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OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2420/01 1711436
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O 201436Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5309
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002420 
 
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 KDEM PGOV KU MEDIA REACTION
 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - ELECTIONS: CORRUPTION, U.S. 
INFLUENCE, WOMEN IN THE PARLIAMENT, ELECTION INTEGRITY 
 
Block Quotes 
------------ 
 
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 
 
-- Under the headline "Contemplations on Election Day," columnist 
Mr. Nabeel Al-Fadhel wrote in the conservative Arabic daily 
Al-Watan: "Everyone is talking about corruption in this election. We 
have no doubt that corruption is a wide spread phenomenon; we are 
actually supportive of every effort to combat this infection. 
Nevertheless, our sympathy and support are limited to the new 
candidates. As for the former MP's who are seeking re-election, we 
have no respect for their calls to fight corruption. These former 
MP's who are making noise today about how corruption has infected 
the public sector are either stupid or cowards. They are stupid if 
they have just found out that corruption does in fact exist in our 
society. But, if they did know about it, then they are cowards 
because they did not do anything about it when they were in office 
during their last parliamentary term. The fact that the majority of 
talk about corruption is coming from former MP's is an indication of 
what we should expect if they were re-elected." 
 
-- Fouad Al-Hashem sarcastically commented in his daily column in 
conservative Al-Watan, "If it wasn't for U.S. pressures under the 
leadership of President Bush, may God bless him and keep him as the 
warrior of Arab and Muslim nations, we would not have seen the 
photos of candidates' wives, which have been used for the first time 
during this election." 
 
-- Independent Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam published an Op-Ed by Dr. 
Wa'el Al-Hassawi, former Editor-in-Chief of Al-Forqan magazine, 
under the headline Al-Saadoun Forum.  Dr. Al-Hassawi criticized, 
"The forum was almost a political declaration that would precede a 
coup. I have a few things that I want to say about this forum: 
first, the relationship between the people and their ruler should 
not exceed the limit of counseling, advising, and praying for God to 
lead him on the right path.  Charging other people's emotion against 
the ruler has it negative consequences that may not become visible 
in the near future; second, no two people can disagree on the fact 
that corruption exists in our public sector, or on the need for 
reform and restructuring of our election system; however, we must 
not forget that we were the ones who voted for these corruptors in 
the last election. Third, most people at the forum spoke about how 
young men and women who are eager to make a difference are the ones 
leading the movement of reform and change. This is a sign that 
reform is coming no doubt, but former MP's should not claim that 
they were the ones who instigated these changes." 
 
-- In an opinion column carrying the headline "We Want It -Joint 
Efforts" Dr. Tariq Idrease, a media consultant, opined in Arabic 
pro-government daily Al-Seyassah, "During this period when we are 
working with a new press and publication law, and during an election 
campaign that has become increasingly competitive with the deadline 
of June 29 fast approaching, we are calling for the freedom that is 
protected by our constitution. Let our democracy speak out and let 
the people decide in the end. We are calling upon everyone to let 
Kuwait appear to the whole world as we have always known it to be; a 
free and democratic country." 
 
-- Former minister and columnist Dr. Ali Al-Baghli wrote under the 
headline "MP's and Tribulation" in the moderate Arabic daily 
Al-Qabas, "I wish for more than one woman to win seats in the 
Parliament at the end of this election. Women deserve to be there, 
and they can do a better job than men. Men have occupied seats in 
the Parliament for decades, and were unable to bring about new 
changes. Why not give women a chance? They are capable of giving us 
a democratic boost." 
 
-- Mr. Ahmed Al-Saraf echoed Dr. Al-Baghli's position in a column in 
Al-Qabas that carried the headline "Let Us Bring the Desired 
Change," where he said, "Let it be known that I am only going to 
vote for women in this election. And I call upon all my friends and 
relatives to follow my example.  I am for bringing a change to the 
parliament and the composition of our legislative assembly. In the 
last thirty years only a few men in the parliament were able to 
maintain their political integrity, and serve their country with 
honesty. Women psychologically and physiologically are better 
equipped to do their job with honesty and integrity." 
 
-- Dr. Sajid Al-Abdaly, a political activist and columnist in the 
moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam responded to the Minister of 
Interior comments on the integrity of the election. In his article, 
which was headlined "The Honesty and Control of Elections" Dr. 
 
KUWAIT 00002420  002 OF 002 
 
 
Abdaly responded, "Under these exceptional circumstances when we are 
experiencing an election that was announced suddenly and 
prematurely, and when the government appears unprepared to deal with 
the vast number of female participants, and with the mounting 
evidence of political financing and vote buying, we think it is 
logical and objective to have neutral committees observe and 
supervise this election. If the government claims that the election 
is accomplished in an honest and transparent environment, let them 
prove it." 
 
********************************************* * 
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