‘Enemies knocking on doorstep’

‘Kuwaitis must reject plots, maintain unity’

“EVERYBODY saw confusion that prevailed inside the Iranian government following the killing of Qassem Soleimani - an Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and, from 1998 until his death in 2020, commander of its Quds Force - as a result of accurate operation carried out by the American troops,” columnist Hamad Salem Al-Merri wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.

“Likewise, everyone observed since the first hours of Soleimani’s assassination blunders committed by the Iranian authorities, which resulted in shooting down the Ukrainian jetliner after it took off from the Tehran International Airport which killed all passengers and crew.

“However, following the explosion of the airliner in mid-air, the Iranian government blamed the explosion on technical fault.

“After a few hours the government announced it had begun investigations into the crash and was in the process of collecting evidence and said it may take about two years before coming to the conclusion. In spite of the above, after just two days the government made it clear that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had unintentionally shot down the plane thinking that it is a fighter plane.

“Not only did the Iranian government fail with this reaction, rather officials made several statements threatening a strong response to American forces in the region, and this made them coordinate with the American forces to bomb the ‘Ain al-Assad’ base, so the American government withdrew its forces from them hours before the bombing, in order to save face of the Iranian government, in front of its people and the world, that it has fulfilled its promise to respond to the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

“Although we in the State of Kuwait have nothing to do with what is happening between America and Iran, we are affected by everything that happens between them in the region, due to our geographical location and the presence of Iraqi forces loyal to Iran in Iraq, our northern neighbor, and Iran’s presence on the shores of our Arabian Gulf, and its penetration everywhere from Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, so we must stick to our national cohesion in order to strengthen our internal front, against any danger that may occur.

“It is well known from Iran that it does not fight its enemies face to face, nor does it fight them on its soil, but rather in other countries through other parties such as ‘Hezbollah’ in Lebanon, ‘Popular Mobilization’ in Iraq, and ‘Ansar Allah’ Houthi in Yemen, in addition to the ‘Jerusalem Corps’ deployed in Syria.

“If we look at the current events in the region, we will find that Iraq is the most appropriate country for Iran to provoke fighting again, and try to enter the region in this conflict to threaten its security on the one hand, and drain it on the other.

“The weakest link in the Arab Gulf states that may be the gateway to the introduction of countries of the Arab Gulf in this vortex is our state Kuwait because of its geographic location, its small size and its small population.

“Given the above, we do not exclude that Iran is trying to stir up strife in our country by moving some sleeper cells loyal to it, and by stirring sectarian strife particularly since Iran knows there are some proDAESH cells together with other ex-Communication Groups, which we respond to these cells on sectarian basis and this shall help spark the strife in the country as it happened in Syria and Iraq in addition to the attempts that were exerted in this connection in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“To the people of Kuwait, with all its different sects, make the interests and security of the country above all considerations, and do not give an opportunity to every traitor who uses sectarianism as a weapon to achieve his malicious goals, whether he is loyal to Iran or to “ISIS”.

“Oh the people of the State of Kuwait, represented by all of its denominations, you have to hold the interest of the country and its security above every consideration and without giving any chance for those who use sectarianism as a weapon to achieving their malicious objectives either they be pro-Iran or pro-DAESH.

“In conclusion, we pray to Almighty Allah to protect our country from the declared and secret devilish seditions.”

Also:

Hamad Al-Merri

“Before you follow up the current American-Iranian deteriorating relations, you have to familiarize yourself with the historical background of these relations since the reign of the former Shah and the robust relations that existed between the United States of America and Iran,” columnist Dhari Al-Shareeda wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“But these robust relations took a back seat and collapsed swiftly following the Iranian revolution to such an extent these relations entered a state of antagonism and gradually aggravated until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait which entirely changed the map of influence in the region, because the heathenish Iraqi invasion not only hurt Kuwait but its effects and associations stretched to inside Iraq and the regional periphery and this led to resorting to the military might to depose the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

“However, an escalating war of words surfaced between the two parties (America and Iran) which lasted for many years to such an extent we feel there is an agreement within the relevant differences that are projected by the media.

“Not just that, we venture to say there are secret arrangements between the two parties governed by the joint interests which inevitably show the latter maintains the current situation in order to benefit from it and protect these joint interests in some or the other.

“Personally speaking, I am not convinced that there are some points of ‘differences’ between the two countries (Iran and America) and we are convinced by the recent launching of a big number of ballistic missile by Iran on an American military base without being intercepted by US anti-missiles systems and moreover, these missiles landed in safe areas.

“However, when I look at this scenario, it makes me believe that what has occurred (the firing of ballistic missiles) is in agreement between the two parties and was engineered for media consumption.

“In conclusion, we say ‘yes’ there is big difference between the two parties, but this difference is not void of joint interests, hence, it will be better for us not to intrude ourselves in affairs which we have nothing to do with.

“Moreover, it will not be in our interest to transform the regional struggle into sectarian that shall negatively affect our internal front, particularly since we know that the struggle which is currently witnessed by the region is definitely neither religious nor sectarian, rather a struggle of interests and influence.

“We say the above, although some powers have attempted to project this struggle as sectarian for the sake of popular mobilization get the support of the people in its favor and this means we have to be always vigilant, since the foreign danger which is lurking around will not differentiate between us on doctrinal or sectarian basis.”

“The journalist Suleiman Nimer, who wrote a book titled “Salman before he became king” about King Salman, said he stayed in Riyadh for more than 30 years as a correspondent for the French News Agency and the BBC, and as a correspondent for many Arab newspapers and magazines”, Dr Najm Abdulkareem wrote for Aljarida daily”.

“When King Salman was asked about his Arabism, he replied, “We, the Saudis and the people of the Arabian Peninsula, are typical Arabs; we cannot be otherwise. Perhaps, in Lebanon they can talk about their Phoenician origins, in Palestine they talk about their Canaanite origins, and in Egypt they sing about their Pharaonic origins, but we the people of the Arabian Peninsula can only be Arabs”.

“King Salman added, “The founding father translated this by insisting that the word “Arabic” should be the first adjective in the official designation of his country, and it was “Saudi Arabia”. He linked Islam and Arabism in a bid to affirm that there is no contradiction between them, because Islam descended on Arab lands and on an Arab prophet, and Holy Quran is in the Arabic language”.

“King Salman has always viewed the assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to its Arab brothers as a duty, not a favor.

“He said, “We provide aid to our Arab brothers, because it is based on the fact that you cannot be rich and enjoy the grace of Allah while your brothers and neighbors are poor. The assistance that we provide to them is as much as our duty.

“The Arabism in King Salman was evident in various aspects, such as in his address to the Arab media when he called for Arab solidarity and rapprochement. Also, when I visited Saudi Arabia, I discovered that the word “Arabism” has become a common denominator in all political statements in that country.”

“The news of the killing of the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, and some of his companions in an American drone attack on Baghdad airport, caused controversy, disagreement and numerous comments on social media, while the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a statement to “show the utmost restraint and wisdom towards these developments avoid further escalation and risks to the region,” columnist Dr Bahija Behbehani wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“It appealed to the international community to “accelerate and fulfill its historical responsibilities in preserving the security and stability of this vital region of the world and distance it from the manifestations of escalation.

“However, a few citizens, who are known for their perseverance in resorting to tickling the feelings of the people to gain their livelihood and obtain personal interests, took to the social media to spread their ideas and write opinions that could harm national unity and tear the unity of the people of Kuwait known historically since its inception for cohesion, in times of trouble.

“Kuwaitis adore their country and have proved their allegiance to the rulers from the Al-Sabah family. What matters to us – the Kuwaitis – during these times of turmoil in the region which surrounds us is to preserve the security and stability of Kuwait for the sake of our children, and our grandchildren, as has been done by our forefathers from cradle to the grave. We and our redemption will die proudly in defense of them, so that Kuwait may live free and independent.”

“When any government intends to fight corruption in the state, this means the government adopts a clear strategy and plans are built in an integrated manner to achieve this purpose and not to be satisfied with words and statements,” columnist Abdulrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily.

“In Malaysia, for example, when Mahathir Muhammad returned to power at the age of 92, his famous saying was ‘It is my duty to address corruption that has spread in Malaysia’, and this genius leader succeeded in fighting and curbing corruption in his country in just 10 days.

“Two days after his formal appointment, the immigration authorities in Malaysia announced that a large number of officials had been prevented from traveling until the disclosure of their financial assets and liabilities, including the former Prime Minister and his wife, as they were placed on the list of people banned from leaving the country.“The government pledged to abolish the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and re-apply the sales tax.

“Mahathir worked to recover billions of dollars that were transferred to the United States, Switzerland and other countries in ‘money laundering operations to pay off government debts that had accumulated over the years.

“Mahathir also founded the ‘anti-corruption’ movement to address corruption in all state institutions, and implemented the slogan ‘the administration of state affairs with the rule of law and the subjection of everyone to it regardless of the capacity and position’.”

“It seems that the government hospitals and its outpatient clinics are beyond reform as the series of neglect is clearly visible. How much I and many others have written about in previous articles for addressing the rampant imbalance inside the Ministry of Health, but it appears this Ministry is away from media focus, whose role is at the core to refer to the deficiencies in the concerned ministry to fix this imbalance,” columnist Faihan Al-Azmi wrote for Annahar daily.

“Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health continues to be obstinate and forget that it is a ministry responsible for the most precious thing, health of a person.

“A few days ago, a disabled child appealed to His Highness the Prime Minister to provide him a wheelchair saying the request was made to the Public Authority for Disability Affairs more than a year and a half ago, but it appears the Authority whose core role is to alleviate the pain of patients with disabilities refused to provide the chair who could be seen sitting on a worn-out small chair suitable for an infant .

“We appeal to the Prime Minister to put an end to the extent of negligence in the Authority and to have mercy on these weak disabled people who knock on the doors of the Authority and their families are tired of making requests to provide wheelchairs for their children.

“The pain of these families has increased as they see their disabled children suffering and struggling in life.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb