KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - U.S. POLICY AND IRAN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000758 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 - U.S. POLICY AND IRAN Block Quotes -------------- Monday, May 14, 2007 -- Ruling family member and lawyer Fawziya Salem Al-Sabah penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai under the title "American War Drums and Saddam's Flute" (05/14): "I do not know what makes us dance to the beat of American war drums in the Gulf. Nor do I know why we do not learn from the past such as when we danced to the sound of Saddam's flute and paid a high price. The Americans' drums and Saddam's flute produce the same tune - destruction and chaos. One thing for certain is that we will suffer if any confrontation takes place in the Gulf. We have already been dragged by the media into America's psychological war against Iran." -- Under the title "Najad's Purpose for Visiting the U.A.E." government leaning liberal Dr. Ayed Al-Mana inquired in conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan (05/14): "Frankly, no one can prevent the United States from doing anything. However, Gulf leaders can apply political pressure on Washington since they are friends and allies of the United States. The question is, however, why do Gulf States take into account Iran security and interests when this regional hegemon is deaf to calls by the U.A.E. to resolve the issue of the occupied islands? We hope Najad's visit to the Emirates is not a covert warning or threat. Such a mission would achieve nothing and would not prevent an intercontinental missile from reaching its target anywhere in Iran." -- Under the title "This Is Iran" Nawaf Al-Mutairi commented in moderate Arabic daily Alam Alyawm (05/14): "After it failed to successfully export its revolution outside Iran, the Mullah regime there began playing another game. It has become involved in other conflicts such as the heart-wrenching violence in Iraq." ********************************************* * 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