KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION -- U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

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SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION -- U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

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SUMMARY
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008


1. (U) Summary and Comment. On the day of the American
presidential elections, many of the Arabic language Kuwaiti print
dailies ran editorials that speculated as to who would win the
election, as well as the possible consequences for Kuwait. While
one liberal Kuwaiti daily, Al-Rai, predicted Democratic candidate
Barack Obama to be the winner, it opined that an Obama victory would
bring about "the fall of America." All other Kuwaiti print dailies
predicted an Obama victory, and characterized as positive the
consequences of such a victory. Interestingly, none of the Kuwaiti
Arabic language dailies criticized nor mentioned Republican
candidate John McCain in their editorial sections. End Summary and
Comment.


2. (U) Block Quotes

-- Carrying the headline, "The fall of America is coming no matter
what," daily editorialist in the liberal Arabic language daily
Al-Rai, Dr. Sami Nasser Khalifa, wrote:

"The financial crisis that hit the U.S. is a sign of the beginning
of the end. After today, the U.S. is not going to have a dominant
voice outside of its frontiers. After today, the U.S. will not be
able to go back to what it called the system of single polarity,
which it has enjoyed since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.
The U.S. can no longer exercise its previous powers to dominate and
abuse the resources of other nations, and steal the will of their
people. Today the U.S. will decide to vote for presidential
candidate Barack Obama, who has called for inward-focused policies,
as well as a focus on dealing with the crisis at home. This is no
doubt a step that signals the beginning of the end."

-- Under the headline "The White House and the Tan President,"
former MP Dr. Hassan Abdullah Jawhar opined in the Arabic language
daily Al-Jarida:

"In spite of his tan skin, Obama managed to defeat his fierce
competitors in the Democratic Party. Being of African origin and a
minority did not stop him from marketing his ideas and reaching the
hearts of millions of white voters. Even more important, he has
managed to translate slogans about bringing the nation together into
action. He is promising to end the long reign of the right wing
radicals over U.S. foreign policies and the decision-making process.
He promises to put matters into the hands of all Americans. In
doing so, he did not need vote buying, or giving favors to some
people!"

-- In an editorial headlined "Obama's Victory," political science
professor and daily columnist Dr. Shamlan Al-Essa wrote in the
conservative Arabic daily Al-Watan:

"U.S. foreign policy in the Gulf will remain unchanged. Perhaps we
will see an increased American influence and presence if a security
agreement is not reached between Baghdad and Washington. In the
Obama administration, the U.S. will not abandon its Gulf allies."

-- Liberal Arabic daily Al-Qabas published an Op-Ed by Ms. Suad
Al-Mi'jil, where she writes:

"Over several months, not only in the United States, but throughout
the entire world people have been pre-occupied with the American
elections. Even though many expect Obama to win the race to the
White House, there are some who doubt this, taking into
consideration the mentality of American society, which has yet to
accept being led by an African-American. The polls, however,
contest this fact. American society might once again confirm that
the "American Beauty" of respecting minority rights and rejecting
racism is still a beauty without substance, just like the rose
petals in the film "American Beauty." Those of us in the Middle
East have dealt with the "American Beauty" because of its project of
spreading democracy, which was the reason for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. These wars were among many other problems caused by
the "American Beauty," which left us without any solutions. America
may elect a black or minority president but this does not mean that
the "American Beauty" has any substance. This is attested by the
fact that civil rights for African-Americans took around 100
years."

-- Under the headline "Barack Obama, the Hollywood Hero" Nizar
Al-Kortas, a columnist in the pro-government Arabic language daily

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Al-Anbaa, wrote:

"Today, Barack Obama represents all of the minorities, as well as
all of the categories that have suffered from oppression, poverty,
and racism under the American regime. Barack Obama is the one to
realize what has previously been characterized as impossible -- an
African-American governing the United States. He does not have the
same ingredients as his predecessors. He possesses a logical mind
and unlimited ambition. We have to wait to see Obama as the top
American leader. It might be a historical step that will change the
world's view of the American Government from being arrogant to being
acceptable."

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
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Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
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JONES