‘GCC must solve own crisis’

‘Kuwait determined to end standoff’

“THE recent developments in the State of Kuwait related to the escape of the members of an Iranian terrorist cell in the wake of the verdict issued by the Court of Cassation against them followed by the diplomatic crisis that erupted between Kuwait and Iran emphasize the ingrained Kuwaiti conviction concerning the importance of the Gulf umbrella and need to work on boosting and strengthening the same”, columnist, Professor at Kuwait University’s Political Science Department and Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at Ministry of Information Dr Hayla Hamad Al-Mukaimi wrote for Al-Nahar daily.

“In fact, Gulf security should be foremost priority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) even if this organization at times witnesses some differences among the member states over their viewpoints of each other’s foreign policies. Nevertheless, this regional organization will remain the most significant guarantee for all GCC countries irrespective of the geographical area of each country.

This highlights the need for a conviction that should be ingrained in the minds of all decision makers in the GCC member states because the GCC organization is currently surrounded by numerous cells that are harboring ill intentions against it and are impatiently waiting for its collapse.

All GCC member states should realize that the solidarity among them and their deep-rooted belief in this organization will constitute the real shield that can protect them from any foreign conspiracies that are likely to be woven against them.

In this regard, both the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar are currently passing through important experiments that emphasize the significance of committing to the GCC as a regional organization.

One may elucidate that Qatar is currently passing through “a diplomatic boycott crisis” whereby three GCC member states and Egypt has severed their diplomatic ties with Doha due to issues related to extremism, terrorism and differences over foreign policy.

This crisis has caused many countries such as the United States of America, Germany, Britain and France playing roles of mediators for bringing the crisis to an end. However, the parties involved in the crisis insist that it should be solved within the framework of the GCC due to which they are all in agreement over the importance of supporting the Kuwaiti mediation in this respect.

Even the allies such as Iran and Turkey on whom Qatar depends during the current crisis will not constitute as an alternative for the GCC umbrella. This could be attributed to many considerations, considering the coalitions that might be woven between Qatar and its allies will be just provisional coalitions. In other words, these coalitions, unlike the GCC, will not be based on deeprooted security dogma or governed by a spirit of family that is prevalent in the GCC.

Speaking about Kuwait, the country, through its clout, is determined to bring an end to the Gulf crisis despite its current diplomatic crisis with Iran. It is motivated by its experience during the heathenish Iraqi invasion of the country in the early 1990s when Kuwait was in need of the GCC member states’ support.

In addition, past experiences indicate the keenness of Kuwait to heal any rift that rose in the Gulf arena. The country is motivated by its conviction that its regional allies are mostly changeable but the GCC coalition will remain the real coalition for dealing with any prospective crisis.”

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Al-Mukaimi

“The Iranian Al-Alam (The World) satellite TV channel recently published a “red article”, which is full of gross instigations suggested to be taken against Kuwait, to such an extent that “Will the little Kuwait need disciplinary measures?” is the title of that article”, columnist Mohammad Al-Washihi wrote for Aljarida daily.

“Not only that, the channel ended the article by disdaining Kuwait. The writer of this “red article” suggested many actions to be taken against the State of Kuwait. He called for threatening the Kuwaiti interests in the Iraqi governorate of Al-Basra as well as implementing the frontiers’ demarcation process between Kuwait and Iraq.

The writer suggests that the Iraqi navy and Iranian navy should impede the activities of Kuwaiti fishermen. He urged for boosting Shiite existence in Kuwait and supporting anti-Saudi and Wahhabi political powers in the country as well as supporting the powers that oppose the American military presence in Kuwait.

He also urged for judicially pursuing Kuwait over the “violations” perpetrated by the “Saudi aggression” on Yemen, attacking the soldiers of Saudi Arabia and striking their locations.

The writer insisted on the need to file judicial cases against what he referred to as “Kuwaiti sectarian media” and some Kuwaiti political and cultural personalities and businessmen who had participated in a campaign against Syria and had supported extremist groups.

Furthermore, he alleged that Kuwait does not represent a significant figure due to which it is not necessary to react against it, claiming that the scandal of “Abdali Cell” is fabricated and that Iran should stop being lenient when dealing with those who still behave with “Bedouin brutality and bitterness”.

The above represents one of the reactions to Kuwait’s move in taking diplomatic measures in the wake of the verdicts issued by Kuwait’s Court of Cassation that convicted members of the “Abdali Cell” who belong to the Kuwaiti “Hezbollah” but the latter recently escaped and are still fugitives.”

“Iraq celebrated the liberation of Mosul some days ago, but we have to ask: What is DAESH? It is a primitive terrorist group that no one imagined would be able to occupy a part of Iraq — the great State with glorious Arab history and brave army which defeated Iran while the latter promoted its project under the slogan, ‘Export of Revolution’, and forced them to swallow poison in order to accept the signing of their defeat,” columnist Abdulmohsen Hamada wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“Before DAESH occupied the biggest city in Iraq after Baghdad, more than 30,000 members of the Iraqi Army armed with modern weapons which cost more than one billion dollars were deployed to the big city. On the other hand, the number of DAESH fighters did not exceed 6,000 and they only had four-wheel drive vehicles, bombs, mines and light weapons. So, could DAESH, with such a low number of fighters, succeed in occupying Mosul quickly?

“It has been reported that orders came from Nouri alMaliki — the prime minister at the time and commander-in-chief of the armed and security forces — to the army commanders in Mosul to withdraw immediately from the city, to avoid a clash with DAESH and to leave their weapons.

“This systematic withdrawal of Iraqi forces allowed DAESH to seize their weapons and funds estimated at more than one billion dollars in Iraqi banks. Thus, the terrorist organization turned into a savage entity that recruited terrorists from all parts of the world. It trained the recruits and financed them to kill people in Mosul for three years.

“As for al-Maliki, he resorted to Tehran to seek protection against the crime he committed.”

“Observers of State-owned enterprises and buildings have noticed that these structures suffer from extreme neglect. Although some of them were built just a few years ago, they look like they were built in the 1960s or 1970s,” columnist Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily.

“The problem is lack or absence of maintenance or real understanding of the concept of maintenance. Maintenance means modernization, development and renovation of buildings, but the concerned officials seem to understand it as merely repairing damages.

“The closest example of what we are talking about is the Cardiac Cooperatives Hospital — one of the most important medical buildings. The hospital is relatively new as it was constructed just a few years ago, but when you visit the place you will feel it is an ancient building.

“Strangely, some buildings in poor countries were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, yet they look better and more beautiful than the ones we have here. Of course, the secret is regular maintenance, modernization and development, in addition to luxurious features and renovations aimed at preserving forms of such buildings.

“What is required is for the maintenance departments in all government buildings and facilities to be fully capable. They should have annual development and modernization plans for restoring dilapidated buildings which lost their luster because of negligence. This will provide the State with huge sums that will be used for other essential works which are beneficial to the country and its people.”

“Fourteen Abdali Cell convicts fled onboard some boats that transported them to the other bank of the Gulf — Iran,” columnist Ahmad Al-Dawas wrote for AlSeyassah daily.

“These convicts escaped on the same day the Court of Cassation issued its verdict. This means they fled one month ago but it was not revealed until July 17, 2017. It is a scandal and an impudent challenge to the State’s prestige.

“The increasing number of such incidents reveals the real reason — the presence of many inefficient individuals occupying sensitive positions. This is the result of favoritism and use of influence (‘wasta’), especially by some MPs, concerning appointments, promotions and entry to police academies.

“Previously, a prisoner escaped to Saudi Arabia and there are many examples of such cases — whether via land borders, ports or Kuwait International Airport. I remember an Asian fugitive who reached the plane but he was discovered a few minutes before take off.

“Shuaiba Port has become a suitable place for infiltrators and criminals. Although the port is surrounded with oil institutions, it has no security precautions. In Kabad, everything is for sale including banned objects like weapons, electric shock devises and flashers of the Interior Ministry.

“We remember that an Iranian was arrested while he was trying to smuggle military uniforms to another country. When he was interrogated, he admitted to committing the crime many times before his arrest.

“Since 2015, the Ministry of Interior made essential changes to its strategy in controlling borders including the transfer of 88 employees from the borders to the service centers. The question is: Why do escaping and infiltrating crimes continue?

“I hope Kuwait will study the Japanese experience in confronting crimes. It is known that the crime rate in Japan is too low. The strict enforcement of laws in Japan resulted in the weakening of gangs. Japanese police deal seriously with calls about any crime regardless of its nature or magnitude. Policemen there are spread in every place.

“We call on the ministries of Interior and Defense to take the most extreme action to protect society and maintain national security. We do not have to pay great attention to crowds created by human rights organizations. Even advanced countries like Britain and America consider security more important than human rights.”

“It seems the Gulf Cooperation Council has long been displaced and weakened through the destruction of its institutions either by dissolution, weakening or privatizing them in a situation that nearly nailed Kuwait Airways Corporation with the knowledge and acceptance of senior officials,” Dr Esam Al-Fulaij wrote for Al-Anba daily.

“Our own Arab United Shipping Company which was established in 1976 is the best in the Middle East. In the past few months, this company boasted of 77 vessels, over 700,000 containers and over 185 offices across the world, while operating in more than 275 seaports globally. It was based in Kuwait before moving its administration to Dubai during the Iraqi invasion, and it later settled down in Doha. All GCC member-States have shares in the company and it is managed by a joint administration.

“It is impossible to sell such an international company without seeking consent of leaders of the memberStates, so it is not what the administrative board — the country that owns the largest share or certain countries within the council — can deliberate and approve solely. It is quite sad to see a once vibrant and gigantic Arab company falling into oblivion after over 40 years of success story in supporting sea transport.”

“I think the most appropriate question to be addressed to the Ministry of Interior, which is currently living in a state of applied silence, is ‘Where are you?’, and not the Abdali Cell convicts,” columnist Ibrahim Al Mulaifi wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“News on the escape of cell members from Kuwait on the same day the ruling of the Court of Cassation was announced was not enough to prompt the ministry to respond to a conventional statement that begins with ‘The Ministry of Interior warns’, along with a request to the media and citizens to observe accuracy and extraction of information from sources.

“Even at the moment of writing this article, the ‘sources’ did not say anything, and even that responsible source who does not reveal his name, remained silent in a case which requires immediate response because of the danger it poses to national security.

“The secret behind that silence is surprising. Has the Ministry of Interior decided to pursue a policy of ‘enlarging the head’ after it responded to everything? What if news on the escape is true?”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb