Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT97
2008-01-24 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
TERROR FINANCE: LIMITED MEDIA REACTION SO FAR TO
how-toVZCZCXRO0137 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0097/01 0241559 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241559Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0659 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3155 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/TFS; TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: LIMITED MEDIA REACTION SO FAR TO
1267 DESIGNATIONS
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 4637
B. KUWAIT 79
C. KUWAIT 90
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/TFS; TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: LIMITED MEDIA REACTION SO FAR TO
1267 DESIGNATIONS
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 4637
B. KUWAIT 79
C. KUWAIT 90
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (SBU) Initial Kuwaiti media reaction to the January 16
decision by the UN Security Council to designate three
Kuwaitis -- Hamed Al-Ali, Jaber Al-Jalahmah, and Mubarak
Al-Bathali -- as terrorist facilitators and inciters has been
subdued. There has been little reaction by the local press
with the exception of defiant statements published by the
designees themselves. News of the sanctions appeared in the
English-language newspaper Kuwait Times on January 17 and on
January 23 in the Arabic-language newspaper Alam Al-yawm.
There has been no mention of the designees in the op-ed pages
of the Kuwait newspapers. We saw a similar pattern a year
ago, when the USG domestically designated these three Kuwaiti
terrorist facilitators (Ref A).
2. (U) In an interview published on January 23 in the
English-language newspaper Kuwait Times, Al-Ali and
Al-Jalahmah referred to the UNSC decision to freeze their
funds as a plot against them and said they would do their
best to foil it. They both claimed that the UN's decision
only reflected how helpless and contradictory the U.S.
administration was and expressed their disappointment that
the UN had totally neglected the "Zionist massacres against
the people of Gaza." Al-Ali commented that the UN appeared
to be too preoccupied with expanding the "US terrorism
circle" by including "peaceful Kuwaitis who owned nothing
more than their monthly salaries" in terrorists lists. He
said, "This is typical of the double-standard policy adopted
by the US-run UN," and added, "It is absolutely damaging and
harmful to point ungrounded accusations of terrorism at
anyone. It's against all human rights."
3. Al-Ali also responded to the designation by writing a
poem, posted on jihadist websites, in which he expressed
indifference toward the sanctions and more concern about the
situation in Gaza. A translation of the poem follows.
(Begin Text)
One day, a noble man was amazed at our harsh tragedies that
knew not gentleness nor softness.
The soul will endure without failing or fear, for tragedies
surface, but eventually will go their way.
Today, I see calamities surrounding our Gaza, while the
Security Council of terrorism accuses us.
Justice, to them, is ingratitude and a farce, but have we
known them as anything else but snakes?
They failed in fabricating the lie behind their sanctions,
for it was ignorance that made way for its dictation and
utterance.
Their sanctions were a cover for tyranny, and their injustice
was a law for the tyrants.
The devastation of the siege of a people (in Gaza) does not
shake them, and against us, the sanctions became a pharaoh.
Livelihood comes from what God decides for us, for it is God
who gives us our daily bread, and it is He who protects us.
God is our purpose, and to Him we sacrifice our lives. We do
not hate death, if in death there is life for us.
The chosen one (the prophet) raised the banner of our
religion, and for it we die in order to live.
The brigades of our ancestors shook the world like lions.
Ask about (the battles of) Badr and of Hittin.
What value does a soul have, if it has no purpose? And what
else, other than supporting the religion, can raise us?
(End text)
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Kuwaitis appear to be taking their time digesting the
news that the three are now recognized by the UN as terrorist
financiers. While the MFA made one run at us to stop the
designations (Ref B),the GOK has been largely silent on the
issue since the January 16 designation. A number of Kuwaiti
contacts, particularly in the military, have privately
expressed their satisfaction with the designation. In a
January 21 meeting with CDA (septel),MFA U/S Khaled Jarallah
said the designations will "cause problems for us" and
claimed the GOK is "unsure" what steps to take. He expressed
more concern, however, for the financial plight of the
KUWAIT 00000097 002 OF 002
families of the detainees when their assets are frozen.
Publicly, for the time being, the grilling of the Kuwaiti
Education Minister (Ref C) and events in Gaza are proving to
be much the greater focus of the Kuwait media.
********************************************* *
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
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/TFS; TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: LIMITED MEDIA REACTION SO FAR TO
1267 DESIGNATIONS
REF: A. 06 KUWAIT 4637
B. KUWAIT 79
C. KUWAIT 90
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (SBU) Initial Kuwaiti media reaction to the January 16
decision by the UN Security Council to designate three
Kuwaitis -- Hamed Al-Ali, Jaber Al-Jalahmah, and Mubarak
Al-Bathali -- as terrorist facilitators and inciters has been
subdued. There has been little reaction by the local press
with the exception of defiant statements published by the
designees themselves. News of the sanctions appeared in the
English-language newspaper Kuwait Times on January 17 and on
January 23 in the Arabic-language newspaper Alam Al-yawm.
There has been no mention of the designees in the op-ed pages
of the Kuwait newspapers. We saw a similar pattern a year
ago, when the USG domestically designated these three Kuwaiti
terrorist facilitators (Ref A).
2. (U) In an interview published on January 23 in the
English-language newspaper Kuwait Times, Al-Ali and
Al-Jalahmah referred to the UNSC decision to freeze their
funds as a plot against them and said they would do their
best to foil it. They both claimed that the UN's decision
only reflected how helpless and contradictory the U.S.
administration was and expressed their disappointment that
the UN had totally neglected the "Zionist massacres against
the people of Gaza." Al-Ali commented that the UN appeared
to be too preoccupied with expanding the "US terrorism
circle" by including "peaceful Kuwaitis who owned nothing
more than their monthly salaries" in terrorists lists. He
said, "This is typical of the double-standard policy adopted
by the US-run UN," and added, "It is absolutely damaging and
harmful to point ungrounded accusations of terrorism at
anyone. It's against all human rights."
3. Al-Ali also responded to the designation by writing a
poem, posted on jihadist websites, in which he expressed
indifference toward the sanctions and more concern about the
situation in Gaza. A translation of the poem follows.
(Begin Text)
One day, a noble man was amazed at our harsh tragedies that
knew not gentleness nor softness.
The soul will endure without failing or fear, for tragedies
surface, but eventually will go their way.
Today, I see calamities surrounding our Gaza, while the
Security Council of terrorism accuses us.
Justice, to them, is ingratitude and a farce, but have we
known them as anything else but snakes?
They failed in fabricating the lie behind their sanctions,
for it was ignorance that made way for its dictation and
utterance.
Their sanctions were a cover for tyranny, and their injustice
was a law for the tyrants.
The devastation of the siege of a people (in Gaza) does not
shake them, and against us, the sanctions became a pharaoh.
Livelihood comes from what God decides for us, for it is God
who gives us our daily bread, and it is He who protects us.
God is our purpose, and to Him we sacrifice our lives. We do
not hate death, if in death there is life for us.
The chosen one (the prophet) raised the banner of our
religion, and for it we die in order to live.
The brigades of our ancestors shook the world like lions.
Ask about (the battles of) Badr and of Hittin.
What value does a soul have, if it has no purpose? And what
else, other than supporting the religion, can raise us?
(End text)
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Kuwaitis appear to be taking their time digesting the
news that the three are now recognized by the UN as terrorist
financiers. While the MFA made one run at us to stop the
designations (Ref B),the GOK has been largely silent on the
issue since the January 16 designation. A number of Kuwaiti
contacts, particularly in the military, have privately
expressed their satisfaction with the designation. In a
January 21 meeting with CDA (septel),MFA U/S Khaled Jarallah
said the designations will "cause problems for us" and
claimed the GOK is "unsure" what steps to take. He expressed
more concern, however, for the financial plight of the
KUWAIT 00000097 002 OF 002
families of the detainees when their assets are frozen.
Publicly, for the time being, the grilling of the Kuwaiti
Education Minister (Ref C) and events in Gaza are proving to
be much the greater focus of the Kuwait media.
********************************************* *
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