has acted wisely by releasing the British sailors.... Thankfully, their wisdom prevailed this time, unlike its nuclear program and its policy of imposing Iran's will on the countries of the region." -- In progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas and under the title "Iran: Between Grandstanding and Development" Dr. Ahmad Al-Rubei penned (04/07): "We hope Iran learns from the experience of others and considers the interest of it people. It should stop meddling in the affairs of others and devote itself to growth and development rather than to political grandstanding and hollow slogans." -- Under the title "The Iranian Moose" Dr. Hassan Abbas held in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai that (04/07): "The weakness of the Iranians is that they are Persians and Shiites, which is an ethnic and sectarian card that can be manipulated. What Americans and, more specifically, Israelis are betting on is that these traits will be the cause of tension." -- Critic of U.S. policy liberal Islamist Dr. Abdulla Al-Shayji contended in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan Under the title "Iranian Gains From the Gift Sailors" (04/07): "Apparently Iran has gained from its showdown with the United Kingdom. It has garnered favorable opinions domestically and among Arabs and Muslims. ********************************************* * 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