KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT BUSH VISIT TO KUWAIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000073 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 NEA WATCHER PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT BUSH VISIT TO KUWAIT Block Quotes -------------- Thursday, January 17, 2008 -- In an Op-Ed headlined 'The outcome of Bush's visit', Professor of Political Sciences at Kuwait University, and regular columnist in Al Wasat daily Arabic newspaper Dr. Abdullah Al Shayji wrote (1/17): "The visit of President Bush came too late. At home his popularity is at its lowest levels. He probably timed this trip to escape the recession in his own economy and the upcoming presidential elections. People outside the United States are still enduring the outcome of his seven years in office and are worried about who will be next. The visit to the region mixed the political with the personal. The arms deal came with a pressure to pump more oil and lower the price per barrel... Kuwaiti women activists and Arab nations must not put a lot of stock on the promises made by the president on this trip. In spite of all the American promises, which don't carry much weight, decisions have been made, and the reform clock has been set back." -- The Editorial Section of pro-government Arabic daily Al Anbaa carried editorial by Mikhled Al Shimmary with the headline 'On the Margin of the Historic Visit' (1/17): "This successful and historic visit proved that we are probably forever are in need of our friendship with the United States and the special ties that characterize our alliance." -- Under the headline 'The Iranian Bush' Al Qabas moderate Arabic daily published an article on January 16, 2008 by Ghassan S. Al Otaibi where he opined (1/16): "Bush is inviting us to be cautious and to arm ourselves with light and heavy weapons, including fighter jets and missiles. He is planting fear in our hearts and has repeatedly said that Iran is our only enemy and that we should be wary. The Gulf States believe this nonsense and follow these instructions aimlessly... To President Bush, the father and son, we say, 'Leave the Gulf to its own people. We know how to settle our affairs with Iran and others. The Gulf states need a technology of peace, not weapons of war." -- On January 16, 2008 conservative Al Watan Arabic daily ran an editorial by Ahmed M. Al Fahad (1/16): "The news about the meeting at the U.S. Embassy between President Bush and a number of so-called Kuwaiti women activists has upset many Kuwaitis. Some considered it an intervention in our domestic affairs, while others wanted to know how these alleged activists had been selected. And what is the definition of an activist according to the U.S. Embassy... I have gone over the names of the attendees at the meeting and tried to understand the meaning of the term 'activist' as it has been used by the embassy. I did not come up with an explanation. Do you expect that these women are going to win the next elections because they met with Bush?" On January 16, 2008 columnist at the moderate Arabic daily Al Rai newspaper, and professor of Political Sciences at Kuwait University Dr. Shafiq Al Ghabra wrote: "Today, the United States needs its allies in the region to deal with the war on terrorism and events in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran. At the same time, the Gulf States need alliances with the United States to effectively face regional security conflicts. The success of the American agenda in the region depends on alliances with the Gulf states and, in particular, with Kuwait." Former Minister of Oil, and daily columnist Dr. Ali Al Baghli wrote in the moderate Arabic daily newspaper Al Qabas (1/16): "I still remember the spring of 2003 when the victorious American forces filled the streets of Kuwait heading to Iraq. My heart was jumping with joy. These moments were a dream that I had always wanted to see it come true. The dream did come true when Saddam was pulled like a rat from his hole in the ground. My dream came true when the statues of Saddam were tumbled in Furdos Square in Baghdad. And finally the joy of Eid Al Adha was doubled when Saddam was hanged. All these achievements were done at the hands of Bush the father and Bush the son, the guests of Kuwait. These are real men in KUWAIT 00000073 002 OF 002 a time when men are hard to find." ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER