VZCZCXRO4704
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2214/01 1621353
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111353Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5070
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, 
B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU SUFFRAGE
 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - WOMEN TAKE ON THE ELECTORAL 
CHALLENGE 
 
 
Block Quotes 
------------ 
 
Sunday, June 11, 2006 
 
-- Abdul Aziz Abdul Karim Al-Hindal commented in the progressive 
Arabic daily Al-Qabas under the title "Elections with a New Flavor" 
(6/11): "I think that after women received their full political 
rights we can say that the image and flavor of our parliamentary 
elections have changed.  In the past, it was characterized by its 
roughness as both voters and candidates were men.  The electoral 
headquarters, the political rhetoric, and campaigns were all aimed 
at men....  The real flavor of this year's elections lies in the 
types of issues that must be presented and adopted.  I hope the 
redistricting issue does not consume all of our time, because the 
number of women voters is much more than that of men." 
 
-- Dahouk Binwan Al-Binwan criticized in the progressive Arabic 
daily Al-Qabas under the title "When Everyone Abandoned Them" 
(6/11): "Kuwaiti women are participating in a variety of activities 
to gain as much knowledge as possible to help them choose the right 
candidate for the National Assembly. All official entities concerned 
with information, culture, and planning have abandoned women. The 
media abandoned Kuwaiti women and so have educational entities. 
Women, in turn, raced out to seminars, electoral headquarters, 
newspapers, and Internet sites in an effort to enlighten 
themselves....  The lack of effort, planning, and acknowledgement of 
the political future of both sexes is shameful and painful.... 
Honestly, Kuwaiti women are performing a miracle through their 
'self-motivated' efforts....  Yes, everyone abandoned Kuwaiti women, 
but Kuwaiti women will not abandon their love of challenge." 
 
-- Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Kous penned in the moderate Arabic daily 
Al-Watan under the title "The Islamists and the Aware Women's Vote" 
(6/11): "It is a blessing that women in our beloved Kuwait are well 
informed.  Many of them think deeply and with reflection.  Many 
former MPs and writers are betting that women will support the 
Islamists. Women of all trends and ideologies lean toward a strong, 
honest, and loyal man.  These qualities are usually found in the 
Islamists and independents who have religious tendencies.  I have 
mentioned more than once that women, even if not religious, care for 
the interest of the country and that is why they stand in support of 
the Islamists. That is also what the newspapers and daily analyses 
have shown in many districts." 
 
-- Khalil Ali Haidar questioned in the moderate Arabic-language 
daily Al-Watan under the title "This Corruption, Can Kuwait Handle 
It? (6/11): "Corruption has become the main theme of many of the 
candidates' speeches. The stories being told warn of real 
catastrophes financially, administratively, and politically. 
Kuwait's problem in relation to this monster is that we are the 
least able to withstand its results in comparison to other mid-size 
or larger Arab or third world countries. Even if oil revenues and 
the surplus were able to cover it up the political and social 
effects are no less destructive than the financial loss." 
 
-- Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University, Dr. Shamlan 
Yousef Al-Issa questions in the pro-government Arabic daily 
Al-Seyassah under the title "Will Women's Entry Have an Effect?" 
(6/11): "Many questions remain about the results of the elections to 
be held at the end of this month.  Many citizens ask about our 
expectations and it is very difficult to predict the outcome of the 
elections with the entry of women as a new factor.  The question 
remains, how will women vote?  Moreover, will there be fundamental 
changes because of women's entry into the elections? It is certain 
that women's entry will affect the elections; however, the 
significance of that change is not known.  Will it be for the 
better?  More specifically, towards a better future for women and 
society or will matters continue to change slowly on all levels?" 
 
-- Salih Al-Shaijy commented in the moderate Arabic daily Al-Anbaa 
under the title "Elections Market" (6/11): "The elections market has 
opened wide 24 hours a day and it accepts all types of commodities. 
Everything goes and all are allowed to see and hear.  People should 
weigh what they are hearing with the scale of honesty and lies and 
not take matters for what they superficially appear to be and end up 
buying everything offered on the market. What is being offered these 
days by some, if not all, candidates is that the government is after 
them and is spending money to guarantee their failure.  They speak 
of billions that have been withdrawn in cash to be spent against 
them....  It is important to seriously consider these stories and to 
question their authenticity." 
 
 
KUWAIT 00002214  002 OF 002 
 
 
-- Dr. Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Awadi editorialized in the moderate 
Arabic daily Al-Anbaa under the title "We Want it 25" (6/11): "I am 
sure this title will excite many because we somehow refuse this 
number that we chose in our 1980 elections.  There have been five 
sessions of the National Assembly, the members of which were elected 
based on that number.  I do not know how the last session became the 
corrupt one.  As for the other sessions, apparently they were not 
corrupt despite the fact that the electorate is the same, the 
districts are the same, and more than half the Members were 
re-elected in the last four sessions.  In my opinion, calls for five 
or ten districts are but excuses for some losers on the electoral 
field." 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
 
TUELLER