VZCZCXRO4692
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #0073/01 0170922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170922Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0618
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 000073 
 
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 NEA WATCHER 
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO XF KU MEDIA REACTION
 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT BUSH VISIT TO KUWAIT 
 
Block Quotes 
------------ 
 
Thursday, January 17, 2008 
 
-- In an Op-Ed headlined 'The outcome of Bush's visit', Professor of 
Political Sciences at Kuwait University, and regular columnist in Al 
Wasat daily Arabic newspaper Dr. Abdullah Al Shayji wrote (1/17): 
 
"The visit of President Bush came too late. At home his popularity 
is at its lowest levels. He probably timed this trip to escape the 
recession in his own economy and the upcoming presidential 
elections. People outside the United States are still enduring the 
outcome of his seven years in office and are worried about who will 
be next. The visit to the region mixed the political with the 
personal. The arms deal came with a pressure to pump more oil and 
lower the price per barrel... Kuwaiti women activists and Arab 
nations must not put a lot of stock on the promises made by the 
president on this trip.  In spite of all the American promises, 
which don't carry much weight, decisions have been made, and the 
reform clock has been set back." 
 
 
-- The Editorial Section of pro-government Arabic daily Al Anbaa 
carried editorial by Mikhled Al Shimmary with the headline 'On the 
Margin of the Historic Visit' (1/17): 
 
"This successful and historic visit proved that we are probably 
forever are in need of our friendship with the United States and the 
special ties that characterize our alliance." 
 
 
-- Under the headline 'The Iranian Bush' Al Qabas moderate Arabic 
daily published an article on January 16, 2008 by Ghassan S. Al 
Otaibi where he opined (1/16): 
 
"Bush is inviting us to be cautious and to arm ourselves with light 
and heavy weapons, including fighter jets and missiles. He is 
planting fear in our hearts and has repeatedly said that Iran is our 
only enemy and that we should be wary. The Gulf States believe this 
nonsense and follow these instructions aimlessly... To President 
Bush, the father and son, we say, 'Leave the Gulf to its own people. 
We know how to settle our affairs with Iran and others. The Gulf 
states need a technology of peace, not weapons of war." 
 
 
-- On January 16, 2008 conservative Al Watan Arabic daily ran an 
editorial by Ahmed M. Al Fahad (1/16): 
 
"The news about the meeting at the U.S. Embassy between President 
Bush and a number of so-called Kuwaiti women activists has upset 
many Kuwaitis. Some considered it an intervention in our domestic 
affairs, while others wanted to know how these alleged activists had 
been selected. And what is the definition of an activist according 
to the U.S. Embassy... I have gone over the names of the attendees 
at the meeting and tried to understand the meaning of the term 
'activist' as it has been used by the embassy. I did not come up 
with an explanation. Do you expect that these women are going to win 
the next elections because they met with Bush?" 
 
 
On January 16, 2008 columnist at the moderate Arabic daily Al Rai 
newspaper, and professor of Political Sciences at Kuwait University 
Dr. Shafiq Al Ghabra wrote: 
 
"Today, the United States needs its allies in the region to deal 
with the war on terrorism and events in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.  At 
the same time, the Gulf States need alliances with the United States 
to effectively face regional security conflicts.  The success of the 
American agenda in the region depends on alliances with the Gulf 
states and, in particular, with Kuwait." 
 
Former Minister of Oil, and daily columnist Dr. Ali Al Baghli wrote 
in the moderate Arabic daily newspaper Al Qabas (1/16): 
 
"I still remember the spring of 2003 when the victorious American 
forces filled the streets of Kuwait heading to Iraq. My heart was 
jumping with joy. These moments were a dream that I had always 
wanted to see it come true. The dream did come true when Saddam was 
pulled like a rat from his hole in the ground. My dream came true 
when the statues of Saddam were tumbled in Furdos Square in Baghdad. 
And finally the joy of Eid Al Adha was doubled when Saddam was 
hanged. All these achievements were done at the hands of Bush the 
father and Bush the son, the guests of Kuwait. These are real men in 
 
KUWAIT 00000073  002 OF 002 
 
 
a time when men are hard to find." 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
 
MISENHEIMER