Kuwait breaks ranks on Saddam

Telegraph ^ | 9/2/02

[Ranger]

Kuwait became the first Arab state yesterday to signal support for a US-led military coalition against Iraq, in marked contrast to the caution shown by other countries in the region.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Salem al-Sabah, told The Telegraph: "While Saddam Hussein continues to keep Kuwaiti prisoners of war, and continues to televise threats against Kuwait, we consider the war against Iraq to have never ended."

The sheikh's comments serve as encouragement for a Washington administration struggling to convince the international community of the need for military action.

Saudi Arabia, which America used as a base during the 1991 Gulf War to drive Iraqi invaders from Kuwait, has so far refused to open its territory to American forces for a new war against Baghdad.

A Kuwaiti government official said: "If America asks for support Kuwait will give it. I expect the same response from all Gulf states. There may be the need publicly to be anti-war, but under-the-table deals are being struck."

Twelve years after the Iraqis invaded, Kuwait again looks like a prosperous Gulf emirate, but the trauma caused by the seven-month occupation remains, and with it the growing sense that the only way to achieve regional stability is through military action to remove the Saddam regime.

A spokesman for the deputy prime minister's office said: "The Kuwaiti people are tired of living under the constant threat of aggression from Iraq.

"Those people who say that sending weapons inspectors into Iraq may be a solution to the current crisis are not those who are living within reach of his missiles and his chemical weapons. How can we feel safe with Saddam Hussein next door?"

Dr Masaad Shlash, of the department of sociology at Kuwait University, a prisoner in Iraq after the invasion, said: "Look at Saddam's treatment of his own people. He's the closest thing the Middle East has to Hitler."

[Mr. Mojo]

I think Kuwait will increase in the size after the war with Iraq is over.

Bingo. Their change of heart had nothing to do with honor, and everything to do with greed. We'll use their bases, they'll double in size (and acquire some oil fields in the process).

[Stentor]

Some give Kuwaiti foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Salem al-Sabah, a drink !

Make sure it's a really private drink. LOL.

[desertcry]

If the saudis, and the rest of the arab countries have felt
saddam's brutality as the Kuwaitis have, they too will be in our side.

[desertcry]

..........cuba, The Philippines,....... The Philippines?

[MrJingles]

Yeah, the Philipines. We "liberated" them during the Spanish-American war. Then to thank us, they ousted our military a little less than a century later.

[Austin Willard Wright]

And the absolute Kuwaiti monarchy will consolidate its power and the king will keep adding to his harem.

[Texaggie79]

I'd pay good money to see what went on behind closed doors for this to happen.

[Southack]

"I think Kuwait will increase in the size after the war with Iraq is over."

Believe it or not, that's actually on the table.

Based upon Bush's "take them at their word" philosophy, Iraq is in a very weak position.

You see, when Iraq invaded Kuwait it declared that Kuwait was a legitimate provice of Iraq.

By that reasoning, Kuwait could be given complete control of Iraq after the next war. After all, Kuwait is Iraq, per Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Parliament. By their own words Kuwait could be pointed to as the legitmate heir to lead Baghdad. Kuwait is Iraq. Iraq is Kuwait. With Kuwait on our side, an invasion of Iraq essentially amounts to a mere quelling of a rebellion and a return to legitimate rule, since such an invasion would unite Kuwait with Iraq.

[Dog Gone]

I can't quite see letting Kuwait absorb Iraq. At least not all of it. If the final solution is to dissect Iraq, I could certainly see Kuwait taking the southern portion, with Turkey perhaps taking the north.

I think our ideal solution would be for Iraq to remain with its present borders and become some sort of democratic state, under strict control to prevent the population from voting in an Islamic weirdo.

Whether that's possible, I'm not sure.

[jwalsh07]

[Senator_Palpatine]

'War is hell...we all know that and to borrow the words of the Great General Douglas MacArthur,"the soldiers hate the war because they are the ones who suffer the most when it comes." But history tells us that to prevent the destruction of nations and it's people,wars were fought countless of times since the world began.Wars are sometimes fought to prevent more wars,as in this case....'

"BEGIN LANDING YOUR TROOPS"

[rb22982]

I agree with your thoughts

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Maybe there is a small pocket of honor left in that God forsaken region afterall

Yes, unlike Europe.

[Lucas1]

Umm well Kuwait better support us...I mean we saved their asses. What choice do they have...lol

[Lucas1]

Umm well Kuwait better support us...I mean we saved their asses. What choice do they have...lol

[section9]

Which can only mean one thing.

We've told the Kuwaitis that the party is on. That's the only reason why the Kuwaitis, normally so cautious, would come out like this.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Stultis]

It looks like the only real cowards are the euroweenies, but that's OK, they can sit on the sidelines and watch the rest of the world pass them by after its all over. I can just hear the whining and hand wringing now "but we were ALWAYS on your side"

We'll let them absolve themselves, by paying a hefty portion of the tab. If they try to weasel out of this, we should be able to put the screws on them somehow. For instance, while we (in the U.S.) ride our corporations pretty hard about not getting involved in overseas corruption, most of the European nations are not so scrupulous. We might pressure the new Iraqi government to investigate past corporate corruption, and institute a five year moratorium prohibiting companies that paid bribes in the past from bidding on contracts under the new government. That would put the fear of God and George W into 'em.

[Right To Life]

Kuwait needs to chat with the Taliban about the wisdom of opposing the USA.