VZCZCXRO2746
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #0426/01 1200211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300211Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3258
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000426 
 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JSAWYER), NEA/PPD (PAGNEW, DBENZE), S/CT, 
NEA/PI, R 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC OIIP SCUL SOCI PTER KU ZR
SUBJECT: KUWAITI STUDENTS' TERRORISM TRIAL ANYTHING BUT "MOOT" 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: "The experience of a lifetime" is how one Kuwaiti 
student characterized her participation in a course titled 
"Rhetorics of Cultural Dissonance" offered at the American 
University of Kuwait (AUK).  This course was developed with 
USG-funding and aimed at countering the influence of extremists and 
the arguments used to justify terrorism and recruit Arab youth to 
violence.  Based on the students' views on the course, expressed 
during an informal exchange with Ambassador Jones on April 21, the 
curriculum has succeeded in developing critical thinking, respect of 
the "other," self-awareness, and acceptance of alternate points of 
view.  During the "moot court" exercise, which acts as the 
culmination of the course, students role play the prosecution, 
defense, and jury in a terrorism trial.  On trial is not just the 
accused, but Kuwaiti students' preconceptions of terrorism, 
religious duty, civil rights, and democratic freedoms.  Embassy 
Kuwait and AUK are seeking additional funding to expand the 
curriculum and support its spread from AUK to other universities 
(public and private) in Kuwait and in the region.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------- 
RHETORICS OF CULTURAL DISSONANCE 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In 2008, Embassy Kuwait, with funding from the Strategic 
Engagement Initiative and PAS discretionary funds, wrote a $60,000 
grant to AUK and Dr. Rawda Awwad to develop an experimental course 
designed to counter terrorism and extremist ideologies by teaching 
students to critically examine the world around them and the 
arguments used by extremists and moderates alike.  The curriculum 
that emerged under the title "Rhetorics of Cultural Dissonance" is 
being taught in the 2008-2009 academic year as a two semester course 
at AUK with 50-60 students participating.  In addition to intensive 
readings of Western and Eastern philosophy and political thought and 
current news, the course involved digital video conferences (DVCs) 
with students at Dartmouth College, AUK's partner U.S. institution, 
and will culminate in the simulation trail or "moot court" of a 
terrorist suspect.  Our simple objective was to have the students 
struggle first hand with the issues the United States faces in 
dealing with Guantanamo detainees; Dr. Rawda took the project far 
beyond in extremely effective ways. 
 
¶3.  (U) During a classroom visit by the PAO and CAO on the opening 
day of the trial, the students impressively displayed their 
enthusiasm for and knowledge of U.S. legal concepts such as innocent 
until proven guilty, due process, and reasonable doubt.  Final jury 
deliberations will be staged as a public performance in May for the 
entire AUK student body. 
 
¶4.  (U) On April 21, 2009, Ambassador Jones visited Dr. Rawda 
Awwad's class at AUK.  The students were engaged in their final 
project -- a simulation "moot court" exercise, during which they 
role play the prosecution, defense and jury in a terrorism trial. 
In this simulation trial, the accused is charged with treason, 
conspiracy and incitement to terrorism; based on his involvement 
with an Islamic Center and public speeches in an unidentified U.S. 
city.  The Ambassador visited on the third day of the trial and 
watched the questioning and cross examination of a witness.  At the 
beginning of the class, the Ambassador and students had a frank 
15-20 minute session during which the students talked about their 
experience of the class and how it has changed their worldview. 
 
-------------------- 
"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER" 
-------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) The students waxed eloquent about their experience of the 
course.  They told the Ambassador that "knowledge is power" and they 
now feel comfortable countering "ideas with ideas" and engaging in a 
dialogue both within their society and across cultures.  They said 
the course taught them to read and think critically and to look for 
the commonalities instead of the differences, which in turn breaks 
down prejudices and pre-conceptions.  One student said she felt the 
course had helped her to expose the manipulations young Arabs are 
subject to and to start separating "the religious from the political 
from the cultural."  One student said the recent speech by the 
Iranian President on racism was an example of non-productive 
rhetoric.  He said Arab and Muslim leaders need to communicate with 
other countries not dictate or grandstand. 
 
¶6.  (U) The students' highest praise was for the DVC sessions with 
their peers at Dartmouth College.  They said it was "priceless" and 
showed that the relationship between "East" and "West" is not a 
simple equation - the "West" is a known quantity and the "Arabs" are 
misunderstood.  Rather, said one student, "everyone needs to be 
educated [about one another]."  They said the DVCs highlighted the 
need for more communication and asked for more such opportunities to 
engage with American students. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
 
KUWAIT 00000426  002 OF 002 
 
 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) By cultivating critical thinking skills and forcing young 
Kuwaitis to examine and accept other points of view, this program is 
reducing students' vulnerability to extremism.  Embassy Kuwait 
supports the spread of this curriculum from AUK to other 
universities (public and private) in Kuwait and in the region.  Post 
hopes additional USG funds to support this project will be 
forthcoming.  END COMMENT. 
 
JONES