KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - SYRIA, IRAQ, IRAN, AND KUWAIT

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000897 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 - SYRIA, IRAQ, IRAN, AND KUWAIT Block Quotes -------------- Sunday, June 10, 2007 -- "Syria and Israel, is War Possible?" was the title under which liberal Dr. Shafeeq Al-Ghabra inquired in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/10): "The current situation in the Arab world is not strange; neither is the war and chaos rampant in the region. If Al-Hariri's assassination is possible and fighting between Hamas and Fatah is possible, and what is happening in Iraq is possible, then why is it not possible for a Syrian-Israeli war to ignite?" -- Under the title "The Countdown, Ambassador" Dr. Jalal Al-Rashid commented in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/10): "The biggest joke in the media last week was the American Ambassador to Iraq's statement that American troop withdrawal from Iraq would lead to the spread of chaos. My 'dear,' your government is what is causing the chaos and infighting in that country." -- Liberal Saleh Al-Shayji penned in moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa under the title "The Valley's Neighbor" (06/10): "Mr. Ahmadinejad, the president of 'the valley's neighbor' republic is in his own world while the rest of the universe is in another. He is a president without powers." -- In the most recent addition to Kuwait press the Arabic daily Al-Jareeda conservative Islamist Dr. Sajid Al-Abdali editorialized under the title "We are a Free People in a Sovereign Country" (06/10): "I think the National Assembly should have enough courage today to discuss this strange issue, call for the government to reveal its details, and to take responsibility by discussing it with the American administration. This foggy, miserable relationship with the American administration since the liberation of Kuwait should end. This is the most basic of our rights as a free people living in a sovereign country." ********************************************* * 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