10 Years Later: Iraq & Kuwait

Image source:AFP

I've noticed quite a lot of hype over the Western Media about the 10th Anniversary of the US-led Invasion of Iraq (and Arab media, who of course copy-and-paste all current events from the Western Media, as they usually do!).

"U.S.-Led Invasion"! Think about it....

Hosni Mubarak To Me

The recent unrest in Egypt has caused a stir among the Kuwaitis who hadn't had the chance to experience the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, or who have simply forgotten what it felt to be a country under occupation and a people in a diaspora. Many chant to the tunes of the Egyptian man on the street who is demanding Hosni Mubarak to resign and leave Egypt, going so far as to label him as a Dictator and a murderer. Now, I'm no apologist to Mr Mubarak, nor do I agree with his insistence in keeping Martial Law in effect for all these years. Furthermore, quite frankly, it's none of my business what he does in his country, despite my opinions. 

For the past few weeks I've been following Kuwait's latest attempt at promoting mediocrity as a patriotic and courageous fact of life and history. As if there isn't enough mediocrity to around already anyway!

Long story short, a retired Army Commander (I'm not sure about the exact rank upon retirement) and former MP called Nasser Al Duwailah has made some extremely grandiose claims about Kuwait's Military past in a book he'd published about 4 years ago. However, it's only now making it to the top bookshelves, albeit not for it's literary beauty nor it's historical accuracy, not by a long shot! While I admit that I haven't read it personally, nor do I own a copy, nor do I know of anyone who does, I have made a great deal of effort at concentrating on some of the details that were divulged in a series of television interviews with the author himself. I won't discuss his claims about Kuwait's navy occupying the Southernmost territories of Persia during the 18th and 19th Century, or the fact that Kuwait's Military might span the entire Northern part of the Arabian Gulf during that time (yes, that's what he wrote!)

What It Means to be a Kuwaiti Patriot

In my previous post I searched through Youtube Videos for a long time to find the right clips to support this post. 

Lately we've been bombarded with speeches and gestures that speak to the tune of "Kuwaiti Patriotism" and "Love of Kuwait" and "Kuwait for Kuwaitis" and all that, but I haven't seen or heard of any activity or event that accurately summarizes what it means to be a Kuwaiti.

We Must Never Forget!

The Times of London Thanks Kuwait

With all the work that's accumilating on my plate recently, it's hard to keep up with what goes on around Kuwait. But this latest entry in the Times Online's Website made me drop all 40 of my pending work emails, two major projects, and other work stuff so I can post this blog.

A small excerpt from the editorial;

"It is true that Britain has come to Kuwait's aid in the past, and that Kuwait is grateful for Britain's contribution in repelling Saddam Hussein's forces during the Gulf War in 1991. But such acts of reciprocal support are the fruit of friendship rather than the calculation of diplomatic book-keepers. In an era of heightened international Islamic terrorism, it has taken courage for Kuwait to stand shoulder to shoulder with America and Britain. And for that it deserves our thanks."

Thank you Kuwait....what a nice gesture of appreciation, it makes me feel proud to be a Kuwaiti Citizen.

Throwing Shoes at Bush: A few Questions

By now, every man, woman and child on this Earth has seen the notorious shoe-throwing footage that happened a few days ago in Iraq, so I won't dwell on that.

What I would like to know is this: 

1) What brings a man to throw a shoe at two world leaders, (well, one world leader and one wannabe)?

If we're talking about an unjust war, where the counter-argument was that the Iraqis would have been better off living with Saddam than with American-instigated terrorism, (it depends on what point of view you'd be listening to) fine, but imagine how desparate the simple Iraqi feels when there is not a single sense of gratitude towards the man who was instrumental in removing a tyrant like Saddam!

2) Where the hell was Bush's security detail we see and hear about? All those Hollywood-produced movies like "In the Line of Fire" talk about the Secret Service's dedication to their principle (US President) and how they would gladly take a bullet for him, etc...So where were all Bush's Secret Service men? The perpretrator threw his shoes TWICE, and the SS got to the President only AFTER the other journalists subdued him to the ground, and later on, the Iraqi Security jumped in and bound him down too.

3) What the Hell was Nouri Al Malki so calm and cool about while all this was happening? It was't until the Iraqi perpetrator threw his SECOND shoe did Al Malki budge and spring out his arm trying to block the show's fligt path. Before that, he was just as cool as a cucumber!!

Of course, towards the end of the SECOND shoe-throwing incident, the Secret Service men rushed towards Bush and flanked him according to their usual trained way, one of them even shoving his hands into his inner pocked-assumable to get his sidearm ready for any 'additional' incident, with Bush asking him to calm down. But check out the guy to the left of Bush, calmly looking behind someone's shoulders at the perpetrator, as if he's looking at a street-mime!

Now, having said all that, the perpetrator has now become a folk hero all over the Arab world! Is that now the Arab standard for heroism? Throwing shoes at people? People are rallying their voices in support of the shoe-thrower, lawyers are pooling their resources to build a legal defense for him, some are offering US$10 million for one of the shoes that were thrown at Bush...but really, what has this man done besides make himself look like a follish Don Quixote on live TV?

Is the situation in Iraq getting better? Have conditiones normalized? Is Al Qaida in Iraq finally destroyed? Has Jerusalem been liberated? Not a chance....

What he's done is just enforce a general opinion that all Arabs hate the west, care nothing for dimplomacy and care even less for simple good manners. We're one step closer to total damnation by all the nations of the world simply by siding with a rude and obnoxious Iraqi, disgruntled as he may be....now hows is that to our benefit as Arabs and Muslims? 

One may sympathize with a disgruntled man suffering all the pains and fears of a war on Terrorism, one may even praise his bravery, but was it really bravery, or desparation? Was he a champion of the Arab/Iraqi cause or was he a terrified simpleton who'd lost every nerve in his system due to the massive mistakes of the U.S. Administration? I don't condemn nor condone this poor man, he's just venting anger, just like any desparate human being would do. 

I do, however, condemn those who think that his actions were right and justified, and strive to defend him in the most popularized of ways, and who feed on the media's frenzy in order to gain more exposure by their imbicile remarks.

Personally speaking, it actually made me feel sorry for Bush to have been subjected to this incident, and in any case, if victory favors the bold, it is better to weep with wise men than to laugh with fools!

A Brief History of Democracy in Kuwait

Many may argue against this post, though I hope it ‘at least’ makes sense to most readers.

We’ve come to realize that democracy in Kuwait is something of a unique experience, especially to those of us that never saw Kuwait in it’s infancy, when man and machine consisted of wooden karts pulled by donkeys and mules. A time when issues of political concern were dealt with in an open forum, handled by the merchant families and their affiliates, debated on by the ruling family who-unlike every other family that lived in Kuwait at the time-received nothing but the respect and honor of their neighbors, just as they themselves acted and lived likewise.

Little of those early Kuwaitis ever cared about who was to rule them, be it Ottoman, Persian, German or the British, since all they cared about is to live and let live, nothing more and nothing less. The times were harsh, and the men that lived in those days adopted to those harsh times, and everyone considered their duties and responsibilities towards their families and those of their neighbors.

It comes as no surprise, then, that today’s blogging generation some of us take Kuwait’s experience in democracy as granted, or as one former educator once referred to it as ‘handed to us on a plate of Gold’, belittling the sacrifices and efforts of our forefathers, who suffered, fought and died in order to create what is today known as the “independent” State of Kuwait. People who fought and died during the Battle Of Jahra while fighting the "Ikhwan" threat, led by Al-Duwish, as well as others, like Abdullatif Alshaheen-Alghanim, Mish’an Al Khudhayr-Al Khalid, Yousef Al Marzouk, Ibrahim Al Mudhaf and Hilal Al Mutairi, who fought to establish an equal opportunity political establishment in Kuwait, just to name just a few.

The efforts of people such as these has compelled the system of rule in Kuwait to be one of a complementary nature, where the appointed branch of the ruling family shares it’s powers with the people of Kuwait under the umbrella of a constitution. It is this cohesion of power that has protected Kuwait from the many threats it faced over the years since it's independence, nothing and no one else! The very nature of this system of rule is as unique as it's circumstances, since where other democracies were obtained by wars, we the Kuwaitis obtained our own by mutual understanding and respect for each other's needs and opinions.

In all cases, never was the issue of racial or ethnic segregation ever prominent, nor was the issue of religious differences between Shia and Sunni in Kuwait a cause for discussion. In fact, those that highlighted these issues in public were quickly shunned and distanced from the community. All our forefathers lived together, fought together and died together, while worshiping one God, and pledging their allegiance to one country.

Fast-forward to the present, and you have Hadas, The KDA, the Wahhabists, the Tribalists, the Shiites (further divided into Arab and Persian, for God's sake!!), all congregating into individual groups, and all of them fighting for control of the country! And if that wasn't enough, they're all accusing each other of blasphemy, treason, treachery, vote-buying, favoritism, basically the ugly parts of ANY religious scripture, and we the people are left in the middle, exposed by the power- that-be to the injustices committed by these groups against the country and us.

The government, on the other hand, is trying to combat these groups by supposedly striking with an iron fist, issuing search warrants and threatening questionable candidates with disqualification, trying to look like it's doing it's job of combating corruption when-in effect-it's encouraging it. Since, logically, when you weaken a side confronting another side, you've effectively sided with someone, and have presented yourself as another face to the opposition. However, from a general perspective, they've effectively shown that they (the Government) have a serious face to their farcical track record, and that they're still in charge, and that they're still invoking the constitution onto the people who have themselves chosen it for themselves, and that they're still the Government, a Legal entity which demands respect.

Take a step back, read through Kuwait's History, consider the facts, follow up on the root causes of these negative phenomena, then ask yourself this question: What would YOU do to honor your country and it's history? Would you consider voting for those that speak in the name of Islam, or a sect of Islam, or even a tribe? Or would you consider those that speak of actual, planned and academically-studied reforms which will (as they had in the past) reap overwhelming benefits to Kuwait and it's people for many years after Oil becomes a thing of our past, like the pearl-diving trade?

Sa'ad Al Abdulla: Departed but never Forgotten

"We will strike with an Iron Fist!"
"We may die, but Kuwait will live on!"

I always remembered his words during those terrible days of the Iraqi Occupation, they gave us hope, enforced our need to remain steadfast in our hopes of returning to our country.

We missed his triumphant speeches and his kind words, we will always miss his visits to our homes and our diwaniyas, we will miss him as a man and a leader.

Words fail me..the rest is silence..

Why Iraq Invaded Kuwait in 1990

Finally, the truth has come. Saddam Hussein's former FBI interrogator, George Piro, a Lebanese-American working for the FBI stated in a CBS interview that the 'main' reason why Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 was a derogatory comment by the then-Emir that enraged him.

In other words, Kuwait was nearly destroyed, and up to a million lives were lost because one guy said some rude and insulting comments to another. If you believe that was the REAL reason, then something is terribly wrong with your chain of thought!

I don't deny the "possibility" of the insult to have happened by our Former Emir back then, because it actually caused a stir around town when Saddam himself first mentioned that in public when he was brought before an Iraqi Judge just after he was captured from that spider hole. While I don't condone that behavior, or believe that it could be perpetrated by the most respected Emir in the area, nor even longest-standing Foreign Minister in the Arab World to date, but back then, I wouldn't blame him if he had actually DID say it!

But hey, are we all so anal to believe that one can go to war over foul language? What is this, the early 1800's?? And who from?? Someone who had been proven to be the most notorious and hated womanizer the Arab world has ever known?? If hearsay wasn't proof, then all those homemade video tapes of him & his sons should be!

Iraqi Spy turned Kuwaiti, and we're expected to accept it?

Now that the cat's out of the bag and everyone's talking about, it, it seems that the former stateless man who was the center of the nationalization controversy in Kuwait recently turned out to be one of the Interior Minister's "acquaintances" for some time, his personal driver, to be exact. When confronted with the news that his brother had served in Iraq's People's army back in 1990, the Kuwaiti Minister of Interior claimed that he ' didn't know' about it. Furthermore, in his defense, the Minister claimed that the individual in question was one of the key personnel who had helped our late Emir escape the Invasion back in August 2nd, 1990, and for that, he 'deserved' the Kuwaiti nationality. Further still, the individual was NOT employed by the Iraqi Intelligence services, but was in fact a turncoat for the Kuwaiti Intelligence Services (!).

Let's recap, shall we?

The Kuwaiti Minister of the Interior, the man primarily responsible for the security and defense of Kuwait-state and people-has vouched for an Iraqi individual, who happens to be in his personal employment, and has filed his papers to be a naturalized Kuwaiti citizen, because he 'deserved' it-in his opinion- not knowing that this individual's brother has served in the Iraqi Army, and denying rumors that the individual he's vouched for may have been working for the Iraqi Intelligence.

On the other end of the stick, some sick MP had some known Iraqi criminal file his FORGED papers in order to apply for the Kuwaiti citizenship. This criminal had been convicted twice: once for brawling and once for SELLING ARMS!!

So, we are now reduced to having members of the Government introducing aliens who were former enemies of the state and the people, as well as criminals of the lowest kind, into our social circles, with equal rights and benefits as us, because THEY SAID SO, irrelevant of any constitutional instructions or amendments or to the rule of Law.

In short, the criminal deserves the best, while the deserving gets whatever handout is given to him, all with the blessing of the Official Kuwaiti Government.

What does that spell for us and our children? You can make up your own scenario, the end will still be the same...disgusting and shameful!

It's wrong to discriminate based on nationality, and it's wrong to neglect the thousands of stateless citizens living in Kuwait today, but come on, criminals and spies?? Can't we at least ask for a clean criminal history as a prerequisite, or a few more references besides your employer? Then again, when your employer happens to be a lawmaker-or a Minister- nothing really matters, not even the Law, just as long as your interests are served.

What's in store for Kuwait and it's 'real and deserving' citizens, I wonder...

Iran May be Attacked Soon!

I've been hearing some chatter here and there recently about the current crisis with Iran, and I don't mean what's been distributed on the news & internet. I mean actual people in sensitive places around the country, being asked to make sure that certain measures are taken "just in case" and "just to be sure" and "you never know" basis.

For example, some of the Kuwaiti Military commanders have been quietly receiving their tasking & mobilization orders as recently as 3 weeks ago.

On the same wavelength, US Central Command has deployed two Aricraft Carriers in or near the Gulf region, each with enough firepower to launch and sustain a limited airstrike. I'm still researching the exact deployment details & order of battle, but it seems to be designed to handle surgical strikes on targets of opportunity in, around and within Iran, details on that later as well.

For now, the MTC-Vodafone shares and just making sure everyone's getting enough electricity & water seems to be the Kuwaiti Government's least bit of concern, don't you think?

"Never Forget"

On September 7th, 2002, and out of steel taken from the World Trade Center ruins, the US Navy has announced the construction of a new generation of surface battle ships, the USS New York. The ship has been named in honor of the victims of 9/11.

Ironic, the very thing that was destroyed by terrorists has been rebuilt to seek and destroy those same terrorists. Is that stubborn determination, or simply American propaganda? Whatever it is, it's a sure sign of American superiority & determination that will not fade away or fear from radical zealots with empty promises of a return to their own Andalusian Pipe dreams.

Ship Facts:
Length: 684 feet (208.5 meters)
Beam: 105 feet (31.9 meters)
Displacement: 24,900 long ship tons
Speed: In excess of 22 knots (24.2 mph)
Aircraft: Four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft may be launched or recovered simultaneously. The ship's hangar can store 1-2 aircraft.
Armament: Two 30mm Close-in-Guns, for surface threat defense; two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers for air defense
Landing Craft: Two LCACs (air cushion) or one LCU (conventional)
EFVs: 14 Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles
Power plant: Four Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, two shafts, 40,000 Hp
Crew: 360 Sailors (28 officers, 332 enlisted) and 3 Marines
Troops: 699 (66 officers, 633 enlisted)
Motto: "Never Forget"

Kuwait: A Regional Center for Health Services

Oh, for God's sake....CHECK THIS OUT!!

George Galloway Speaks!

I got this from a friend just minutes after i posted my last blog! I just HAD to post it for you....don't miss it!

He's a notorious Scotsman, with a Glaswegian flair for blunt commentary, but he's got something to say, and here it is!

Remembrance

US Foreign Broadcast Information Service translation of
Radio Kuwait (domestic service in Arabic) at 1405 UTC,
on 2 August 1990:

"To all the free men and to all those who are listening to Radio
Kuwait: The weaklings take pleasure in forming phony
governments, and we affirm to our proud people and to the entire
world that Kuwait is Kuwait with its population and its
government. Yes, Kuwait is [still] Kuwait and there is no other
government but the Government of Kuwait under the leadership of
the amir of Kuwait, Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah, and
his right-hand man, Shaykh Sa'd al-Abdallah Salim Al Sabah.

"O sons of Kuwait, O Arab nation. If the wolf lives as a recluse
he will deceive, and if he shows goodness he is only pretending.
The treacherous futile lie for which Kuwait is being invaded is
a kind of base barbarism and high-handed superiority. God does
not like the arrogant.

"O friends and brethren everywhere. In the same way Kuwait
opened its doors to all honorable freemen with love and
affection, now the entire population of Kuwait is appealing to
you with one voice, whose echo is heard throughout the world:
If you value Kuwait and its freedom, then Kuwait is calling you,
so come to its rescue. The blood of its sons and its population
is being shed unjustly.

"Long live our country Kuwait. Long live our country Kuwait
under the leadership of our beloved amir, Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad
al-Jabir Al Sabah, and his loyal heir apparent, Shaykh Sa'd
al-Abdallah Salim Al Sabah. Long live the great people of
Kuwait, and may God protect Kuwait from adversity."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Voice of the Masses (Baghdad, Iraq) in Arabic, 1425 UTC 2 August
1990:

[Text] "The following communique was announced by the radio of
the Provisional Free Kuwait Government a short while ago:

"Communique issued by the Provisional Free Kuwait Government:

"It seems that some mercenaries of the defunct regime abroad are
trying to carry out desperate activities in favor of this regime
and through exposed coordination with US and Zionist quarters.
The Provisional Free Kuwait Government announces that those
people do not represent Kuwait. Kuwait and its people are
represented by their free government that has been formed to
safeguard the interests and rights of the Kuwaiti people.
Therefore, the government has decided to dismiss Dr.
Abd-al-Rahman al-Awadi from his post. Consequently, he no
longer enjoys any capacity in either the foreign ministers'
conference of the Islamic Conference Organization or the Arab
League. The government has also decided to dismiss Muhammad
Abu-al-Hasan from his post as Kuwait's permanent representative
to the United Nations. It also has decided to dismiss
Abd-al-Muhsin Nasir al Bu'ayjan from his post as Kuwait's
permanent representative to the Arab League. No activities of
these persons are binding upon Kuwait."

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Radio Kuwait in Arabic at 1820 UTC, 2 August 1990:

"Dear listeners everywhere. Do not be fooled by extraneous
radio stations. Their news and bulletins are totally false.
They are broadcasting poison through their propaganda, which
should not be believed. Do not pay attention to what these
radio stations are broadcasting.

"This is our radio station. It is the sole and official radio
station, which is broadcasting its programs from Kuwait and in
the name of Kuwait. This is Kuwait."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio Baghdad Domestic Service in Arabic 1933 UTC 2 August 1990:

[Text of "Communique No. 4" issued by the Provisional Free
Kuwait Government as broadcast by its radio in Kuwait "a short
while ago"]

"The sons of Kuwait know the facts regarding the continued acts
of plunder of the people's money by Jabir Ahmad and his clique.
Their wealth reached legendary figures, squandered in their
pursuit of pleasure and deposited with their suspect partners.
It is high time for returning these plundered funds to their
rightful owners, the sons of the Kuwaiti people.

"Therefore the Provisional Free Kuwait Government has decided to
confiscate all the money of Jabir Ahmad Jabir, Sa'd Abdallah Al
Sabah, Ahmad Jabir, Ahmad Khalifah 'Adhbi, and Nawwaf Ahmad
Jabir, whether this money is found in Kuwait or abroad. Our
government warns foreign banks in which they deposited their
money against any tampering with this money in a manner harming
the Kuwaiti people."

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FBIS Editorial Report: Radio Kuwait Ceases Transmission

Kuwait Domestic Service in Arabic at 1405, 1530 and 1534 GMT on
2 August broadcasts further statements in support of the amir
and appeals for help. At 1540 GMT the radio broadcasts an
appeal for blood donors.

From 0130 to 0400 GMT on 3 August the radio broadcasts mainly
slogans, appeals and patriotic songs. At 0300 GMT a six-minute
news roundup is carried, devoted exclusively to world reaction
to the invasion of Kuwait as well as activities connected with
events in Kuwait.

Kuwait Domestic at 1111 GMT broadcast the following slogan:

"In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. This is
Kuwait. O Arabs, O brothers, O beloved brothers, O Muslims,
your brothers in Kuwait are appealing to you. Hurry to their
aid."

The station then immediately went off the air.

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Iranian news agency (IRNA) dispatch in English at 1357 UTC 3
August 1990:

[TEXT] "Bushehr, Aug. 3, IRNA -- Both Kuwaiti television
channels which could be monitored in Bushehr Province, Persian
Gulf, have completely stopped broadcasting since Thursday
morning when Kuwait was invaded by the Iraqi troops.

"Meanwhile an underground TV channel which started programs
hours after the invasion has apparently stopped broadcasting.
An underground Kuwaiti radio station monitored here continues to
broadcast appeals to Arab countries urging them to help while
another radio station transmits communiques issued by the new
Iraqi-installed regime in Kuwait.

"On Friday mroning, the Kuwaiti radio loyal to Al Sabah
government, appealed to Arabs to unite and help Kuwait. In
another message it appealed on the Muslims for help.

"A radio station of the so-called `Kuwait provisional liberation
government,' broadcasting from inside Iraq, called on the
Kuwaiti people to cooperate with the invading forces and avoid
any act of sabotage."

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Mid-East News Agency dispatch in Arabic, 0050 UTC 15 August 1990:

"Cairo, 14 Aug (MENA) -- The Kuwaiti newspaper AL-ANBA says in
its first edition to be published in Cairo tomorrow, Wednesday,
that the Egyptian Information Ministry has decided to allocate a
shortwave frequency for transmission of Kuwait radio.

"The paper says that the radio is scheduled to transmit two
hours daily. National programs and appeals to Kuwaiti people to
resist the Iraqi invasion and organize the Kuwaiti resistance
ranks will be made available to the radio.

"The paper notes that a number of Kuwaiti broadcasters who were
able to leave Kuwait will operate the radio."

.....lest we forget!