US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3148

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 003148 
 
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 SEPTEMBER 10-13: 9/11, 
EXTREMISM. 
 
1.  SUMMARY: The anniversary of 9/11, arriving just after an 
extended crackdown here on Islamists allegedly planning 
terror operations in Kuwait and Iraq, has apparently forced 
many commentators to take an uncharacteristic look within. 
Many decry the lack of progress the Arab World has made as 
the U.S. has pursued the war on terror, and condemn the 
damage 9/11 and continued worldwide terror attacks have done 
to the image in the West of Islam and Arabs. Adnan Fares 
wrote in independent al-Seyassah (09/12):  "Islamists put 
Islam in a tight spot where it is accused of what it is not. 
What is requested is that Islamic clerics who are not 
involved in leading and inciting terror defend Islam and 
clear it of the charge of terrorism. We call upon you to 
unite and save us." END SUMMARY. 
 
2.   "Who is Responsible for Extremism?" 
Dr. Ibrahim Behbehani wrote in independent al-Qabas (09/10): 
"Extremism is a phenomenon that expands according to how it 
is marketed, and to people's acceptance of it. Extremism in 
Kuwait is not inherent in our society, but rather brought in 
from outside the Kuwaiti House. But blame still falls upon 
us for our government has had a role in turning a blind eye 
to the conduct and stances of some extremists. Didn't the 
government pave the way for these groups when it allowed 
them to hold camps in the desert that lead to the 
brainwashing of youth and children? What I wanted to say is 
that Globalism, in its advanced mass communications' 
abilities, has aided extremism in spreading. Therefore, I 
would like that the curators of the Committee on Studying 
Terrorism be aware of those factors, and of how influenced 
we are by them. Extremism in all its religious, political, 
and ethnical forms is nowadays a global issue, and what 
matters is that we provide clean air and healthy living 
conditions for our children to grow up in." 
 
3.  "11 X 1= ZERO" 
Jassem Boodai, Owner and editor-in-chief of independent al- 
Rai al-A'am wrote (09/10):  "It has been three years since 
the attacks of September 11th and we wonder what progress 
has been made in our region regarding development programs, 
political participation, progress of education and 
development of curricula, eradicating illiteracy, democracy, 
public liberties, economic reform, social justice, and Human 
Rights. Isn't the absence of these goals and others what we 
have come to believe as the `International Conspiracy'? 
Isn't their absence another target of those who brought the 
Twin Towers down, since poverty and oppression are the fuel 
of extremist movements? Three years since the demolishing of 
the two towers equals Zero in Arab calculations. Shyness 
would be the best strategy when speaking of the "Other's" 
responsibility, when we can't move beyond the Zero." 
 
4.  "Who Speaks of Human Rights?" 
Mohammad Yousef wrote in independent al-Anba (09/11):  "Do 
all Arab capitals apply the principles of Human Rights in 
their prisons? Aren't Arabs and non-Arabs imprisoned in Arab 
jails? Don't the security forces in Arab countries use 
violence and beating in their prisons? Haven't electricity, 
fire, bloating, and the tying of hands and feet been used in 
torturing prisoners? Don't the Arab prisons have detainees 
who have been there for tens of years and are still awaiting 
trial? Don't many Arab detainees die in Arab prisons without 
anybody knowing about them? Haven't some Arab countries 
kidnapped people from other countries that oppose them and 
placed those individuals in prison? What happened in Abu 
Ghraib prison was a big matter indeed, and we are not 
defending the irregularities, for a crime is a crime no 
matter how it occurs. We wish that the pens which have 
written attacks on U.S. violations of Human Rights do the 
same for protecting the rights of Arabs from the hands of 
the Arabs themselves." 
 
5.   "Death in Iraq" 
Sami Abdullatif al-Nisif wrote in independent al-Anbaa 
(09/11):  "Commenting on the Associated Press' interview 
with the father of one of the Kuwaiti juveniles who had gone 
to Iraq to fight against coalition forces, we applaud Othman 
al-Zahameel who went to all lengths in order to save his 17- 
year-old-boy from death. Not only did this man save his son 
and the youths accompanying him from death, but he also 
insisted on not allowing anyone to exploit the children of 
others, and hence thankfully, filed complaints against the 
instigators of the youth. This helped shed light on the 
sleeper cells that were awaiting orders from abroad to carry 
out terror campaigns in Kuwait. The truth that every parent 
must keep in mind - after the spread of death of many youths 
in our society by means of drugs, car accidents, or 
terrorism - is that inside each youth are two conflicting 
personalities, and that the bad may overcome the good if 
parents are unaware of this." 
 
6.  "Fatwas of Clerics in the Loss of the Innocent" 
Jamal al-Sweifan wrote in independent al-Anba (09/12):  "The 
kidnappings that occur nowadays in Iraq are nothing but 
criminal operations aimed at blackmail. Incidents first 
start with threats to the respective governments, and then 
change into financial claims. It would be best that all Arab 
media agree not to broadcast any of those groups' news so as 
not to cause dissent among Arabs regarding the groups' 
affiliations and not to aid them in spreading their foul 
message. Finally, we say may God punish all those who have 
aided those misled groups in word, or money, or even what we 
have heard of some fatwas advocating the killing of 
civilians in Iraq. If this fatwa be true, then why is it not 
directed towards countries that have been fighting Islam and 
Muslims in the farthest ends of earth for hundreds of 
years?" 
 
7.  "The Sheikhs of Islam and the Sheikhs of Terror" 
Iraqi writer Adnan Fares wrote in independent al-Seyassah 
(09/12):  "Hareth Dari, Head of the Iraqi Muslim Cleric's 
Authority, calls kidnappers, thieves, and people who behead 
human beings `Brethren.' Yousef Qaradawi, Head of the 
International Muslim Cleric's Authority, calls for the 
killing of American civilians in Iraq. Ali al-Sistani calls 
on Shi'as to march on al-Najaf to save Muqtada al-Sadr. 
Khomeini embraces and sponsors the head and members of al- 
Qaeda. Islamists put Islam in a tight spot where it is 
accused of what it is not. What is requested is that Islamic 
clerics who are not involved in leading and inciting terror 
defend Islam and clear it of the charge of terrorism. We 
call upon you to unite and save us." 
 
8.  "Pigeons Farewell!" 
Abdullatif al-Du'aij wrote in independent al-Qabas (09/13): 
"Our government, and the governments of the world, are 
requested to take preemptive, defending steps against those 
who threaten our existence as there is a big difference 
between voicing one's opinion, and inciting terror - such is 
Qaradawi's and Tantawi's remarks. Had Qaradawi called on 
Qatar to attack al-Aideed base, and Tantawi on Egypt to 
fight Americans there, it would have been an internal Qatari 
or Egyptian matter. But these muftis incite terror away from 
their countries. I believe our government should request 
that the international community set laws banning 
interference in others' affairs. How can our government sit 
silent when Qaradawi, the head of an official organization, 
in Qatar -a member of the GCC- calls for the destabilization 
of our safety? Islamic currents have for long been 
befriended and it is about time that our official "doves" 
resign and be replaced by those who are better able to deal 
with terrorism, wherever be its source. 
 
9.  "It's Our Turn to Ask (Why Do They Hate Us?)" 
Bahraini editorialist Sawsan al-Sha'er wrote in independent 
al-Watan (09/13):  The American people have been silent 
regarding the damage the Conservative Right has inflicted on 
America's reputation, and its policy of preemptive strikes, 
and racism. I wish we Arabs had also been silent when 
Muslims and Arabs committed atrocities in the world. We 
applauded them, and hence we have become equal to the U.S. 
in people's hatred of us. Our flags are burnt, our mosques 
attacked, and our lives endangered. After having never had 
problems as Gulf citizens in obtaining entry visas to 
countries, we have become the group most prone to expulsion 
and doubt. We have become equal to monsters, whether they be 
Americans, Israelis, Hindus, or Russians, and we are not 
better than any of them. They have their monsters and we 
have ours. May our learned and our blood-applauding elite be 
pleased!" 
 
Tueller