Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT83
2007-01-22 07:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAN, SECTARIANISM, AND RICE'S
how-toVZCZCXRO4060 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHKU #0083 0220750 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 220750Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8102 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000083
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 - IRAN, SECTARIANISM, AND RICE'S
VISIT
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, January 22, 2007
-- Under the title "Arabs Are in Trouble" Talal Al-Arab suggested in
progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (01/22):
"Arabs should rid themselves of the sectarian and nationalist
ideologies, as has Iran. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Arabs
-- both Sunni and Shiite -- opposed him. Arabs today should oppose
the Iranian threat as Arabs and not as sects and factions."
-- Under the title "Open Dialogue on Iran" liberal Sami Al-Nisif
commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa (01/22):
"It is the duty of the Gulf States to provide honest advice to its
Muslim sister Iran. The Iranian people and the peoples of the
region are in dire need for stability and development. They should
be focusing their efforts and energies to eliminate unemployment and
elevate educational and health services. We ask the Iranian
leadership to be wise and put the interest of its people on the top
of its list of priorities."
-- Liberal Editor-in-Chief Jassem Boodai penned on the front page of
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai under the title "Ashoura and the
Lessons... Strife and the Mindful" (01/22):
"Sectarianism and factionalism are pure backwardness. What do we
want with inflamed sectarianism and destructive factionalism?
Kuwaitis want life, the culture of life, the beauty of life, and the
songs of life. They want to export progress not import
backwardness, regardless of the effect and influence of neighboring
countries that the theoreticians talk about."
-- Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa editorialized in progressive Arabic daily
Al-Qabas under the title "Rice's Visit and the 'Soft Grilling'"
(01/22):
"Before coming to Kuwait, Rice faced a rough grilling before members
of the Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Congress. But by
sitting with us Kuwaiti women activists in an all-woman Diwaniya,
Secretary Rice faced a different kind of grilling where, no doubt,
SIPDIS
we succeeded in initiating 'soft diplomacy'".
********************************************* *
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
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 - IRAN, SECTARIANISM, AND RICE'S
VISIT
Block Quotes
--------------
Monday, January 22, 2007
-- Under the title "Arabs Are in Trouble" Talal Al-Arab suggested in
progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas (01/22):
"Arabs should rid themselves of the sectarian and nationalist
ideologies, as has Iran. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Arabs
-- both Sunni and Shiite -- opposed him. Arabs today should oppose
the Iranian threat as Arabs and not as sects and factions."
-- Under the title "Open Dialogue on Iran" liberal Sami Al-Nisif
commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa (01/22):
"It is the duty of the Gulf States to provide honest advice to its
Muslim sister Iran. The Iranian people and the peoples of the
region are in dire need for stability and development. They should
be focusing their efforts and energies to eliminate unemployment and
elevate educational and health services. We ask the Iranian
leadership to be wise and put the interest of its people on the top
of its list of priorities."
-- Liberal Editor-in-Chief Jassem Boodai penned on the front page of
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai under the title "Ashoura and the
Lessons... Strife and the Mindful" (01/22):
"Sectarianism and factionalism are pure backwardness. What do we
want with inflamed sectarianism and destructive factionalism?
Kuwaitis want life, the culture of life, the beauty of life, and the
songs of life. They want to export progress not import
backwardness, regardless of the effect and influence of neighboring
countries that the theoreticians talk about."
-- Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa editorialized in progressive Arabic daily
Al-Qabas under the title "Rice's Visit and the 'Soft Grilling'"
(01/22):
"Before coming to Kuwait, Rice faced a rough grilling before members
of the Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Congress. But by
sitting with us Kuwaiti women activists in an all-woman Diwaniya,
Secretary Rice faced a different kind of grilling where, no doubt,
SIPDIS
we succeeded in initiating 'soft diplomacy'".
********************************************* *
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