US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT217

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000217 
 
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 
 
1.  Summary:  All columnists condemned the January 10 terrorist 
act that left two Kuwaiti security officers and one terrorist 
dead.  Many commentators faulted the government.  One writer cited 
"loopholes in our laws" and another blamed it for having 
disregarded "warning signs."  Another directed a withering attack 
on the government accusing it of "raising these terrorists in 
schools and mosques" in an environment ripe for breeding 
terrorists.  End Summary. 
 
2.  Liberal columnist Ahmad Al-Dayin writing in independent Al-Rai 
Al-Aam opined (01/12):  "It is wrong to accuse Islam alone of 
being the sole source of fanaticism, extremism, and terrorism. 
Fundamentalism exists in Judaism and in Christianity, most notably 
the United States' right-wing Christian Zionists, and in the Hindu 
religion." 
 
3.  Pro-government columnist Faisal Al-Qenai of independent Al- 
Seyassah said (01/12):  "This type of criminal who looks for 
victims at random registers the extent of their evil intentions. 
After Monday's bloody events, it is incumbent upon us to 
reevaluate and examine the loopholes in our laws and legislation 
exploited by these terrorists and all who sympathize with their 
actions." 
 
4.  Liberal columnist Dr. Shanlan Al-Issa of independent Al- 
Seyassah wrote (01/12):  "This cowardly terrorist operation 
establishes what many in Kuwait have already realized:  Kuwait has 
become an incubator and a suitable environment for breeding and 
spreading terrorism.  ...The government...has ignored the firm 
ties between religious movements in Kuwait and Saudi...If the 
government is serious about combating terrorism, it must open up 
to other political affiliations.  Attempting to please political 
Islamist movements at the expense of citizens' freedoms and their 
constitutional rights will not be of any use." 
 
5.  Regular columnist Saleh Al-Shayji of independent Al-Anba wrote 
(01/12):  "The black car of death roaming our streets (a reference 
to the Embassy's warden message) should move us to stop praising 
the government and extolling the virtue of its justice, wisdom, 
and guidance.  It is the government that must bear most of the 
responsibility for that crime.  It is the government that raised 
these criminals and terrorists in its schools, mosques, and media 
and in religious associations, granting them licenses to breed and 
implant the culture of violence...." 
 
LeBaron