US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT1316

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001316 
 
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 17-19: IRAQ: SHIA REBELS; 
RANTISSI; AMB DESIGNATE RICHARD LEBARON 
 
1.  SUMMARY: Outrage at both the Israeli killing of Hamas leader 
Abdul Aziz Rantisi and what is widely perceived as the American 
submission to Sharon's settlement plan joins continued 
condemnation of the violence in Iraq. Former Islamist MP Abel 
Muhsin Jamal wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/14), "The Rantisi 
operation occurred two days after Sharon's meeting with President 
Bush, who offered full support.  Offering martyrs will not weaken 
the resistance, but will infuse it with further determination." 
 
Still, there was muted praise for the U.S. decision to pursue 
diplomacy rather than violence in containing the uprisings in 
Fallujah and Najaf. And some, like Mohammed Al-Ajmi, writing in 
independent Al-Watan (4/17), recognized that the uprisings are 
against the interests of the Iraqis: "However, many do not want to 
witness stability in Iraq, and interfere in one way or the other 
out of malice toward the United States and at the expense of Iraqi 
women, children and old people.  The situation in Iraq is contrary 
to the picture that most Arab media is attempting to paint.  It is 
time for the Iraqis to taste freedom and enjoy the wealth their 
country has to offer." END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2.  "Delirium" 
Influential liberal editor-in-chief Mohammed al-Jassem wrote in 
independent Al-Watan (4/19):  "With the advent of summer, there 
seems to be a rise in the in the number of people afflicted with 
delirium.  Yesterday, some MPs were calling on rejecting the 
appointment of the new American ambassador to Kuwait on the 
pretext that he served in Israel.  Why stop there? Let's boycott 
America because president Bush met with Sharon, let's boycott 
England for supporting American policy, and let's boycott Russia 
for allowing one million Russian Jews to immigrate to Israel. 
Let's also boycott China for cooperating with Israel in the field 
of technology.  Let's boycott Pakistan for going after the Muslim 
Bin Laden, let's even boycott the Palestinian government for 
negotiating directly with the Israeli government in Oslo.  Lets 
just boycott everyone, so that we won't have one friend or ally on 
this globe.  We don't need friends or allies, we are stronger than 
all NATO countries put together, we are even bigger than Russia 
and more populated than China... God preserve us from radicals." 
 
3.  "Why Do They Hate Us But Love Israel" 
Ahmad Al-Jarallah editor-in-chief and proprietor of independent Al- 
Seyassah (4/19):  "Here we go again, reliving the cycle of pain in 
the aftermath Dr. Rantisi's martyrdom, so soon after the 
assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Yaseen.  For a while, we 
shall rage at America and Israel, and some Arab leaders will even 
issue emotionally charged censures.   All this will amount to 
nothing, except that we have to ask ourselves: Why does Israel 
attack us? Why is that country controlling our destiny? Why is 
Israel unconditionally accepted, pampered and always understood by 
the United States?  If we try to answer these questions, we shall 
find that the fault lies with us and not with Israel.  We have not 
yet learned to make friends. Israel speaks to the United States 
with one voice, whereas we speak with twenty-four different 
voices. How can such a minority control the American 
Administration?  Why does America bless every action taken by 
Sharon against us? Regrettably, we have offered nothing to the 
Americans.  On the contrary, we organize anti-American 
demonstrations; we burn their flag and their president's picture, 
and we demand a boycott of their goods.  Until we find the 
answers, we shall continue to struggle with animosity toward us. 
Yaseen's and Rantisis's assassinations reflect our helplessness 
and hopelessness." 
 
4.  "Martyrs Everywhere" 
Former Islamist MP Abel Muhsin Jamal wrote in independent Al-Qabas 
(4/14):  "Zionists have clearly declared that they will continue 
to assassinate Palestinian resistance leaders, therefore, the only 
choice for the Palestinians is resistance.  The Rantisi operation 
occurred two days after Sharon's meeting with President Bush, who 
offered full support.  Offering martyrs will not weaken the 
resistance, but will infuse it with further determination.  Israel 
wants to prove to the Arabs that they have no status 
internationally, and that their future is decided by Israel." 
 
5.  "Bush-Sharon Meeting" 
Faisal al-Zamel wrote in independent Al-Anba (4/18):  "It is not 
clear, under President George Bush's tenure, how Arab countries 
can offer hope to the Palestinians, when Washington pulls away 
this hope by retracting on the issue of the right of return.  As a 
result, Bush is demolishing all his country's efforts in leading 
the path of peace in the Middle East.  So what role is left for 
the Arab countries to play vis--vis the Palestinians?  Can the 
president's retreat be justified in that this is an election year 
and he is trying to swing Zionist votes?  A very fragile 
justification, and the worst part is that he is buying the 
presidential chair with the lives of the soldiers who are dying 
daily in Iraq.  The Bush-Sharon meeting deprived the disciples of 
peace in both the Israeli and Palestinian camps of any 
effectiveness, and this will have consequences in the whole of the 
Middle East." 
 
6.  "Giant With A Brain Of a Bird" 
Salah Al-Fadhli wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/18):  "The 
way the occupation forces are dealing with events in Iraq is 
amazingly infantile.  It is as if they are provoking the other 
side into a conflict.  By these actions, America looks like a 
muscled giant but with a brain the size of a small bird. 
Otherwise, how can we explain the way American forces subjected 
Iraqi cities to aerial bombardment, while claiming they came to 
Iraq to spread democracy and human rights?  How can America gain 
sympathy from the Shiites who form the majority of the Iraqi 
population, while surrounding and threatening to storm the holy 
city of Najaf?  If Americans were to storm the city, not only 
would this action be foolish, but it would demonstrate the extent 
of their stupidity." 
 
7.  "The Course" 
Sadeq Al-Hassan wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/18):  "The 
majority of the Iraqi nation, is deprived, hungry, and miserable. 
They look forward to a substantive and rapid material change. 
They don't need distilled water, they don't need bridges or modern 
malls, nor do they need computers or satellite phones.  What they 
need is food, security, work and gradual development, something 
that America overlooked or chose to forget.  America channeled all 
its resources toward profiteering and helping American companies 
win projects worth millions or billions of dollars.  Perhaps this 
is the right course in the long run, but it undoubtedly gave the 
deprived class of Iraqis an excuse to amass under a banner of 
opposition, bogus Jihad, violence and resistance against the 
occupation.  This also allowed the backers and benefactors of this 
internal conflict to use Iraq as a field to settle personal 
accounts in the name of Islam and Free Iraq." 
 
8.  "The Situation In Iraq" 
Sami Al-Nisif wrote in independent Al-Anba (4/17):  "Current 
events in Iraq are a natural outcome due to the presence of 
thousands of intelligence personnel who belonged to the former 
Iraqi regime, and who are now receiving support from certain Arab 
regimes.  They also receive assistance from some Islamic and 
religious organizations, and from Saddam Hussein's agents 
throughout the world.  The reason why some countries in the 
region, are rushing to host members of Saddam Hussein's family and 
former regime officials, is because they are motivated by a desire 
to profit from the former dictator and not motivated by 
humanitarian reasons." 
 
9.  "Iraq's Occupation" 
"Dr. Abdullah Al-Nafisi wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/17): 
"America's request in seeking Iran's assistance to mediate in 
order to calm the situation in Iraq is a step in the right 
direction.  This signifies that the US alone without regional 
collaboration cannot succeed in stabilizing the situation in Iraq. 
It also implies that America has realized Iran's significant role 
within the region cannot be ignored, and that it is time for 
diplomacy to play a greater role, since military might has failed 
to achieve stability in Iraq." 
10.  "Chaos" 
Walid Bu Rabba'a wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/17):  "Without a 
shred of doubt, coalition forces, led by America, have used 
excessive force in Fallujah, equated by random killing of women 
and children to avenge the death of four American civilians whose 
dead and mutilated bodies were broadcast all over the world.  It 
is our legal duty to support our brothers in Iraq; however, this 
brand of terrorism associated with scholars and tribal elders is 
also a sin.  The reason for the escalation of violence in Iraq is 
due to the approaching sovereignty handover.  What is required is 
unity and preparedness for this upcoming delicate and challenging 
stage." 
 
11.  "The Lies of Arab Media" 
Mohammed Al-Ajmi wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/17):  "There is 
no question that the situation in Iraq is very complex due to 
tribal, sectarian and ethnic conflicts.  The situation is also 
exacerbated by external intervention, be it from individuals, 
groups or states.  All Iraqis assert that now they enjoy freedom 
that was previously completely absent from their lives.  They also 
do not want the occupation forces to leave before implementing 
stability.  However, many do not want to witness stability in 
Iraq, and interfere in one way or the other out of malice toward 
the United States and at the expense of Iraqi women, children and 
old people.  The situation in Iraq is contrary to the picture that 
most Arab media is attempting to paint.  It is time for the Iraqis 
to taste freedom and enjoy the wealth their country has to offer." 
 
12.  "Kuwait And Events In Iraq" 
Former Islamist MP Abdel Muhsin Jamal wrote in independent Al- 
Qabas (4/17):  "Calming the military "game" in Iraq and replacing 
it with a "diplomatic mindset" will be the next goal.  Resorting 
to diplomacy and discarding the military mentality, is now 
required, despite opposition by some members of the president's 
Administration such as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. 
Resorting to diplomacy will not only contain a volatile situation, 
but will also spare the lives of American soldiers.  It will give 
the American president a breather to concentrate and follow up on 
domestic issues, which are being raised by presidential contender 
John Kerry." 
 
13.  "Religion And The American Presidents" 
Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (4/18):  "It is 
commendable that Western leaders, such as the US president, deals 
with events and facts from an ideologically religious point of 
view.  However, due to constant tragedies and disasters besetting 
the Arab world, Arab leaders, learned to become preachers of the 
first degree, in spite of the fact that for them, Islamic faith 
has become a cant for domerstic consumption.  Bush, who reads the 
bible every morning, believes he should learn and adopt the 
Christian-Zionist principles.  In spite of this, no one has 
accused the president of fanaticism, or of proselytizing politics 
in the interest of his election campaign.  Nor has anyone accused 
the president of being a graduate of an Evangelical university. 
The question is: is the war on terrorism fundamentally a religious 
war?" 
 
14.  "Religion And Conflict" 
Yacoub Al-Sharrah wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am (4/18): 
"Presently, Iraq is facing a sectarian conflict, and if not 
stopped in time, this conflict could turn into a vicious civil 
war.  Fallujah is not the only place to produce opposition intent 
on destroying Iraq in the name of popular resistance.  If a civil 
war breaks out, and widens to encompass all of Iraq, it will 
certainly affect all the countries of the region, which continue 
to suffer a decline due to previous Iraqi wars.  The coalition 
forces must close all borders surrounding Iraq, and pursue 
terrorists that are inside Iraq.  They must also run the country 
with more organization and with firmness.  It is clear for 
everyone to see, that Iraq momentarily is completely out of 
control." 
 
15.  "Muqtada Al-Sadr, Between Wisdom And Anarchy" 
Lawyer Fawzia Salem Al-Sabah wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am 
(4/19):  "At a time when the American forces were pursuing the 
killers of innocent Iraqis, Muqtada Al-Sadr, a young inexperienced 
man with no political or oratorical skills, was causing anarchy 
and death to hundreds of his followers.   When Al-Sadr announced 
his support and allegiance to Hezbollah and Hamas, the Americans 
used Al-Khoui's murder as a pretext and embarked on a quest to 
either capture or kill him.  Will Muqtada learn before it is too 
late? Or will he continue to cause chaos so he can achieve more 
destruction for his people and more failure for himself?" 
 
16. "A Sane Man Speaks While a Madman Listens" 
Fuad Al-Hashem wrote in independent Al-Watan (4/20):  "I wasn't 
much impressed by pictures, showing Kuwaiti students demonstrating 
and burning a homemade Israeli flag.  These students were brought 
together and assembled by Kuwait University Student's Union.  They 
denounced the American presence in Iraq, and one student attacked 
the appointment of the new American Ambassador to Kuwait for 
serving in Israel.  In spite of this, I attributed their actions 
to young age, since I myself at their age used to hold quite 
revolutionary ideals." 
 
Urbancic