This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001477 
 
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, MAY 8-10: ABU GHRAIB; IRAQ 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: Kuwaiti commentators continued strident 
criticism and outrage at revelations of the abuse at Abu 
Ghraib. A prominent conservative commentator notes with 
satisfaction that the abuse scandal has resulted in the 
"postponement until further notice" of the issuance of the 
State Department Report on Human Rights Practices. Some 
writers continue to recognize the transparency and dispatch 
with which U.S. authorities are dealing with the revelations 
of abuse: Abdullah Khalaf wrote in independent Al-Watan 
(5/10), "In comparison with Arab prisons, where prisoners 
are incarcerated and never heard of again, at least in this 
case the story, when it first appeared, appeared through 
American sources." END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  "In The Footsteps Of Saddam Hussein" 
Dr. Abdul Muhsin Jamal wrote in independent Al-Qabas (5/8): 
"It is ironic that the emergence of the prisoner abuse 
scandal in Iraq coincides with the issuance of the State 
Department's Annual Country Report on Human Rights 
Practices. However, since the credibility of the United 
States after the Abu Ghraib allegations is currently at its 
lowest, the issuance of the report has been postponed until 
further notice. The abuse committed was deliberate and 
sanctioned by military intelligence. All Arabs, whether 
represented by governments, peoples, or human rights 
committees, must move fast to release Iraqi prisoners and 
replace American guards with Iraqi ones. Our hearts go out 
to the Iraqi people, who were first brutalized by Saddam's 
regime with the full support of powerful states, and are now 
brutalized by the occupation." 
¶3.  "Damn This Sort Of Thinking" 
Ahmad Al-Sarraf wrote in independent Al-Qabas (5/9):  "No 
army around the world can guarantee how their troops will 
behave at all times and in all places. The same goes for the 
American [military] command, but they can be blamed for any 
shortcomings and they can impose punishment. To close an eye 
to such practices would be unforgivable. It is the right 
sort of democracy that exposed the abuse in Iraq, and it is 
precisely such democracy that can remedy the fallout and 
attempt to prevent it from happening again. That is how 
nations learn and develop." 
 
¶4.  "From Abu Ghraib ... With Love" 
Mohammed Al-Qatma wrote in independent Al-Qabas (5/10): 
"Leaked pictures depicting abuse of Iraqi prisoners deserve 
the following observations: 1) these pictures prove that 
American occupying forces are no different from any other 
occupying forces; 2) the crime is not in the pictures, but 
in the occupation of Iraq and the extent of hatred toward 
the Iraqis; 3) the pictures exposed similar practices 
perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians; 4) George 
Bush's team feels hatred laced with Judeo-Christian contempt 
toward Arabs; 5) the abuse scandal broke out at a time when 
Washington was insisting we clean up house and start 
reforms; 6) the pictures depicting torture and abuse will 
constitute a new era of hatred towards the Americans in 
general; 7) the failure of the American policy in Iraq 
reached new heights, especially when the military command 
decided to cooperate again with members of the former Baath 
regime." 
 
¶5.  "Torture Is Back" 
Abdullah Khalaf wrote in independent Al-Watan (5/10): 
"American and coalition forces are facing grave dangers in 
Iraq, but the situation will become even more dangerous 
after news and pictures of abused Iraqi detainees were 
leaked. Despite world condemnation, this issue will be 
resolved eventually by investigations, human rights 
organizations and the law. In comparison with Arab prisons, 
where prisoners are incarcerated and never heard of again, 
at least in this case the story, when it first appeared, 
appeared through American sources." 
 
¶6.  "The Chicago Sermon" 
Adel Al-Qassar wrote in independent Al-Qabas (5/9):  "In 
light of the inhumane acts committed by American soldiers 
against Iraqi detainees, many Islamic organizations in the 
United States called for the resignation of Defense 
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Naturally, the American people 
 
SIPDIS 
were shocked by such incidents, whereas the Arab American 
community dealt with the issue in a realistic and balanced 
manner. The incident seemed like a test for both parties. 
When the 9/11 incident occurred, Muslims all around the 
world beseeched the world not to blame the rest for the 
mistakes of a few. And now, when a small group of American 
soldiers commit heinous crimes against Iraqi prisoners, the 
American public opinion is calling for the case to be 
resolved quickly." 
 
¶7.  "An Apology?? An Overthrow Of American Foreign Policy Is 
Needed" 
Faisal Al-Zamel wrote in independent Al-Anba (5/10):  "The 
efforts of the American administration to ensure security 
[in Iraq] have failed. Rather, they have led to spreading 
hatred and resulted in killing Americans. Also, with the 
high rise of oil prices, Washington looks like it is heading 
toward ruin. Good intentions are not enough to justify these 
large numbers of mistakes. If spreading democracy will end 
up with events similar to the Iraqi prisons incidents, then 
the amount of frustration toward all this is unimaginable." 
 
¶8.  "Muqtada: Symbol of Sacrifice" 
Dr. Sami Naser Khalifa wrote in independent Al-Rai Al-A'am 
(5/8):  "Muqtada Al-Sadr's mistake was that he undertook 
peaceful resistance in order to attain a sincere national 
demand, which is to free Iraq from foreign occupation.  By 
his transparent, ideological and nationalist political 
rhetoric, Al-Sadr has become very close to Iraqis in 
particular and to the wider Arab and Islamic world in 
general. By turning to Iraqis and asking them to continue 
with their peaceful resistance, he proved the extent of the 
enemy's stupidity.  He exposed the ugly face of the 
occupation, and dedicated country-wide national rejection 
for the occupation, at whatever cost. He explained that the 
misery of the Iraqis was due to the occupation's greed for 
Iraq's wealthy resources. What makes Al-Sadr a symbol of 
sacrifice, is that he said `NO' to the occupiers when all 
other former opposition figures failed." 
 
URBANCIC