People in Kuwait continue to express outrage at the biased way the Arab language media, which they receive, is covering the war, including its neglect of humanitarian help the coalition is offering to Iraqi civilians, but especially its neglect of the missile attacks on Kuwait. Many Kuwaitis admit to being annoyed that little attention was given to the missiles lobbed at civilian targets in this country, further confirmation in their eyes that the war against Saddam Hussein is just. "Since the missile landed at Souk Sharq mall, we have not said anything, but now we will not be quiet," says Dhari Al-Otaibi. "Our message to the Arab world is we will stand up and show we are with the Iraqi people."
| The Arab world hasn't quite gotten the idea of how you can be in favor of the Iraqi people and not be in favor of their tin-hat dictator and his flock of sadists. After all, they're Iraqis, too, right? |
Many in the Arab press would have it that the Kuwaitis are actually in the pockets of the Americans and British, rather than acting out of genuine concern for their neighbours to the north. "We are hurt by what is said about us in the Arab media. And the Iraqis are also hurt by such statements," says Mr Al-Otaibi. Criticism from fellow Arabs is particularly hard to swallow, say some Kuwaitis, because of the aid this oil-rich emirate has given to its regional neighbours and its short, but bloody, experience of rule by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. "Many of our riches have gone to poor Arab countries and now they are stabbing us in the back for standing up for the Americans and British who stood up for us in 1991," says Ghaneema Al-Nassar.
| Nope. No word in Arabic for gratitude, is there? Y'have to switch languages to even express the concept. And you can't use French, either... |
But not all Kuwaitis are so happy to be a closely allied with the US. Local newspapers have quoted one Islamic charity worker who fears the real aim of the war is to "flood" the region with western values and culture. Already, affluent Kuwaiti teens appear to be drawn more to McDonald's than to Mecca.
| Hyeh, hyeh, hyeh! The Plan seems to be working! |
However, leading Muslim cleric Mohammed Hagif Al-Mutairi — a fierce opponent anything fun of innovations such as female suffrage — says he is confident the American influence is "limited" and that Kuwait's social and religious traditions can be maintained.
| He's already lost that battle. When was the last time you heard of Kuwait cutting off anyone's head? Welcome to the trashbin of history, holy man! |
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