‘World going thru uncertainty’
‘US vision of NATO unclear’
“MANY meetings have been held between the US and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders – especially the meeting between US President Donald Trump and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, which was held under a more complex security environment than last year, and which was dominated by the Gulf crisis,” columnist, professor at the Political Science Department of Kuwait University and the assistant undersecretary for legal affairs at the Ministry of Information Dr Haila Hamad Al-Mekaimi wrote for Annahar daily.
“But under the atmosphere this year, we have observed the appearance of new coalitions between Turkey, Russia and Iran over Syria. There is also a collapse in the exchange rate of the Turkish lira in addition to significant economic sanctions that have been imposed on Iran and these sanctions have also contributed to the collapse of the Iranian currency in terms of the exchange rate.
“In the meantime, the American President faces many difficulties with his political opponents at home. This happens although Trump has achieved great achievements in a short time at the level of reviving the US economy by restructuring US economic relations with all countries, both with its partners or opponents.
“In other words, this restructuring process stretched to the European Union, the members of NAFTA – Canada and Mexico, China and Japan, and the American President reviewed his country’s contributions to international organizations, which extended even to the Palestinians in an attempt to impose the so-called ‘Deal of the Century’ which represents the American-Israeli vision to end the Palestinian file.
“However, within that context, the Gulf States surfaced as a focal point of that policy, for economic and political objectives including the American desire to launch the so-called Arab NATO under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“It is no doubt that the unification of the Gulf ranks, the end of the Gulf crisis, and the strengthening of the security pillars of the Gulf states undoubtedly shall contribute to the strengthening of the Gulf and Arab national security, but the American vision of NATO remains unclear.
“This is because all the Gulf states are associated with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which in turn have launched the so-called Istanbul Agreement which is based on capacity building for all the armed forces in the Gulf States and to benefit from the strategic and military expertise of the alliance. These partnerships have expanded to include many countries including Pakistan, Australia and a number of other countries.
“Therefore, the new American vision for the proposed NATO and how it will differ from those agreements, and how this NATO will contribute to achieving the military and security balance in the Middle East, especially in light of the growing military and economic presence of China in this part of the world either in terms of building the military bases such as those in Djibouti and improve the performance of the Chinese naval forces and the intensity of existence especially in the Asian and African region.
“Anyway, all of the above challenges can be deemed as significant, hence, we wonder, how the American administration will encounter the same, particularly since we know that this administration desires to maintain its position as a superpower, but doesn’t like to bear the costs of this superiority.”
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“The world is going through a difficult phase of chaos and uncertainty due to the absurd and aggressive tendencies of the world’s two superpowers in the world, the United State of America and the Russian Federation – Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin respectively,” columnist Abdulmohsen Juma’a wrote for Al-Jaridah daily.
“These tendencies have actually resulted in the destruction of the so-called international community that was founded following the liberation of Kuwait and the collapse of the erstwhile Soviet Union although this community had played a crucial role in the stability of the world in the last three decades.
“The world today lives between the temperamental Trump, which is tinkering with all the international economic, legal and security agreements, and spouting countries and organizations via live air, as the thugs do, and his Russian counterpart, the former KGB officer, who is fond of secret intelligence operations and assassinations using banned poisonous gases and manipulating the elections in other countries, penetrating and stealing information from electronic systems, and supporting the head of the Syrian regime, who has destroyed a big chunk of his homeland at the head of his people, and used chemical weapons against his compatriots.
“Given the above, the global scene looks manipulative and this was evident through Trump’s behavior that has played the role of thug behind the microphone which offers protection against money. It has overthrown all the democratic and human values that have enabled America to lead the free world for more than half a century and toppled the communist regime and its allies because of those values. If the Russian people did not believe in these values, the Soviet regime would still exist today.
“Unfortunately, Trump’s words and Putin’s actions are seen as applauding European extremists and their isolationist and racist American counterparts, posing a real threat to the world, that the atmosphere resembles the world stage and its symbols before the Second World War.
“Not only that, the United Nations is helpless because of the inadequacy of the UN Security Council, where both Washington and Moscow share the Veto power – the former to defend Israel’s violations and the latter to defend the crimes of Bashar Al-Assad against humanity.”
“The problems of Iraq will not be solved by changing its prime minister, parliament speaker or even the president,” columnist Dr Hesham Al-Diwan wrote for Al-Shashed daily.
“The problems will not end even if senior officials are replaced by officials from heaven. Problems will remain even after the cancellation of the quota system. Sooner or later, the fire of anger which broke out in Basra will be repeated, not only in Basra but also in Baghdad and many other Iraqi cities.
“The core of the issue is that the Iraqi citizen was forced by religious parties to be absent, after these parties directed the loyalty of the people of Iraq toward other country. Iraq will not restore its place unless the people are allowed to think and decide on their own, away from the domination of religious parties – either from Shiite or Sunnis. Religious slavery of the people turns patriotism to different countries and cancels the requirements of genuine national loyalty.
“Moreover, loyalty to a foreign country pushes citizens to carry out the agendas of that country even if these agendas are not in the interest of their own country. Iraq is not supposed to be a religious state. Vatican is the only religious state in the world and it has no role in terms of directing or leading the world.
“Vatican does not control powerful countries like America, Russia, European Union and China. On the contrary, these countries are the real controllers of the world’s rudder, especially in terms of economy and politics. Vatican has nothing to do with the daily lives of European Union citizens although most of them are Christians.
“We are not living in the era of Caliphate to call for ruling the world through religious and sectarian ideologies. Even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is considered a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, is 100 percent a man of politics and economics in the first place. He led his country to be among the advanced countries in the world.
“Mahathir Mohammad ruled previously and at present through politics and the economy, not religion. He put Malaysia on top of the Asian tigers.
“Iraq has to seize the moment and change the way it is led before a time comes when people will destroy mosques and religious tombs because they were used by the rulers of Iraq to steal money and make the people continue suffering from diseases, poverty and lack of basic services.”
“Developed countries show keen interest in education due to which they allocate huge budgets for its development, because they know very well the returns in all aspects with the graduation of thousands of people who are able to meet the needs of the labor market in all fields and ultimately achieve progress and civilization in various scientific, literary, artistic, and sporting fields,” Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily.
“Technical education in developed countries is no less than high school education as we call it, because they know that graduates of technical education play an important role alongside high school graduates. It is the pillar that achieves economic development for any country and creates highly efficient national workers to support local industries.
“For example, the German experience was not limited to technical education, which is given a lot of attention and focus. Germany was able to use technical education in a way that enabled it to benefit from its outputs in promoting development which has become an example for all countries of the world.
“Therefore, we must study realistic experiences that have been able to employ technical education professionally and ensure its effective contribution to the provision of skilled and professional national manpower so that we can benefit from all the material resources we have.”
“Medical errors have recently increased significantly in our hospitals, with the victims being unwell citizens and residents,” Aljazi Tariq Al-Sinafi wrote for AlShahed daily.
“The mortality resultant from medical errors have exceeded the reasonable rate, and the reasons are still unknown. Most of the citizens are not confident about the local treatment and instead seek overseas treatment because they trust that more.
“We cannot blame all doctors for the medical errors, as there are elite group of skilled doctors and medical practitioners in the country. Also, Ministry of Health pays huge sums of money reaching billions of dinars to ensure best healthcare services are offered in Kuwait, but this doesn’t make us the best.
“Citizens have become the ‘guinea pigs’ as medicines are being experimented on them and samples are taken randomly for trial. Something like this is considered unacceptable abroad.
“It is necessity to put an end to the negligence shown towards the lives of people and enact strict laws against the manipulators of patients’ bodies for the purpose of profit or trial. Medical error is an unacceptable matter.”
“The post of the Minister of Education is very difficult as it is a heavy burden of historical responsibility. The holder may easily turn into an icon and last forever in minds and consciences. This minister is one of the few figures among senior officials who can leave a lasting impression and have a direct impact on the lives of people both at present and in the future,” Dr Hassan Abdullah Jowhar wrote for Aljarida daily.
“Ministry of Education is the most important indicator in measuring the trends of the state and knowing its future trajectory in terms of real detection of comprehensive development criteria that depend on human resources and ways to prepare for its role in the community.
“If the Ministry of Education is reformed and revived, it is very likely that the sectors in the state and the rest of its institutions and officials will also be reformed and revived. This fateful and crucial role is represented to linking the outputs of education with the labor market needs based on a clear vision of objectives and available means and resources.”
“If I were in charge of the suspended or stalled construction projects, I would have put ‘red wax’ on the files of the companies responsible for those projects without any hesitation. I would impose penalties on them to bear the losses and refer them to Public Prosecution as soon as possible before they even blink or look for a hideout,” Waleed Ibrahim Al-Ahmad wrote for Al-Rai daily.
“If we are serious about development and the NewKuwait 2035 vision, we have to ‘turn our eyes red’ towards the manipulators and should not give any second, third and fourth chances to those who have proven to be unfit in project management. Government officials responsible for supervising and monitoring the pace of projects and the percentage of completion should be penalized especially if they fail in discharging their duties.
“How many roads and construction projects have gone unfinished for years to the extent that the public has become so frustrated and lament that they are getting used to seeing the rubble of cement, sand and blocks stacked in front of their houses and streets. It is anybody’s guess when these dozens of projects will be completed.
“However, a few days ago, the State Minister for Housing Affairs and State Minister for Services Affairs Dr Jinan Boushahri cheered us up when she announced the withdrawal of the contract related to the KFSD building in Sabah Al-Ahmad City due to delay by the company executing it, and warned the contractor executing the Mutla’a-Phase 3 contract.
“This may remind us of the failed housing projects carried out by some companies. The citizens’ homes are just ruins, land slips, and ‘nothing except empty walls of cement, and sanitary and electrical installations’ – what a joke!
“The last step in punishment must be relied on by state institutions especially Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Public Authority for Housing Welfare in their dealings with the contractors of ‘sleeping projects’.”