‘Report on terror confusing’
Arab world victim of ‘changes’
“THOSE who have read the report which has been issued recently by the US State Department concerning efforts that may have been exerted by some countries to fight terrorism, we will inevitably observe that this report is similar to an evaluation done by a teacher of his/her student by the end of the exam,” columnist, Professor at Kuwait University’s Political Science Department, Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Information Dr Haila Hamad Al-Mekaimi wrote for Annahar daily Sunday.
“However, the US report has evaluated the performance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States in fighting terrorism as ‘very good’, while the performance of other countries according to the report was less than that of the GCC countries.
“According to the report the Islamic State (IS) or the so-called ‘DAESH’ shall continue to pose big danger to global security based on today’s events. The report also said Iran is the sponsor of international terrorism and this means Iran’s performance pursuant to the report in question can be classified as ‘weak’.
“But the question is: which country can be classified as excellent in fighting terrorism? In this connection, we have observed that the US report is full of contradictions.
“For example, according to the report the efforts exerted by the State of Kuwait in fighting terrorism have improved, while the report shows there are some Kuwaitis and organizations which are still financing terrorist groups.
“In this context, we recall the news reports in Kuwaiti newspapers last year which indicated that some US officials who are concerned about fighting terrorism paid a visit to Kuwait and met with the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and were quoted as saying ‘definitely none of the Kuwaiti money goes for supporting terrorism but are channeled to charities work and to provide humanitarian assistance’.
“Given the above, we wonder how there has been a sudden turnaround in Kuwait’s efforts to fight terrorism and how the Americans managed to monitor Kuwaiti individuals and organizations which were involved in financing terrorism and why no action was taken to deter such behaviors — if any.
“Apart from the above, we have observed that the US State Department is rife with confusion when it comes to dealing with Iran because this report has classified Iran as the sponsor of international terrorism.
“However, the US State Department is convinced about Iran, then what is the justification behind the ‘nuclear deal’ that was earlier concluded between Tehran and Washington? And how the international community agreed to endorse this deal with the ‘sponsor’ of the international terrorism? And why the international community has allowed the ‘sponsor’ of terrorism to have nuclear capabilities?
“Not only that, why have the US President Barack Obama during his famous interview with the Atlantic Magazine, suggested that Iran and the GCC countries should share the areas of influence among them in the Arab region? Is the suggestion a means of legalizing terrorism and eventually constitute a basic pillar for maintaining security in the Gulf and the Middle East region at large?
“With regard to ‘DAESH’, we wonder who is financing this organization, and how this terrorist organization can move easily in several countries in general and in countries which are currently subjected to the US influence in particular.
“Anyway, the real confusion which currently faces the Arab world, are the changes happening in this part of the world.
“In this context, we would like to point out that the map of the Arab world has witnessed many changes post World War II in favor of many regional and international powers which are currently seriously striving to redraw the map of this part of the world to serve only the interests of these powers.
“And this has become evident through the current involvement of these powers in supporting mercenaries and armed militias from around the world to achieve their objectives and eventually tear apart the Arab countries on sectarian and ethnic basis.”
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“It looks like the Western media has heightened the fears of the
Europeans who are afraid of Muslim excommunication organizations because of their terrorist operations in many European countries, particularly since we know some Europeans have joined such organizations,” columnist, former MP and representative of the State of Kuwait Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Consultative Committee Abdulmohsen Yusuf Jamal wrote for Al-Qabas daily. “However, the aggressive attacks by the Islamist extremists are no longer an illusion rather they represent a reality which currently threatens the European security.
“In this connection, we say the European newspapers; satellite TV channels and the social media constantly talk about the Islamic State (IS) or the so-called ‘DAESH’ threat against the European security on daily basis.
“In this context, we look at ‘DAESH’ how it recently threatened to bomb the London ‘subway’ and the British government did not take this threat lightly.
Apart from the above, we refer to the threat issued recently by the British extremist Sally Jones, the former singer who has embraced Islam and married a terrorist who was recently killed in Syria, given the fact that the threat issued by Jones in question was published by all British newspapers and then carried by the European media.
“But what calls for attention is the fact that while all necessary security measures have been taken by Britain to pursue the suspects throughout the country, we found the British newspaper ‘The Telegraph’ publishing a news report which said the British police have recently destroyed by mistake the fingerprints and DNA reports of as many as 800 terrorists.
“In the meantime, we have observed that the media — Western and the US — has started paying special concern to the Iraqi regular army and the popular mobilization forces which currently strive to storm Fallujah in Iraq, indicating the collapse of the terrorist organizations in both Iraq and Syria will be realized soon through an unprecedented US-Russo collaboration and coordination between Moscow and Washington.
“Apart from the above, we have observed that in spite of the threats that have been issued by the Islamic terrorists against the British capital London or the ‘Fog Capital’, but this has not prevented the British voters from electing a Muslim mayor and this reflects the civilized manner attitude of the British.
“Moreover, this development constitutes a message by these voters that the British people don’t differentiate among its citizens as long as they work to serve their country and people.”
“For the past few months, statements have continued non-stop regarding rationalization and other procedures that may affect common citizens due to the declining oil prices, but no serious or clear step has been taken in the face of endless statements,” columnist Zayed Al-Zaid wrote for Al Nahar daily. “True rationalization should begin in the corridors of government with the implementation of serious steps to reduce expenditure and cut back allowances and bonuses of higher officials without compromising the welfare of common citizens. There’s lack of credibility on government’s claim to streamline expenses, especially as it’s not marked in its corridors.
“Funny enough, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation claimed implementing measures to streamline its expenses rather than review the financial allowances paid to its directors and other high ranking officials, thus rationalization policy became a joke; it was pathetic after an administrative circular was issued to all departments to end the distribution of newspaper and magazines.
“Rationalization cannot be achieved without dealing with the aspects of squandering, wastage and extravagance, instead of targeting trivial and marginal issues such as newspaper.”
“Throughout the course of corruption in this country since the fifties, there are two types of corruption that have been recurring up to the extent of becoming part of our culture and tradition. First is when an ordinary person working in Kuwait Municipality as a cleaner becomes a legend, and second is the fire which engulfs the Ministry of Education’s warehouse annually,” columnist Prof Ghanim Al-Najjar wrote for Al-Jaridah daily.
“A few days before stocktaking (inventory) at the same place every year, a hungry and frustrated rat moves around the warehouse, starts chewing on the electric wires and then fire breaks out. Once the fire is contained, the outcome of the investigation is always, ‘The fire was caused by electrical short circuit’.
“After so many years, Minister of Education Dr Bader Al-Essa announced that this year’s fire was deliberate and a case has been filed at the Public Prosecution. This corresponds with the report issued by Kuwait Fire Service Directorate. In other words, the recent fire in the warehouse was not caused by the frustrated and angry rat.
“Such incidents have been happening for many years without anyone being hold accountable, as files have been opened and then closed. I think we should held accountable the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate and the minister for deviating from our culture and tradition in relation to corruption and those engaged in such acts.”
“The parallel religious education has been excelling in impacting the state-sponsored education politically, socially and psychologically,”
Dr Ali Al-Zaa’bi wrote for Al-Shahed daily. “It is possible to describe such kind of education with the pseudonym ‘cryptic’, considering the fact that it is operated without governmental monitoring in private and undisclosed places. Such ‘cryptic education’ is operated with belligerence by certain Sunni and Shiite extremist groups that always target young children within the age limit of 6-14. This is the right age for imbibing values and concepts associated with extremism, isolation, closure and hatred for others.
“Extremists consider the minds of these innocent children like playgrounds that are readily available for them to promote dangerous ideologies. Even though the cryptic education presents itself in outlook of intending to imbibe virtuous religious values in the minds of children, it is, in disguise, working towards identifying people and society as unbelievers, criminalizing these people and creating hatred towards them in the minds of those innocent children. They have taken it to the level of declaring the national anthem as ‘Haram’ (forbidden), democracy as atheism, respect for others as criminal and co-education as vice and immoral.”
“We have been putting up with discrimination in Kuwait for decades, and many official State institutions may not know that their acts of discrimination affect the reputation of Kuwait in the international arena,” columnist Dari Al-Shareeda wrote for Al-Rai daily. “An expatriate who commits a robbery gets his photo and name published in the newspaper — as part of the punishment, but its not the same with everyone. The crime of swindling happens around us day after day and nobody dares to publish the names and photos of criminals, especially those who trade in spoilt commodities and illicit drugs. Others are also engaged in bribery and theft.
“The expatriate who was caught recently collecting donations illegally deserves a strong punishment, and it was wise to have published his picture, name and nationality to deter others from committing similar crimes. Nevertheless, he wasn’t alone in the illegal act. Those who made the contributions are also accountable for participating in the crime, especially Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the Ministry of Awqaf that specify legally authorized channels for collecting donations.
“Those who donate funds do so with good intentions amid the promise of receiving reward from God without necessarily finding out if the money reaches the needy, so the swindler adopted three steps to fulfill his mission. Initially, he decided to dwell on the affliction of Syrian people before capitalizing on the level of compassion and sympathy humans have for one another, and then preyed on the naïve people who give their money to anyone asking for help regardless of the goal — whether or not the person will squander the donation at discos in some Arab or Western countries.
“As a human being and a Kuwaiti citizen, I will not address accusations to all expatriates — as most of them are honorable and trustworthy. Therefore, I call for the photos of all criminals to be published regardless of their nationality — since publishing the photos of criminal expatriates is considered to be part of the punishment.”