Political Science professors at the Kuwait University have criticized a statement by the President of the Iraqi Transitional Governing Council, Mohsen Abdul Hamid, who was quoted Saturday as saying in response to a query from Baghdad consultative council member, that Baghdad could consider territorial claims over Jordan and Kuwait in the near future. Reacting to the statement published earlier by several news agencies, political science professors at the Kuwait University said anyone who keeps repeating Kuwait is part of Iraq will enter the trashbin of history.
| If I was running Kuwait, which I ain't, I think I'd take the position that Iraq is the remaining 18 provinces of Kuwait and negotiate from there... |
The professors have come to the conclusion, such statements only portray bad Iraqi intentions towards Kuwait. The members of the interim government have inherited these ideas from Saddam Hussein and it will take Iraqis some time before they abandon these theories. Professor Abdullah Al-Enezi said the statement by Abdul Hamid only proves the amateur policies adopted by governing council. It also proves a large number of Iraqis still follow Saddam Hussein's doctrine that Kuwait is one of Iraq's provinces. "We are not surprised but Kuwait must take its time before rushing into any sort of relationships with the Iraqis. This is how we dealt with Saddam Hussein and now we are no longer sure with whom we must deal, particularly since it appears members of the Iraqi government have inherited the teachings and theories of Saddam," said Professor Enezi. "It is sad Kuwait rushes towards Iraq to please the United States of America, but we must adopt a careful approach in rebuilding Iraq and on the issue of opening borders between the two countries particularly since the true intentions of the Iraqis are strange," he added.
| I think Iraq has enough problems right now, without worrying about trying to gobble up Kuwait at some point in the indefinite future. Followed by Jordan. Are they handing out "kick me here" signs in Baghdad this week? |
Commenting on Abdul Hamid's statement, Professor Falah Al-Mudairees said, "the statement shows the Iraqi politicians are not keen in this field. If what Abdul Hamid said is true, he is harbouring bad intentions towards Kuwait, in spite of the fact that Kuwait was never a part of Iraq as the Iraqis claim." Calling the statement irresponsible, Al-Mudairees said, the borders separating both countries were approved by the United Nations before the invasion of Kuwait and after its liberation. Throughout history, Kuwait was never a part of Iraq, he added. "We heard similar statements from the supporters of Al-Julaibi during the National Conference of Iraq. They said the borders are colonial are incorrect, although Kuwait is an independent state while Iraq was a part of the Ottoman Empire. So this statement is baseless," he said. |