KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAQI GOVERNANCE, DEBTS, AND IRAN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000720 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 - IRAQI GOVERNANCE, DEBTS, AND IRAN Block Quotes -------------- Wednesday, May 09, 2007 -- Under the title "The Disturbed Country" Dr. Ahmad Al-Duaij stated in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan (05/09): "Iraq will not stabilize until a fair dictator takes the reigns of that country. Iraqi history shows us many good examples of this." -- Under the title "Drop Them" Jaber Al-Hajiri commented in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (05/09): "We hope the National Assembly will agree to write off Iraqi debts to Kuwait. The parliament would do well to take advantage of this opportunity to better Kuwait's position on the bilateral level with its neighbour and on the international level with other friendly countries." -- Maudi Al-Hajiri penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa under the title "Iraqi Debts" (05/09): "I doubt that a single Kuwaiti citizen wants to forgive the billions owed to Kuwait by Iraq. We don't want to be asked about this anymore even if others forgive their debts and the Paris Club calls for it." -- "The Confrontation" was the title of Faisal Al-Fuhaid's piece in progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas in which he stated (05/09): "Kuwait does not have an integrated and comprehensive emergency plan in the event of a military showdown in the region. We should, as one example, discuss with U.S. officials what role American troops stationed in Kuwait would have should such an event occur." -- In pro-government daily Al-Seyassah and under the title "Why the Interference in Arab Affairs?" Nasser Al-Otaibi inquired (05/09): "Come to your senses, brothers, and wise up. There is another matter of utmost importance. Arabs do not interfere in Iranian affairs, although it may call for it because of its many contradictions. What then is the reason behind Iran's interference in the affairs of Arabs?" ********************************************* * 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