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Arabia
Why Terrorists Have a Hard Time in Kuwait
2005-02-14
February 14, 2005: Never underestimate the value of good will. In Kuwait, efforts by Islamic radicals to set up terrorist operations have, so far, been constantly thwarted. The main reason is the willingness of many Kuwaitis to tell the police what they see, which, for example, has enabled the police to destroy three terrorist cells in the past month. Eight terrorists and four policemen were killed during these operations. But 18 terrorist suspects were arrested, and several more are now known and being sought. Many Kuwaitis are still appreciative of American efforts to liberate them from Iraqi occupation in 1991. But there is also a major culture clash going on in Kuwait between conservative and moderate Moslems. The conservatives are a minority, but they are using their, largely self-assigned, occupation of the moral high ground, to try and impose their social and political ideas on all Kuwaitis.

More so than in Saudi Arabia, the homeland of Islamic radicalism, Kuwaitis are resisting the call for strict application of Islamic law to all facets of life. One way of resisting is not tolerating the presence of Islamic terrorists. Kuwaitis can see what that has done up north in Iraq. The Kuwaiti police and intelligence services have taken advantage of the anti-radical attitudes of most Kuwaitis, and have established an informer network that makes it difficult for Islamic radical Kuwaitis to set up terrorist operations. Kuwait is a very family oriented society. Everyone knows everyone else in extended families and clans. If one of your cousins has grown a beard, spends a lot of time at the mosque, and owns an AK-47, you'll know about it. Foreigners are carefully watched, especially those from Saudi Arabia.

The Islamic terrorists are reacting to these police tactics, but are having a hard time "disappearing" in a society that places so much emphasis on "belonging." In Kuwait, "don't be a stranger" isn't a friendly comment, it's an order.
Posted by:Steve

#5  

Why Terrorists Have a Hard Time in Kuwait

"I am no Jihadi...Get me down, I say... Look, I don;t have a beard!
Posted by: BigEd   2005-02-14 3:16:06 PM  

#4  And don't forget that there is no love lost between the Saudis and the Kuwaitis. The average Saudi thinks the Kuwaitis are rich a**holes. The emnity flows right back the other way.
Posted by: Remoteman   2005-02-14 2:27:59 PM  

#3  Hey Sarge, don't listen to that MSM Crap. Kuwait Proper is as meek as a lamb these days. I have spent a lot of time gunning for //classified// over there, and besides being shot at every so often, the whole country is just a big cream puff in a big hurry to go somewhere. Remember R-Burgers, this Valentines' Day, don't forget to Shoot, Move, Communicate, Secure, & Sustain.

War out
Posted by: Bodyguard   2005-02-14 12:27:02 PM  

#2  Anon, I heard a lot of MSM types claiming that Kuwait was the next Iran, but that hasn't happened.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-02-14 12:08:27 PM  

#1  I remember reading after 9/11 that Kuwait was going to institute shari'a but then 9/11 happened and it went on the back burner.

Maybe Iraq will loosen up the parliament. They keep voting down more rights for women.

And they're making tons o' money from Iraq and US.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2005-02-14 11:16:54 AM  

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