US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT1248

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001248 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/NESA 
STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA-SA, INR/B 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR O'FRIEL 
USDOC FOR 4520/ANESA/ONE/FITZGERALD-WILKS 
USDOC FOR ITA AND PTO/OLIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KU, KDMR 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION KUWAIT APRIL 12-14: IRAQ, KUWAIT 
 
1.  SUMMARY: Kuwaiti commentators have been rattled by events in 
Fallujah and the rise of Moqtada al-Sadr.  Islamist MPs and others 
decry what they term a "brutal" US response and have issued press 
statements calling for Muslims to resist the "US occupation of 
Iraq" and the presence of US troops in Kuwait, while liberals call 
for the Kuwaiti government to put conservative elements in their 
place.  Other commentary reflects anxiety that the US will fail in 
Iraq and retreat from the country, leaving Kuwait to deal with a 
hostile and destabilized northern neighbor.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  "A Year Of American Failure In Iraq" 
Dr. Wael al-Hassawi wrote in independent Al-Rai al-A'am (4/12): 
"A year after the fall of the former Iraqi regime, Baghdad is back 
to where it started; aircraft bombing various cities, artillery 
shelling, hundreds of dead in Fallujah and utter bedlam.  The 
reason behind this chaos is the American Administration's 
blundering approach in running Iraq.  Is the Administration 
deliberately attempting to maintain the status quo, so it can 
continue its dominance and postpone its withdrawal?  The reality 
is quite the contrary; the United States is living a war of 
attrition, which brings back memories of Vietnam.  Added to that, 
the United States has no experience in nation building and Iraq is 
known that since the dawn of civilization, that it is extremely 
hard to control.  The Bush Administration is in an unenviable 
situation, and may lose the elections due to the deteriorating 
situation in Iraq." 
 
3.  "Blood On The Tigris Banks" 
Former MP and Islamist Dr. Abdel Muhsin Jamal wrote in independent 
Al-Qabas (4/12):  "What has changed one year after the fall of the 
former Iraqi regime?  Saddam used to kill in secret, whereas now, 
American aircraft are bombing Iraqi cities, houses, and mosques 
for the whole world to see.  Saddam used to single out Kurds and 
Iraqi Shia, now Americans, are adding Iraqi Sunnis on that list. 
The biggest paradox is that a year ago, American forces entered 
Baghdad with no resistance and very few casualties; today 
Americans are facing a full-blown national uprising and vicious 
resistance.  President Bush should have celebrated with the Iraqi 
people the first anniversary of the fall of the former regime and 
the return of democracy.  Except, what we are witnessing is 
continued bloodshed and more battles." 
 
4.  "What Now ... Fallujah?" 
Nabil Al-Fadhl wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/12): 
"Fallujah is the center of Islamic radicalism in Iraq before being 
the center of Baath Party remnants.  It is a hotbed of criminality 
and terrorism.  Therefore, we don't see any reason why Kuwaiti 
Islamic blocs sympathize with them, except if it were sympathy of 
a Muslim toward another Muslim, and this is the kind of sympathy 
that sustains the theory of the extremist right in the west that 
Islam poses a global danger.  We would have hoped that Kuwaiti 
Islamic blocs would distance themselves from the Fallujah events 
and call on their counterparts to use their better judgment.  If 
American and international forces do not hit Fallujah and Ramadi 
with an iron fist, the river of blood will continue to run." 
 
5.  "New Regime ... Same Old Supporters" 
Emad al-Saif wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/12):  "What is 
currently taking place in Iraq is a struggle for power.  Events in 
Fallujah are a natural extension of the culture of violence, 
obsession with power and absolute duplication of Saddamist 
ideology.  This is natural and expected of a society that has 
lived for more of thirty years in a background of violence. 
Events in Fallujah are the crowning of the entire secret plans 
that have finally come out to claim the biggest chunk out of Iraq. 
This has exposed the cheap exploitation of religion and loyalty 
for the sake of power.  This also reveals that Iraq if full of new 
Iraq Saddamists." 
 
6.  "The Problem With Individual Dominating Regimes" 
Ghassam Al-Otaibi wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/12):  "The main 
problem facing Iraqis, is the political vacuum left by former 
regimes.  This is a similar problem faced by all Arab nations that 
depend on one all dominating individual dictatorship.  Since such 
rgimes take unilateral actions and deprive their citizens of all 
rights, these same citizens cannot make right decisions nor can 
they run their country.  That is why it is important for the 
coalition forces to remain in Iraq, in order to preserve Iraq's 
national interest and for security to prevail.  Those calling for 
the coalition forces to withdraw, cannot understand the magnitude 
of the catastrophe which may befall Iraq, because, many radical 
and terrorist groups are biding their time to pounce on power." 
 
7.  "Cowboys In The Land Of The Two Rivers" 
Kuwait University Academic Dr. Jassem Al-Fuhaid wrote in 
independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/13):  "A year after entering Baghdad 
with their tanks, the American Administration, is exposed for its 
scandalous blundering in dealing with a complex situation in Iraq. 
The dominant "cowboy" mentality coupled with arrogance and 
excessive use of force is prevalent among the American Military, 
treating the Iraqis as if they were an ignorant bunch of Indians 
who can be easily tamed by the white man.  In light of the current 
bloody conflict and the rampant chaos in Iraq, will America be 
able to transfer sovereignty to the Governing Council in seventy- 
five days?" 
 
8.  "A Political Crisis" 
Amna Al-Mousawi wrote in independent Al-Rai al-A'am (4/13): 
"Recent events confirm that America is involved in a first class 
political crisis.  By ignoring the international will, Washington 
is now alone, facing a quagmire.  The latest wrong move by 
Washington was the use of excessive force to subdue the Iraqi 
people.  This, in turn, completely removed the human mask, which 
Washington conceitedly wore for so long.  It has become clear that 
Bush is no different than Sharon when it comes to accomplishing 
the Zionist-American secret agenda in the Middle East.  Ideally, 
Iraq should have been the perfect example for change vis--vis the 
GMEI, but the aim of this concept is to completely erase the Arab 
identity." 
 
9.  "Mixed Affairs" 
Dr. Yaser Al-Saleh wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/13): 
"Many Kuwaitis experienced pride and pleasure for Kuwait's active 
contribution in the war on Iraq, whose conclusion was the end of 
the former Iraqi regime.  Kuwait's classification as a non NATO 
ally of the United States, require a few commitments which are 
seen by some Iraqis as aiding and supporting the coalition in 
killing the Iraqi people.  In this context, we mentioned in 
previously that for us, the right strategic choice is to stand 
side by side with the Iraqi people.  However, if foreign forces 
were to sustain heavy losses, they may feel it is time to leave 
the region, as has occurred in other areas around the world, then 
we would be alone facing our neighbors." 
 
10.  "Where Are The Arabs?" 
Rashed Al-Radaan wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/14):  "Arabs 
will not help the Iraqis one bit.  If Iraqis are eager about 
ridding their country of the occupation, then they are before two 
options.  The first is to negotiate and follow in the path of 
diplomacy and peaceful resistance until the situation settles 
down.  The second option is armed resistance, no matter what the 
consequences.  Of course the first option is wiser to adopt. 
Events in Fallujah have proven that duplicity and betrayal amongst 
Iraqis wanting to settle past disputes were the reasons behind the 
conflict.  Iraqis must adopt peaceful resistance means, such as 
political pressure, instead of relying on the Arab league or Arab 
sense of honor." 
 
11.  "Has Iraq Entered The No-Choice Tunnel?" 
President of the American University in Kuwait, Dr. Shafiq al- 
Ghabra wrote in independent al-Rai Al-A'am (4/14):  "Recent events 
in Iraq represent a race with time, between the American forces 
and those who oppose their presence.  Each party has an agenda of 
their own on how to reach power.  The United States is facing a 
situation it never expected to face, and the Iraqi people had 
different expectations especially with the fall of the former 
Iraqi regime.  Recent battles in Iraq indicate that Iraqis are 
entering a long dark tunnel.  In light of present circumstances, 
the United States is seeking to ascertain a way to withdraw from 
Iraq.  Iraq has become a testing ground of American power, a test 
for all the parties who oppose the American role regionally and 
internationally, and a test of American-Israeli and America-Arab 
relations." 
 
Urbancic