LOCALARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018

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A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION

DIWANIYA

Leader’s attitude could lead to US bankruptcy, loss of friends“THE way in which the US president deals with the Arab world, especially the Gulf states, is disgusting,” columnist, professor at Kuwait University’s Political Science Department and former MP Dr Hassan Abdul-lah Jowhar wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“Succumbing to this kind of rhetoric is certainly encouraging the man to go further and practice politi-cal thuggery and hurl insults without giving in to any diplomatic etiquette or political morals that refl ects the image and prestige of the United States as the world’s superpower.

“Donald Trump’s behavior looks disgusting in gener-al even with his American opponents and this is refl ected in his campaign not only against Democratic candidates but even with his rivals within the Republican Party, but his way of lip-smacking was echoed in the same way and level regardless of the consequences of such rhetoric.

“Trump started his campaign by insulting the Gulf states and prom-ised voters that he would extort these countries fi nancially and deal with them like a dairy cow to be slaughtered after plundering all their ‘wealth’.

“However, for the time being it looks like he is carrying out his threats in an organized manner and will not hesitate to issue orders to collect the value of the invoice re-lated to all his policies in the region from the Gulf states.

“But to see him reaching this level of dealing with the governments of the region when he said these govern-ments cannot stand for a week without the protection of the United States is disgraceful and inappropriate politi-cal behavior which cannot be applied even on the adver-saries, so how can he deal with allies and friends in this manner.

“Our region is situated in the circles of danger and ten-sion. The alliance with the major powers, including the United States, may be one of regional security strategies, but we must not lose sight of international balances and, more importantly, examine regional security from the perspective of the interests of the countries concerned in the region and activate the diplomatic dialogue in total transparency.

“Apart from the above, we must look at America’s po-sitions throughout history in betraying its allies and aban-doning them during the most diffi cult circumstances.

“In this context, at the height of the Cold War, the

United States turned its back on its closest friends and allowed the then Soviet Communism to devour them one by one in the East and West of the world and the Latin American continent.

“Such being the case, we reserve the right to wonder why Trump is backtracking on threats against the Euro-pean Union, Japan, Russia, China, North Korea, Canada and Mexico, while behaving like a lion with the Gulf states after every ‘meal’ of billions of dollars.

“Not only that, after each meal, he is immediately tak-ing some decisions in favor of Israel, defying the feel-ings of hundreds of millions of Arabs and Muslims, in violation of all international laws.

“We do not want to dispute the United States as a global might, a world economy, a superpower or its peaceful people because of the election of a president who is about to win dozens of suspicions, but he must learn lessons in ethics and political literature and must keep in mind that as far as our governments are in need of him from the military and security point of view, he is also in need of our funds and this is the only merit of his current administration and the American people to tolerate his madness, otherwise he (Trump) will be fi nancially bankrupt in addition to his frank political bankruptcy.”

Also:“The American President Donald Trump is a freak

personality full of contradictory shortsighted attitudes,” columnist Dr Adel Hamad Al-Roumi wrote for Annahar daily.

“With such personality he sometimes uses the black-mailing tone in his day to day dealing with the Gulf states. Not only that, his repeated ‘tweets’ center on ‘pay…pay’, linked to complementary word ‘Iran…Iran’.

“Nonetheless, all of us are against the Islamic Repub-lic of Iran interfering in the internal affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) peaceful member states. In the meantime, we know that Iran strives to impose its infl uence in the region.

“But this does not give the US right to provoke these states as if the latter are incapable of defending them-selves. These states actually possess the necessary might and infl uence, but they do not prefer to use the same, simply because both their leaderships and peoples are peaceful and have no desire towards expansionism and domination.

“It is needless to say the repeated provocations of Trump against the Gulf states is to request more money and leave those who follow the political affairs under

impression about the shortsightedness of Mr. President, particularly in terms of his strategies in dealing with his allies in the region.

“However, does President Trump know that there is a second, third and fourth power in the world? Does he know that the Gulf states due to his exceeding provoca-tions will be in a position to leave the American camp and select an alternative and competitive camp, ‘Russia’?

“In this context, we suggest that the prospective coali-tion between the Gulf states and Russia is likely to con-stitute a unique opportunity to for an alternative power ‘Russia’ and achieve the necessary reconciliation be-tween Iran and the Gulf states.

“This is because through such a prospective coalition, Russia will be friend of both parties — the Gulf states and Iran and as such the region, will enter a new age of peaceful Gulf/Iranian coalition on the basis of the joint interests based on the political convention, how the ene-my of today will be transformed into a friend tomorrow.

“However, if this happened, then the US will lose huge generous fi nancial support from the Arabian Gulf states directly and indirectly mostly represented by the concluding of weapons deals, investments, sovereign and US Treasury bonds and so on.”

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“I never imagined I would live to see a person defend-ing cheating, and again, tolerate his call for application of lighter punishments against anyone resorting to the disgraceful act that adversely affects and affl icts not only the person cheating but the whole society,” columnist Mohammad Al-Saddani wrote for Al Rai daily.

“I was surprised to see a group of students holding a protest in front the offi ce of the Minister of Education and the Parliament demanding the minister to change the mechanism of dealing with cheating, because according to them, it was unjust. I am appalled and astonished with the way one of the protesting students dared made such utterances, which no sane person can utter.

“Cheating is a precursor in establishing the principles of corruption that destroys nations, so the ministry’s stance in enforcing deterrence measures and tightening punishments on this destructive phenomenon is lauded, despite its many failures in countless fi les.

“The deterioration of ethics due to cheating is a matter of great signifi cance that no society should bear the con-sequences and negative effects, because after cheating the cheat will relinquish all traits such as honesty, sin-cerity and respect, without which a person can be called human being?

“We need to fi x the bad ethics and misconduct in our children that cause the slackness in applying rules and regulations, in addition to corruption within some educa-tional departments that facilitate destructive traits. I wish a table is added to the certifi cate of a cheating-graduate-student to shed light on the number of times he cheated.”

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“I congratulate Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Cultural Center for winning Mid-International Magazine’s Best Cultural and Heritage Center in GCC Award—architec-ture and construction category,” Professor Latifa Hus-sein Al-Kanderi wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“I also wish to congratulate the center and extend pro-found appreciation for successfully organizing its activi-ties to the delight of thousands of visitors. I attended the evening of folklore music of the 80s titled “Where are you going this evening”, and enjoyed a top quality world class opera music that befi ts status of that center with sonorous rhythms and classical artistic activities.

“An important question is necessary at this point. What were the factors that contributed to the waves made by Kuwait TV in achieving so much within the re-gional media right from the early fi fties till the eighties? How can we raise the ceiling of our brilliant achieve-ments to avoid being left behind the time?”

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“The issue of reckless driving and attack on security operatives have become a source of pride to some youth who derive joy in violating rules and regulations while exposing lives of other people to danger,” Khalid Al-Arafah wrote for Al-Anba daily.

“The idea of recklessness has become fun to those reckless youth while they see residential areas as the right car racing tracks where they can display their failed skills, which usually ends up in calamity. Ministry of Interior has a load of responsibility to bear in terms of wiping out this phenomenon that is fast spreading within the nooks and crannies of Kuwait. The offi cials need to institute plans and mechanism to control the situation.

“Security operatives have become enemies of those violators, which can be explained best through deliber-ate documented attacks on some offi cers during a pre-vious incident. Ridiculing security operatives is cata-strophic and infringement on authority of the operatives, so a drastic action must be taken by creating precedence for the rule of law and hold the perpetrators accountable for their acts.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb

‘HH Amir key political,humanitarian stalwart’

AL honors Kuwait ruler

CAIRO, May 13, (KUNA): Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmad Abul-Gheit said on Sunday His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is a key stalwart of political and humanitarian action at both Arab and global levels.

His Highness the Amir is sparing no effort in help-ing many Arab, Islamic and friendly countries, and is re-nowned for shouldering great tasks, Abul-Gheit said in a speech delivered on his behalf by the league’s culture depart-ment chief Mohammad Al-Hajri during a ceremony held to honor His Highness the Amir.

The event was held under the rubric: “Honoring of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ... Man of Peace ... Humanitarian Leader,” in the presence of Arab, Kuwaiti, regional and international fi gures.

He applauded His Highness the Amir’s keenness on attending Arab and Gulf sum-mits just out of interest in necessarily dis-cussing different Arab issues with other leaders.

He also spoke highly of His Highness the Amir’s large political experience in running political and humanitarian crises and prob-lems.

Since it jointed the Arab League in 1961, the State of Kuwait has been playing a key role in buttressing and backing common Arab action during regional and internation-al gatherings, he noted.

On her part, Chairperson of Kuwait Wom-en’s Institute for Development and Peace Kathwar Al-Jowaan said His Highness the Amir has established the pillars of a fresh philosophy in humanitarian activ-ities, based on the spirit of respon-sibility, credibility and respect of human dignity and rights.

Speaking at the ceremony, she said the world honoring of His Highness the Amir is considered a Kuwaiti achievement at the in-ternational level, and historic rec-

ognition of the State of Kuwait and its leader and people.

The UN’s honoring of His Highness the Amir was undoubtedly due to his great ef-forts in the humanitarian area, she pointed out.

Kuwait has extended help to world coun-tries regardless of religion, color and race, Al-Joaan boasted.

The event featured a documentary and a seminar on the experience of Kuwait and His Highness the Amir in supporting world peace.

Two held with drugs: Two Asian expatriates were arrested in Fahaheel area in possession of three bags of a plant-based drug, says Al-Seyassah.

According to security sources, Ahmadi securitymen were patrolling Fahaheel area based on instructions of Ahmadi Security Director Brigadier Abdullah Safa, when they suspected a vehicle and ordered the driver to pull over. They checked the details of the driver and his passenger to discover they are Asian expatriates.

Based on suspicions, securitymen checked the vehicle and found three bags of a plant-based drug.

The suspects were arrested and referred with the confiscated drug to the Drugs Control General Department for neces-sary legal action.

Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti citizen was arrested in Hawally area for consuming and possessing drugs.

Hawally securitymen caught him in possession of drugs while he was sitting inside his vehicle which was parked in the parking lot of a school in the area. Necessary legal action was taken.

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‘Ban beef imports’: Adel Al-Suwait, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Food Safety at the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition has rec-ommended to impose a ban on all beef imports from Zimbabwe and South Korea, following the alleged outbreak of foot and mouth disease in these two countries, reports Al-Rai daily.

The Committee also recommended lift-ing the ban on fresh, frozen and pro-cessed cow, sheep and goat meat from Kazakhstan.

The Committee also recommended lift-ing bans on import of all types of poultry meat from UK, Denmark, Switzerland, and from the American states of Missouri and Texas. The ban was imposed follow-ing the outbreak of bird flu.

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Smuggling cigarettes: A GCC national was arrested for attempting to smuggle 68 packs of cigarettes via Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint by hiding them in the wheels of his vehicle.

Based on the concerned rules, the sus-pect was referred with his vehicle to the Land Customs Department.

Supervisor of Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint Mohammad Abdulrahman had instructed all border securitymen to check the vehicles that enter and leave Kuwait.

One of the inspectors suspected a vehi-cle that was in a lot and checked it to find 68 packs of cigarettes in the wheels of the vehicle. As per the law, passengers are not allowed to carry more than two packs. The owner of the vehicle, a GCC nation-al, was arrested and referred to the Land Customs Department.

Meanwhile, the General Customs Administration (GCA) affirmed that it followed up the report that went viral on social media and some news websites about the arrest of a high-ranking cus-toms official by Criminal Investigations Department over accusations of bribery.

News in Brief

Jowhar

Ahmad Abul-Gheit