VZCZCXRO8986
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #5166/01 3520417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180417Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2209
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3034
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0936
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, 
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL KDEM IZ KMDR KU
 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 
IRAQ 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  Kuwaiti Arabic-language press continued its 
coverage of the Iraqi parliamentary elections calling the 
election "a step towards unity and a better future for 
Iraq." Despite claims of possible fraud, the Kuwaiti press 
paid more attention to the fact that the elections were 
carried out in a relatively peaceful manner and that the 
participation levels were high across the religious and 
ethnic spectrum. Under the headline "Iraqis forgot their 
divisions for only one day," Al-Watan newspaper published a 
translation of Patrick Cockburn's commentary, "Iraq: The 
beginning of the end. The state created by Britain after the 
First World War may be passing away," that appeared 
on December 11 in the British daily "The Independent." End 
summary. 
 
Selected Headlines 
------------------ 
 
¶2. Saturday, December 17, 2005 
 
-- Al-Qabas p. 3 "Elections bolster Iraqi unity" 
 
-- Al-Qabas p. 47 "Unofficial results refuted by the 
commission and 70% participation: `The coalition' leads in 
five Shiite governorates and `Kurdistan' in the North" 
 
-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 34 "The White House describes the Iraqi 
elections as `a historic day'"; "More than 10 Million Iraqis 
participated in the elections and Zebari considers it to be 
the last nail in the dictatorship's coffin"; "Canada praises 
the courage of Iraqis and their commitment to democratic 
change"; "Anan expresses his comfort with the elections"; 
"Straw: A great day that will lead to a better future"; 
"Rafsanjani praises Iraq's victory"; "International 
delegation: the elections were in compliance with 
international standards" 
 
-- Al-Watan p. 2 "Shaykh Sabah congratulates Al-Jaafari on 
the elections: promoting Iraqi unity and reclaiming its 
constructive role" 
 
-- Al-Watan p. 39 "The `Coalition' and `Kurdistan' assure 
their landslide in the South and North with major gains for 
Allawi's list"; "Al-Jaafari makes reference to giving Al- 
Sadr's supporters a political role and forming the next 
government takes a shorter time" 
 
-- Al-Watan p. 43 "Turkey and the Iraqi elections: Returning 
from the nets of the Islamic Party to face the two enemies: 
Shiites and Kurds"; "The elections bolstered the Iraqis' 
morale" 
 
-- Al-Seyassah p. 33 "Landslide gain for the Shiite 
coalition with the beginning of the parliamentary vote 
counting"; "Rumsfeld considers the elections to be the first 
truly democratic Arab elections"; "Bush: Iraq is a model for 
Iran and Syria to follow" 
 
-- Al-Anbaa p. 3 "The Prime Minister congratulated his Iraqi 
counterpart on the success of the elections" 
 
-- Al-Anbaa p. 24 "Corruption and Iranian agents in Al- 
Jaafari's government Allawi wins with the votes of the 
ministers, MPs, officials, and employees in the Green Zone" 
 
Block Quotes 
------------ 
 
¶3. Saturday, December 17, 2005 
 
-- Abdul Zahra Al-Rekabi wrote for the moderate daily Al- 
Qabas under the title "Contents of the Current Stage": "The 
most recent news coming out of Iraq point to a dangerous 
turn of events that was predicted by Newsweek Magazine as 
the undeclared civil war taking place in Iraq becomes 
declared. The future of the current struggle and the future 
of Iraq are tied to the elections. Some of the articles of 
the Iraqi constitution promote divisions and the control of 
some of the country's vital resources such as water and oil 
 
KUWAIT 00005166  002 OF 002 
 
 
wells by regional powers. The magazine received a copy of a 
secret UN report stating that the Iraqi constitution is 
 
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exemplary of regional divisions of the country. That is why 
the post-elections period in Iraq will be one of the most 
dangerous the country has witnessed. That is because the 
threats that were previously limited to calls and 
theoretical demands will come into the realm of 
implementation and follow-up based on the constitution that 
was prepared by certain groups of Iraqis with America's 
blessings." 
 
****************************************** 
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http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait 
 
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