VZCZCXRO8848
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #5163/01 3511332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171332Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2203
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 005163 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, PAGNEW, CWHITTLESEY), ECA/PE/C/CU 
(SROUSE), R, ECA (DPOWELL) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL OIIP XF KU
SUBJECT: NEW ORLEANS ALL-STARS THRILL KUWAIT 
 
Ref: A) KUWAIT 4846 
     B) KUWAIT 4281 (and previous) 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2005, the 
New Orleans All-Star Brass Band performed to a packed hotel 
ballroom in downtown Kuwait to thank the people and 
Government of Kuwait for their support following Hurricane 
Katrina.  The Charge d'Affaires welcomed and thanked the 
Kuwaiti public and dignitaries who attended the event, 
including Kuwait's Foreign Minister and Minister for 
Planning.  Both the Foreign Minister and a representative of 
the Red Crescent Society received plaques of appreciation. 
The Foreign Minister thanked the United States and the 
American people for their friendship and assistance to 
Kuwait.  Speaking in Kuwaiti Arabic dialect, Mississippi 
Governor Haley Barbour thanked Kuwait for supporting the 
hurricane-stricken Gulf coast on behalf of a four-governor 
delegation attending the concert.  The band's lively 
performance left the audience exhilarated and appreciative 
of the need to support the rebirth of New Orleans and its 
cultural heritage.  END SUMMARY. 
 
A Thanksgiving Event 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.  Following the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina 
on the Gulf coast of the United States earlier this year, 
the Government of Kuwait offered $500 million in aid and the 
Kuwait Red Crescent Society collected donations amounting to 
about $2.8 million from private individuals to assist 
hurricane survivors (reftels A and B).  In recognition of 
Kuwait's extraordinary pledge of support and gift of private 
donations, on November 24, 2005, the Embassy presented a 
broad cross-section of Kuwaiti society with a Thanksgiving 
Day concert at the Sheraton Hotel.  The Band was in Kuwait 
as part of a tour across North Africa and the Gulf to thank 
these states and their people for their support following 
hurricane Katrina. 
 
¶3.  The diverse audience included government officials, 
intellectuals, writers, artists, and members of the Fine 
Arts Society, NGO leaders, women activists, educators, 
youth, journalists, and business leaders from the financial 
sector.  American service men and women and a delegation of 
four U.S. governors also enjoyed the Thanksgiving Day 
performance by the New Orleans All-Star Brass Band. 
 
¶4. The most notable Kuwaiti guests included the Foreign 
Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al- 
Sabah, representing the Government of Kuwait, Dr. Masouma 
Saleh Al-Mubarak, Kuwait's Minister of Planning & State 
Minister for Administrative Development (also Kuwait's first 
woman Minister and Parliament Member) and the Deputy 
Chairman of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Dr. Hilal Al- 
Sayer.  A group of about 30 American service men and women, 
based in or transiting through Kuwait originating from the 
Gulf coast states, attended the concert as did a delegation 
of four U.S. governors: Haley Barbour of Mississippi, 
Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, and 
Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. 
 
¶5. The PAO opened the program and the Charge d'Affaires 
delivered welcoming remarks before presenting appreciation 
plaques to the Foreign Minister and to the Kuwaiti Red 
Crescent Society representative (for the text of the 
Charge's remarks, please visit: 
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/pr_11242005.html ). 
 
Foreign Minister: A Century of Strong Relations 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶6.  After the presentation of plaques, the Foreign Minister 
offered the following remarks: 
 
BEGIN TEXT:  Minister Masouma Al-Mubarak, distinguished 
guests, ladies and gentlemen.  I am really honored and 
pleased to be here today on behalf of the Kuwaiti people to 
acknowledge this plaque of friendship from the American 
people. 
 
Governors, since you are in a place of the world in which 
story telling is a part of the tradition, let me tell you a 
story. 
 
Once upon a time, a small peaceful country was ravaged by a 
foreign invader.  The invaders did not spare women and 
children.  It was so horrible, that the good people around 
the world did not just stand still, they decided to do 
something and to rush in and to save this community.  If you 
guessed that the small country was Kuwait, you guessed 
 
KUWAIT 00005163  002 OF 003 
 
 
right.  If you guessed that the good people were the 
Americans, you guessed right again. 
 
But, the invader was not Saddam Hussein.  It was the 
measles.  And the troops were not led by general 
Schwarzkopf, but were led by a nurse by the name of 
Eleanor Calverly.  And, the year was not 1990, it was 1906, 
almost a century ago to this date.  The Kuwaiti people to 
show their appreciation and gratitude to the American 
people-and let me remind you, in 1906 there was no oil in 
Kuwait, Kuwait was a very poor country then-so they passed 
the tin cup around, collected donations and they built the 
first American hospital in the Gulf.  It was only half a 
mile away from here, actually.  And, you can see it and I 
hope that you will be able to see it tomorrow.  This is 
really the genesis of the Kuwaiti-American relationship.  It 
is more than a century old. 
 
Governors, the Kuwaiti-American friendship has always been 
strong.  We have always been your ally, a strong ally, even 
when it was not fashionable sometimes to be a friend to the 
Americans.   But we always took pride in our relationship 
with you.  Sometimes God works in a mysterious way.  Katrina 
was an opportunity for the Kuwaiti people to express their 
gratitude and appreciation and assure of reciprocity for 
what you have done over the years for the Kuwaitis.  So 
again, I am extremely delighted and honored to be here today 
with you and I can only say that may God bless our two 
countries.  Thank you very much.  END TEXT. 
 
Mississippi's Governor: Thank You Very Much 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. Following the Foreign Minister's remarks, the Governor of 
Mississippi, Haley Barbour, thanked the Kuwaitis for 
hurricane relief support in surprise remarks to the 
audience.  The Governor spoke on behalf of a delegation of 
four governors who attended the concert while visiting 
American service men and women in Kuwait and Iraq.  Governor 
Barbour's speech lifted the crowd to its feet as he spoke in 
Kuwaiti Arabic dialect, concluding, "We thank you very, very 
much."  The remarks clearly moved the audience and also 
received positive feedback in the press. 
 
All-Stars to Kuwait:  "You are Wonderful!" 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8.  Following Governor Barbour's remarks, the All-Star band 
marched into the hall, playing their classic New Orleans- 
style jazz, and began a 70-minute long performance.  From 
their entry to their encore, the band energized the crowd 
through the authenticity, quality, and uniqueness of their 
performance.  The band dedicated the song "What a Wonderful 
World" to the people of Kuwait.  The All-Stars wrapped up 
their concert with an encore performance of the "When the 
Saints Go Marching In."  The Kuwaitis rose to their feet for 
the last number and the encore.  Throughout the night, the 
crowd that included a colorful mix of dishdashas, hijabs, 
and western dress, tapped their feet or snapped their 
fingers to the beat.  Many danced in the aisles, which is 
very demonstrative for conservative Kuwaitis. 
 
"America Thanked Kuwait's Generosity with a Jazz Hurricane" 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶9.  All major Kuwaiti media outlets, including press, local 
television, and satellite television, even the blogosphere, 
covered the event.  Monthly cultural and social magazines 
also covered the concert, but their reports are not included 
in this cable.  Press coverage: 
 
Arabic Press: 
11/23/05 
  Al-Watan, p. 9, 1/6 page, 3 photos, circ. 65,000 
11/25/05 
  Al-Anba, tease on front page, back page,  page, 3 photos, 
circ. 40,000 
  Al-Rai Al-Aam, tease on front page, continued on p. 23, 
1/6 page, 1 photo, circ. 70,000 
11/26/05 
  Al-Anba, p. 5, 1/2 page, 2 photos, circ. 40,000 
  Al-Seyassah, p. 4, 1/2 page, 4 photos, circ. 45,000 
  Al-Watan, p. 2, 1 page, 5 photos, circ. 65,000 
11/27/05 
  Al-Watan, p. 53, 1/3 page, 3 photos, circ. 65,000 
 
English Press: 
11/26/05 
  Arab Times, p. 25,  page, 2 photos, circ. 40,000 
  Kuwait Times, p. 4,  page, 3 photos, circ. 35,000 
 
KUWAIT 00005163  003 OF 003 
 
 
  The Daily Star, p. 3, 1/6 page, 1 photo, circ. 15,000 
 
Internet/weblogs: 
11/25/05 
Kuwait Embassy webpage: 
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/pr_11242005.html 
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) webpage: 
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/print.aspx?Langua ge=en&DSNO=7906 
36 
A Kuwaiti weblog (for reference and not endorsed by the 
Embassy): 
http://jewairasboudoir.blogspot.com/2005/11/a ll-star- 
thanksgiving.html 
 
Television: 
n: 
Kuwait Television and Al-Rai TV (Kuwait's private satellite 
channel) covered the event, airing snippets of the concert 
as well as short interviews as part of their news programs 
on November 25, 2005. 
 
Culture that Connects 
--------------------- 
 
¶10.  COMMENT:  The Embassy is grateful for having had the 
opportunity to put together this successful program.  We 
recommend the New Orleans All-Star Band for future 
programming.  The band members are talented and easy to work 
with.  The Embassy thanks ECA for organizing this high 
impact and moving project.  END COMMENT. 
 
TUELLER