Cablegate: Kuwait Media Reaction: Parliamentary Elections In

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OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHKU #5166/01 3520417
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180417Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2209
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3034
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0936
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005166

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B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO PREL KDEM IZ KMDR KU

SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN
IRAQ

1. Summary: Kuwaiti Arabic-language press continued its
coverage of the Iraqi parliamentary elections calling the
election "a step towards unity and a better future for
Iraq." Despite claims of possible fraud, the Kuwaiti press
paid more attention to the fact that the elections were
carried out in a relatively peaceful manner and that the
participation levels were high across the religious and
ethnic spectrum. Under the headline "Iraqis forgot their
divisions for only one day," Al-Watan newspaper published a
translation of Patrick Cockburn's commentary, "Iraq: The
beginning of the end. The state created by Britain after the
First World War may be passing away," that appeared
on December 11 in the British daily "The Independent." End
summary.

Selected Headlines
------------------

2. Saturday, December 17, 2005

-- Al-Qabas p. 3 "Elections bolster Iraqi unity"

-- Al-Qabas p. 47 "Unofficial results refuted by the
commission and 70% participation: `The coalition' leads in
five Shiite governorates and `Kurdistan' in the North"

-- Al-Rai Al-Aam p. 34 "The White House describes the Iraqi
elections as `a historic day'"; "More than 10 Million Iraqis
participated in the elections and Zebari considers it to be
the last nail in the dictatorship's coffin"; "Canada praises
the courage of Iraqis and their commitment to democratic
change"; "Anan expresses his comfort with the elections";
"Straw: A great day that will lead to a better future";
"Rafsanjani praises Iraq's victory"; "International
delegation: the elections were in compliance with
international standards"

-- Al-Watan p. 2 "Shaykh Sabah congratulates Al-Jaafari on
the elections: promoting Iraqi unity and reclaiming its
constructive role"

-- Al-Watan p. 39 "The `Coalition' and `Kurdistan' assure
their landslide in the South and North with major gains for
Allawi's list"; "Al-Jaafari makes reference to giving Al-
Sadr's supporters a political role and forming the next
government takes a shorter time"

-- Al-Watan p. 43 "Turkey and the Iraqi elections: Returning
from the nets of the Islamic Party to face the two enemies:
Shiites and Kurds"; "The elections bolstered the Iraqis'
morale"

-- Al-Seyassah p. 33 "Landslide gain for the Shiite
coalition with the beginning of the parliamentary vote
counting"; "Rumsfeld considers the elections to be the first
truly democratic Arab elections"; "Bush: Iraq is a model for
Iran and Syria to follow"

-- Al-Anbaa p. 3 "The Prime Minister congratulated his Iraqi
counterpart on the success of the elections"

-- Al-Anbaa p. 24 "Corruption and Iranian agents in Al-
Jaafari's government Allawi wins with the votes of the
ministers, MPs, officials, and employees in the Green Zone"

Block Quotes
------------

3. Saturday, December 17, 2005

-- Abdul Zahra Al-Rekabi wrote for the moderate daily Al-
Qabas under the title "Contents of the Current Stage": "The
most recent news coming out of Iraq point to a dangerous
turn of events that was predicted by Newsweek Magazine as
the undeclared civil war taking place in Iraq becomes
declared. The future of the current struggle and the future
of Iraq are tied to the elections. Some of the articles of
the Iraqi constitution promote divisions and the control of
some of the country's vital resources such as water and oil

KUWAIT 00005166 002 OF 002

wells by regional powers. The magazine received a copy of a
secret UN report stating that the Iraqi constitution is

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exemplary of regional divisions of the country. That is why
the post-elections period in Iraq will be one of the most
dangerous the country has witnessed. That is because the
threats that were previously limited to calls and
theoretical demands will come into the realm of
implementation and follow-up based on the constitution that
was prepared by certain groups of Iraqis with America's
blessings."

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