VZCZCXRO9936
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2854/01 1971129
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161129Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5788
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 002854 
 
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 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION
 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - BOMBARDMENT OF BEIRUT 
 
 
Block Quotes 
------------ 
 
Sunday, July 16, 2006 
 
-- Editor-in-chief of pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah Ahmed 
Al-Jarallah remarked on the front page of the newspaper in 
"Political Fields for Iran and Syria" (7/16): 
 
"Sadly, in Lebanon and Palestine, Iran and Syria are contending with 
the international community, especially the United States.  No one 
is benefiting from this struggle; not the Arabs, not the Lebanese, 
not the Palestinians.  Tehran and Damascus are using these fields to 
settle their differences with the international community. They do 
not care for the blood of the innocent who are slaughtered.  Nor do 
they care about the destruction that has set these two countries 
back a few decades." 
 
-- Talal Abdul Karim Al-Arab inquired in progressive Arabic daily 
Al-Qabas under the title "A Roaring South and a Sleeping Golan" 
(7/16): 
 
"Why is the south insanely roaring and the Syrian Golan fast asleep? 
Many are also asking why did Iran not plant Hezbollah on Syrian 
soil, especially the occupied Golan, instead of planting it in the 
south, which was not occupied in the first place?  Syrian-Iranian 
relations, since the bloody revolt against the Shah, have been very 
close and powerful to an extent that has made it and still makes it 
threaten Arab interests." 
 
-- In progressive Arabic daily Al-Qabas, liberal writer Abdul Latif 
Al-Duaij penned "Time to Free Lebanon" (7/16): 
"We agree entirely with the Saudi statement on the situation in 
Lebanon.... Hezbollah fighters hide amongst civilians so they can 
cry before the world when a child is killed whom they have hidden 
behind or an old woman whom they have used for a shield; enough 
misinformation and claims of bravery and Jihad." 
 
-- Moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai Al-Aam's columnist Salah Al-Fadly 
commented in "Praise Your Hands" (7/16): 
 
"Despite the heroic role played by the Hezbollah fighters, it is not 
strange to hear some dissonance that will denounce or have 
reservations against this honorable stance of Hezbollah.  These 
voices will claim that the balance of power is not in our favor and 
that the timing is not right and that this operation will affect the 
tourism season and that Israel will destroy the infrastructure." 
 
-- Ali Mohamed Al-Fairouz stated in moderate Arabic daily Al-Rai 
Al-Aam under the title "An Unwarranted War on Palestine and 
Lebanon"(7/16): 
 
"There cannot be a peaceful settlement between the two sides with 
Israel's avidity for Palestinian land.  Israel takes a savage path 
towards achieving peace.  As it cries over its soldier, the Israeli 
government should realize that the Palestinian people have the right 
to live on their soil. Amid such conditions, Israel wakes up and 
decides to renew its hostile attacks against Lebanon targeting its 
people and destroying their land." 
 
-- In moderate Arabic daily Al-Watan, Ahmed Mohamed Al-Fahd 
editorialized in "What Has Hezbollah Achieved?" (7/16): 
 
"I write about Lebanon to criticize what is called 'The Hezbollah 
Republic.'  This republic has acted foolishly during these already 
hard times revealing that its leadership did not comprehend the 
Israeli lesson well.  This also demonstrates their willingness to 
bury all of Lebanon and the Lebanese for them to parade their 
muscles before the media." 
 
-- Abdul Mohsen Mohamed Al-Hussainy noted in moderate Arabic daily 
Al-Watan under the title "Who is Responsible for Events in Lebanon?" 
(7/16): 
 
"Today, Arabs must more than any other time put an end to 
irresponsible actions.  It is incomprehensible, as the Saudis said, 
for a single entity to pull the Lebanese government without its 
agreement or any coordination with the Arab countries to declare war 
on Israel." 
 
-- Kuwait University political science professor, Dr. Shamlan Yousef 
Al-Issa observed in his pro-government Arabic daily Al-Seyassah 
piece titled "Farewell to Moderation" (7/16): 
 
 
KUWAIT 00002854  002 OF 002 
 
 
"It is not fair to blame HAMAS, Hezbollah, Syria or Iran without 
examining all aspects of the problem.  Laying blame is not enough 
today.  What is needed is a mechanism to guarantee the rights of the 
Palestinian and Lebanese peoples.  The Zionists' war on Lebanon has 
created a new problem.  It has convinced the Arab and Islamic public 
to support Hezbollah and Palestinian resistance, and to consider 
them legitimate and a basis for Arab pride." 
 
********************************************* * 
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