Showing posts with label Kuwait. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kuwait. Show all posts
Friday, February 01, 2008
New beginning
So this chapter in my life is coming to an end, living and working in Kuwait. A new beginning is in front of me as I head off to another continent. My next big adventure is to learn more about humanism.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Terrorism
Backing Kuwait's Stand against Terrorism
By Michael Knights
February 11, 2005
Five firefights between Kuwaiti government forces and terrorist cells since January 10, 2005, have brought the hitherto low-profile issue of Kuwait's role in the war on terror to the fore. The incidents highlight the increased terrorist threat in a country that, in addition to attracting the normal commercial contingent of Western expatriates, plays the vital role of hosting an estimated 37,500 servicemen and military contractors supporting operations in Iraq.
Background
Since the jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, Kuwait has had no shortage of militants willing to undertake violent acts in the name of Islam. After playing a part in armed resistance to Iraqi occupation, scores of young Kuwaiti militants joined the jihads in the Balkans, Caucasus, post-September 11 Afghanistan, and now Iraq. Kuwaiti militants draw on a range of motivations. The surviving 120 or so veterans of the original Soviet-era jihad in Afghanistan are under tight surveillance, but some of their sons and grandsons have sought out their own jihad experiences. Being too young to recall Palestinian support for the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, younger Kuwaitis have responded to continuous coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Arab satellite television with increasing anger against the United States and the West. The growing tension between traditionalist tribal society and urban modernity is a further source of radicalization.
By Michael Knights
February 11, 2005
Five firefights between Kuwaiti government forces and terrorist cells since January 10, 2005, have brought the hitherto low-profile issue of Kuwait's role in the war on terror to the fore. The incidents highlight the increased terrorist threat in a country that, in addition to attracting the normal commercial contingent of Western expatriates, plays the vital role of hosting an estimated 37,500 servicemen and military contractors supporting operations in Iraq.
Background
Since the jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, Kuwait has had no shortage of militants willing to undertake violent acts in the name of Islam. After playing a part in armed resistance to Iraqi occupation, scores of young Kuwaiti militants joined the jihads in the Balkans, Caucasus, post-September 11 Afghanistan, and now Iraq. Kuwaiti militants draw on a range of motivations. The surviving 120 or so veterans of the original Soviet-era jihad in Afghanistan are under tight surveillance, but some of their sons and grandsons have sought out their own jihad experiences. Being too young to recall Palestinian support for the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, younger Kuwaitis have responded to continuous coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Arab satellite television with increasing anger against the United States and the West. The growing tension between traditionalist tribal society and urban modernity is a further source of radicalization.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Kuwaiti Ambivalence
Underlying Reasons for Kuwaiti Ambivalence
Kuwait's delicate balancing act with regard to Islamic fundamentalism reflects a society that remains traditionally Muslim in many ways. True, there are no mutawwa (religious police) as in Saudi Arabia, nor do the five daily prayer times make much of an observable dent in public activities. Yet, the Kuwaiti public as a whole supports Islamic traditions, and alcohol, gambling, mixed dancing, and other such Western amusements are difficult for Kuwaitis to find. And since nearly all Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim, Islam provides a unifying identity that promotes national cohesion. Accordingly, any action by the government against Islamists, however legitimate, becomes a sensitive issue.
Kuwait's delicate balancing act with regard to Islamic fundamentalism reflects a society that remains traditionally Muslim in many ways. True, there are no mutawwa (religious police) as in Saudi Arabia, nor do the five daily prayer times make much of an observable dent in public activities. Yet, the Kuwaiti public as a whole supports Islamic traditions, and alcohol, gambling, mixed dancing, and other such Western amusements are difficult for Kuwaitis to find. And since nearly all Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim, Islam provides a unifying identity that promotes national cohesion. Accordingly, any action by the government against Islamists, however legitimate, becomes a sensitive issue.
Kuwaitis on UN Blacklist
Blacklisting Terrorism Supporters in Kuwait
By David Pollock and Michael Jacobson
January 25, 2008
On January 16, the UN Security Council's "Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee" designated three Kuwaiti nationals for providing support to al-Qaeda. Although the UN measure is a welcome step forward, it is unlikely to have much impact without aggressive implementation by Kuwait. Given the Kuwaiti government's mixed record in cracking down on terrorism financing, there is reason to be skeptical that it will take strong action. At the same time, the UN blacklisting already appears to have affected Kuwaiti counterterrorism efforts in a way that previous requests from the United States alone could not accomplish.
By David Pollock and Michael Jacobson
January 25, 2008
On January 16, the UN Security Council's "Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee" designated three Kuwaiti nationals for providing support to al-Qaeda. Although the UN measure is a welcome step forward, it is unlikely to have much impact without aggressive implementation by Kuwait. Given the Kuwaiti government's mixed record in cracking down on terrorism financing, there is reason to be skeptical that it will take strong action. At the same time, the UN blacklisting already appears to have affected Kuwaiti counterterrorism efforts in a way that previous requests from the United States alone could not accomplish.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Bush meets top Iraq aides in Kuwait
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (AFP) — US President George W. Bush met with his top political and military commanders in Iraq at a US base in Kuwait Saturday, a day after conceding that US troops could stay in Iraq for a decade.
Bush, on the first leg of a four-nation Gulf tour, held talks with General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and with US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker at Camp Arifjan, a US military base 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Kuwait City, a US official said.
He was due to address US troops stationed in Kuwait and hold a meeting with Kuwaiti women activists on Saturday before leaving for Bahrain -- another key military ally and home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
Around 15,000 US troops are stationed in Kuwait, which served as a springboard for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and hosts Camp Arifjan, one of Washington's largest military bases in the region, and other camps.
Iraq has been hit by a new surge of violence since the start of the new year with more than 100 people killed in bombings, suicide attacks and shootings, half of them in Baghdad.
On Thursday the US military unleashed a massive air blitz on Al-Qaeda targets south of the Iraqi capital, in which 47,500 pounds (21,500 kilograms) of explosives were dropped on 47 targets within 10 minutes.
Bush told NBC television in an interview broadcast on Friday that US troops could have a long-term stay in Iraq.
Asked whether it might last 10 years, Bush said: "It could easily be that, absolutely."
Iraq is at the centre of Bush's preoccupations and a surprise visit by the US president to Kuwait's violence-wracked neighbour has not been ruled out.
Bush has been to Iraq three times since he ordered the invasion of the country in March 2003, most recently in September last year.
The US president arrived on Friday in Kuwait, ahead of trips to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to rally the support of Sunni Arab allies against what he calls the "threat" posed by Shiite Iran.
Bush flew in aboard Air Force One after his first presidential trip to the Holy Land, where he said he believed a peace treaty would be signed within a year and called on Arab nations to reach out to the Jewish state.
His tour of the oil-rich Gulf region comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over a naval confrontation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Sunday.
Iranian speedboats approached US naval vessels in two previously undislosed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz in December, including one in which a US warship fired warning shots, a Pentagon official said Friday.
But several commentators in the region have voiced strong misgivings about Bush's intentions, amid fears Washington could resort to military action to halt Iran's disputed nuclear drive.
In Israel on Wednesday, Bush warned that Iran posed "a threat to world peace" and should not be allowed to develop the know-how to build a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms.
Although Kuwait is welcoming Bush as a friend, officials have said the emirate will not allow the United States to use its territory as a launchpad for any strike against Iran.
"Mr President, the region needs smart initiatives not smart bombs," the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai said in a front-page editorial.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, also warned Iran over the Strait of Hormuz incident.
"Please do not misread restraint for lack of resolve," Mullen said in Washington, adding that US warships were always ready to defend themselves.
Tehran has accused Washington of using the incident in the waterway -- a vital conduit for energy supplies -- as a propaganda stunt to paint Iran in a bad light during Bush's regional trip.
On Friday night, Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah hosted a banquet for Bush after a round of talks that focused on Middle East developments and bilateral ties.
Bush, on the first leg of a four-nation Gulf tour, held talks with General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and with US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker at Camp Arifjan, a US military base 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Kuwait City, a US official said.
He was due to address US troops stationed in Kuwait and hold a meeting with Kuwaiti women activists on Saturday before leaving for Bahrain -- another key military ally and home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
Around 15,000 US troops are stationed in Kuwait, which served as a springboard for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and hosts Camp Arifjan, one of Washington's largest military bases in the region, and other camps.
Iraq has been hit by a new surge of violence since the start of the new year with more than 100 people killed in bombings, suicide attacks and shootings, half of them in Baghdad.
On Thursday the US military unleashed a massive air blitz on Al-Qaeda targets south of the Iraqi capital, in which 47,500 pounds (21,500 kilograms) of explosives were dropped on 47 targets within 10 minutes.
Bush told NBC television in an interview broadcast on Friday that US troops could have a long-term stay in Iraq.
Asked whether it might last 10 years, Bush said: "It could easily be that, absolutely."
Iraq is at the centre of Bush's preoccupations and a surprise visit by the US president to Kuwait's violence-wracked neighbour has not been ruled out.
Bush has been to Iraq three times since he ordered the invasion of the country in March 2003, most recently in September last year.
The US president arrived on Friday in Kuwait, ahead of trips to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to rally the support of Sunni Arab allies against what he calls the "threat" posed by Shiite Iran.
Bush flew in aboard Air Force One after his first presidential trip to the Holy Land, where he said he believed a peace treaty would be signed within a year and called on Arab nations to reach out to the Jewish state.
His tour of the oil-rich Gulf region comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over a naval confrontation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Sunday.
Iranian speedboats approached US naval vessels in two previously undislosed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz in December, including one in which a US warship fired warning shots, a Pentagon official said Friday.
But several commentators in the region have voiced strong misgivings about Bush's intentions, amid fears Washington could resort to military action to halt Iran's disputed nuclear drive.
In Israel on Wednesday, Bush warned that Iran posed "a threat to world peace" and should not be allowed to develop the know-how to build a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms.
Although Kuwait is welcoming Bush as a friend, officials have said the emirate will not allow the United States to use its territory as a launchpad for any strike against Iran.
"Mr President, the region needs smart initiatives not smart bombs," the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai said in a front-page editorial.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, also warned Iran over the Strait of Hormuz incident.
"Please do not misread restraint for lack of resolve," Mullen said in Washington, adding that US warships were always ready to defend themselves.
Tehran has accused Washington of using the incident in the waterway -- a vital conduit for energy supplies -- as a propaganda stunt to paint Iran in a bad light during Bush's regional trip.
On Friday night, Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah hosted a banquet for Bush after a round of talks that focused on Middle East developments and bilateral ties.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Bush to visit Middle East
By Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush heads for the Middle East on Tuesday, aiming to nurture Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the face of deep skepticism while trying to rally Arab opposition to Iran.
Once wary of hands-on Middle East diplomacy, Bush will make his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank in a bid to shore up fragile negotiations aimed at forging a peace treaty by the end of the year.
The chances of a deal before Bush leaves office in January 2009 appear slim, and no breakthroughs are expected during three days of talks following up on an international conference he hosted in Annapolis, Maryland, in November.
WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush heads for the Middle East on Tuesday, aiming to nurture Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the face of deep skepticism while trying to rally Arab opposition to Iran.
Once wary of hands-on Middle East diplomacy, Bush will make his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank in a bid to shore up fragile negotiations aimed at forging a peace treaty by the end of the year.
The chances of a deal before Bush leaves office in January 2009 appear slim, and no breakthroughs are expected during three days of talks following up on an international conference he hosted in Annapolis, Maryland, in November.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Kuwait
My last two years in Kuwait have been enlightening and dangerous. This is not a safe country, especially on the roadways. It has been interesting to live in an Arab culture for a time though I have not interacted with many Kuwaitis. It seems that their are more people from other countries than from Kuwait. I am looking forward to leaving and will spend some time thinking more about what I have seen and experienced in Kuwait.
I have also traveled to Afghanistan, Qatar and Bahrain during the last two years and especially enjoyed the beauty of Afghanistan.
I have also traveled to Afghanistan, Qatar and Bahrain during the last two years and especially enjoyed the beauty of Afghanistan.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
I drive this everyday
Below are video examples of the crazy drivers in Kuwait. I have to drive this everyday.
Crazy Kuwait Drivers
Crazy Kuwait drivers are everywhere. They kill each other and the innocent people on the roadways. They are rude, dangerous and completely unconcerned with anyone else but themselves. Everyday I see crashed cars along the highways. The Kuwait drivers have no concern for life or can even practice common courtesy. They change lanes without looking. They flash their lights at you even when it is physically impossible to change lanes. They are morons who put us all in danger. This is a drivers hell with morons at the wheels.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Oberoi Hotel Lombok
The Oberoi hotel in Lombok is fantastic! Click the title to this blog entry to go to their website. Looks like a place to relax and enjoy being alive.
The NY Times Travel section has a list of 53 places to travel in 2008 and Kuwait City is on the list. Kuwait City? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09where.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=5cff9323c3f7aed1&ex=1197435600
The other 52 destinations really look great. The article has good links, one of which lead me to the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts site.
The NY Times Travel section has a list of 53 places to travel in 2008 and Kuwait City is on the list. Kuwait City? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09where.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5087&em&en=5cff9323c3f7aed1&ex=1197435600
The other 52 destinations really look great. The article has good links, one of which lead me to the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts site.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Cheated Death Again
The first day of December was a good day because I cheated death once again. By that I mean the drive to and from work ended with me being able to walk into my apartment alive!!! So cool when you can dodge the killer Kuwaiti drivers on the local highways of death.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Who & What is an Arab?
Anyone care to take a shot at answering who and what is an Arab? Someone who speaks arabic, yes. Most likely Muslim. Belief in the "Arab World" of old. More to follow...
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