US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3058

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KPAO, PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: LONDON TERROR ATTACKS 
 
1. Summary: Local commentators aired widely divergent 
reactions to the London terror attacks. Some called for 
fighting terror by re-examining Islam and Arab culture to 
root out the causes, and condemning Bin Laden and his 
cohorts on religious grounds. Others implicitly blamed the 
attacks on the U.S. and its policies, particularly in 
Israel and Palestine. One commentator explicitly blamed 
the terror on a "Zionist organization." Writing in pro- 
government daily Al-Qabas, Saud Samaka wrote, "Winning the 
war on terrorism will not be achieved only through arms 
and weapons.  We must lift the injustices in the world 
before we fight the means of terrorism." End Summary. 
 
2. Writing in pro-government daily Al-Anba on July 9, 
Salah Al-Sayer wrote: "It is true that those terrorists 
are heartless criminals, and that they do not represent 
the core of [Islam] or its tolerant beliefs.  But at the 
end they remain Muslims, and Islam forbids calling Muslims 
atheists.  Our societies must admit this sour fact. Let us 
not stray away from facts and waste time on matters that 
could make fighting terrorism an impossible mission. 
Muslims today have an obligation to serve their religion 
by assessing the areas of weakness, and the reasons in our 
culture that gave birth to these groups.  Restoring our 
image through the media after every terrorist operation is 
no longer a useful counter-strategy." 
 
3. Writing in Al-Anba on July 9, Sami Al-Nesf, media 
advisor to the Prime Minister, wrote: "The search for Bin 
Laden and bringing him to justice, or even killing him, is 
no longer just the responsibility of the United States, or 
the European countries.  These countries are not the prime 
victims of his crimes against humanity and innocent 
citizens.  There is a historic responsibility upon Arabs 
and Muslims to find Bin Laden and put an end to his 
crimes.  After all it was them (Arabs and Muslims) that 
harbored him, helped him grow and then escape.  We look 
forward to seeing a clear Fatwa [Religious Decree] that 
condemns his bloodshed, and unlawful crimes.  Only then 
would the entire world believe that we condemn his acts 
and abhor his repulsive crimes." 
 
4. Writing in independent daily Al-Watan on July 9, Dr. 
Ayed Al-Manna, advisor to the Kuwait Journalist's 
Association, wrote: "Who would benefit from spreading 
terror and the fear of death among public transportation 
commuters? The public transportation system is not the 
army of an aggressor, and it is not a military target. 
Arabs and Muslims are going to be the primary suspect in 
this incident and any similar attacks, until we can prove 
otherwise.  However, why do we accept the theory that Arab 
or Muslim organizations were behind the planning and 
execution of these attacks? Why not consider the 
possibility that some Zionist organization was behind 
these attacks? Everything is possible.  It might be the 
Al-Qaeda Organization in Europe that claimed 
responsibility for the attack. But could this not be an 
Arabic name for a Zionist organization?  The other 
scenario is if these terrorists were Arab agents 
[defectors] working for the enemy against their countries. 
Those would be a worse enemy than the enemy we face." 
 
5. Writing in Al-Watan on July 9, Kuwait University 
Professor of Political Science Dr. Abdullah Al-Shayji 
wrote: "The war in Iraq has led to the mobilization of 
Islamist jihadis [holy war warriors] who are capable of 
shaking the peace and stability of other countries. 
Terrorist missions in 2003 were 175 operations.  In 2004 
the number jumped to 655.  All these operations have been 
executed in the name of Islam, when Islam has nothing to 
do with their claims. We have to admit that traditional 
warfare has failed in defeating terrorism, because 
terrorism has no home or identity. It has no address or 
shape. Fighting terrorism must be done through fighting 
its ideology. If the U.S. and its allies continue to 
undermine this fact, and keep on taking the side of 
international aggressors, and adopting double standard 
policies, we are doomed to fail in our fight against 
terrorism." 
 
6. Writing in pro-government daily Al-Qabas on July 9, 
Saud Samaka wrote: "Once again terrorism has shown its 
ugly face in the heart of England's capital.  Terrorism 
once again is proving that it has no religion, and it does 
not distinguish between friends and foes. Four years have 
passed since the world declared a universal war against 
this evil. Yet no victory has been achieved through 
traditional warfare led by the U.S. and its allies. There 
are facts that the U.S. and the whole world are ignoring. 
The Palestinian issue: this is a prime reason of every 
terrorist act.  State terrorism was born when the world 
ignored the Palestinians' struggle. . The Middle East 
region continues to be ignored.  Terrorism has made of 
this region a battlefield for its operations. Winning the 
war on terrorism will not be achieved only through arms 
and weapons.  We must lift the injustices in the world 
before we fight the means of terrorism." 
 
******************************************* 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
 
TUELLER