DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227152
TITLE=KUWAIT REACTION (L)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
INTRO: REACTION IN THE GULF REGION TO WORD OF IRAQ'S AGREEMENT
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO RESUME WEAPONS INSPECTIONS RANGED FROM
RELIEF TO DISAPPOINTMENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL LIKELY ESCAPE
MILITARY ATTACK. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER IS IN KUWAIT, WHERE
RELIEF WAS TEMPERED BY CONTINUED SUSPICION OF THE IRAQI
PRESIDENT.
TEXT: ABDULLA ALI YUSSEF IS A 50-YEAR-OLD PHARMACIST IN KUWAIT
CITY. HE LIVED THROUGH THE IRAQI OCCUPATION SEVEN YEARS AGO AND
CALLS PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN -- A GANGSTER. BUT MR. ALI YUSSEF
SAYS HE IS HAPPY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE THEY WILL NOT BE SUBJECTED
TO BOMBING.
/// ABDULLAH ALI YUSSEF ACT ///
I AM HAPPY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE (IRAQI) REGIME'S
PEOPLE, ONLY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THE CHILDREN, WOMEN, OLD
PEOPLE. I AM VERY HAPPY BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS TO THEM.
/// END ACT ///
DISTRUST OF THE IRAQI LEADER IS PROBABLY THE MOST FREQUENTLY
VOICED REACTION TO WORD AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL AND IRAQ.
THE HEADMISTRESS OF THE SHAIMIA GIRLS SCHOOL, FAWZIA AL SULEMAN,
FEARS KUWAIT'S INSECURITY WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN
RULES IN IRAQ.
/// FAWZIA AL SULEIMAN ACT ///
YOU KNOW, WE STILL FEAR, UNTIL THIS DISASTER -- I WILL CALL IT
-- WILL END. // CUT OUT QUESTION // END OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, OF
COURSE.
/// END ACT ///
THERE IS ALSO SOME CRITICISM IN IRAQ THAT AMERICAN POLICY IS
UNFAIR. CRITICS SAY PERCEIVED MISDEEDS BY ISRAEL ARE NOT
PUNISHED, WHILE IRAQI TRANSGRESSIONS DRAW THE STRONGEST RESPONSE.
THAT WAS THE POINT OF VIEW OF A SYRIAN MERCHANT IN A DOWNTOWN
SHOPPING MALL.
/// SYRIAN MERCHANT ACT ///
AMERICA EXISTS TO BEAT IRAQ AND WE WORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU THINK
AMERICA IS UNFAIR? YES, THEY ARE UNFAIR, YES. THERE IS NO FAIR
AT ALL. // CUT OUT QUESTION // THEY ARE NOT DOING WITH ISRAEL
LIKE WITH IRAQ.
/// END MERCHANT ACT ///
TRAVEL AGENT MOHAMMED THANAB SAYS HIS CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY THERE
WAS AN AGREEMENT IN BAGHDAD, AND MANY HAVE CANCELLED PLANS TO
LEAVE KUWAIT.
/// THANAB ACT ///
YES, THEY ARE CANCELLING THEIR RESERVATIONS BECAUSE THE
SITUATION IS SETTLED.
/// END ACT ///
/// AIR RAID SIREN ///
AT MS. AL SULEIMAN'S SCHOOL, THE CHILDREN WERE PRACTICING CIVIL
DEFENSE PROCEDURES DESPITE THE IRAQI AGREEMENT. THE 700 GIRLS
RUSHED TO GROUND-FLOOR CLASSROOMS, WHERE THE WINDOWS ARE SEALED
WITH PLASTIC IN A MINIMAL ATTEMPT AT COUNTERING A CHEMICAL
WEAPONS ATTACK.
/// CHILDREN CHANTING ///
AFTER THE ALL-CLEAR, THE GIRLS GATHER IN THE SCHOOL FORE-COURT TO
CHANT -- GOD IS GREAT, KUWAIT IS GREAT.
MOST KUWAITIS SEEM TO BE PLEASED MILITARY ACTION IS LESS LIKELY
NOW, THOUGH MANY SAY SO LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN RULES, THE PROBLEM
WILL REMAIN. THERE IS LITTLE TALK OF WANTING THE EARLY DEPARTURE
OF AMERICAN AND OTHER FOREIGN FORCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RAE
23-Feb-98 7:51 AM EST (1251 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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