DATE=2/16/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38979
TITLE=KUWAIT-IRAQ
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AMID THE CONTINUING WESTERN MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE
PERSIAN GULF, THOUSANDS OF KUWAITIS ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR CIVIL
DEFENSE TRAINING. MANY KUWAITIS FEAR THE COUNTRY COULD BE THE
TARGET OF IRAQI RETALIATION IN THE EVENT OF A U-S AND BRITISH
MILITARY STRIKE ON IRAQ. MORE IN THIS BACKGROUND REPORT FROM
KUWAIT AND VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS.
TEXT: /// ACT OF T-V PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT -- IN FULL,
THEN FADE UNDER AND LOSE ///
KUWAIT STATE TELEVISION BEGINS ITS BROADCAST DAY NOW WITH PUBLIC
SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, EXPLAINING THE MEANING OF VARIOUS EARLY
WARNING SIRENS AND ADVISING CITIZENS WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF
AN ATTACK.
OFFICIALS HERE INSIST THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR PANIC, BUT THEY ARE
CLEARLY TAKING NO CHANCES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DRAFTED AN
EMERGENCY PLAN WHICH WAS THE FOCUS OF DEBATE IN THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY LAST WEEK. IMPORTS OF FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL GOODS
WERE ACCELERATED. HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN
DESIGNATED AS SHELTERS. THE KUWAITI FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
RECRUITED AN ADDITIONAL 600 PERSONNEL. THE CIVIL DEFENSE
AUTHORITY AND KUWAIT'S RED CRESCENT SOCIETY HAVE LAUNCHED A
PROGRAM TO TRAIN VOLUNTEERS IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING
FIRST AID, FIRE AND RESCUE, AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVEN OF A
CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK.
THE RESPONSE TO THE NEW PROGRAM HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. "WE WERE
EXPECTING PERHAPS A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS," SAYS GALIB AL-OSAMI,
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE RED CRESCENT'S RELIEF COMMITTEE. BUT MORE
THAN FOUR TIMES THAT NUMBER HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP, HE ADDS, AND
MORE ARE ENROLLING EVERY DAY. //OPT// THE CIVIL DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT SAYS AS MANY AS 12-THOUSAND KUWAITIS ARE NOW
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. //END OPT//
AMONG THE LATEST RECRUITS IS WALID BOURASHED, A 37-YEAR-OLD USED
CAR SALESMAN WHO SAYS HE IS ANXIOUS TO SERVE.
///BOURASHED ACT///
YES, I THINK ANYTHING I'M ASKED TO DO, I'M WILLING TO
DO. I DON'T CARE, YOU KNOW? EVEN IF I HAVE TO CARRY A
TANK I'LL DO IT. THIS IS MY CHANCE. I HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING (FOR) MY COUNTRY.
///END ACT///
/// ACT OF SOUND OF FIRST AID COURSE -- ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER
///
... A FIRST AID TRAINING COURSE AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF KUWAIT'S
RED CRESCENT SOCIETY. USING SLIDES AND A POINTER, AN EXPATRIATE
NURSE FOR EGYPT IS EXPLAINING THE EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS ON
THE HUMAN BODY.
THE FEAR OF A CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK PROMPTED SOMETHING OF A
STAMPEDE FOR GAS MASKS HERE. FEW ARE TO BE FOUND ON THE LOCAL
MARKET NOW, AND CIVIL DEFENSE AUTHORITIES SAY THEY DOUBT ENOUGH
MASKS CAN BE IMPORTED TO EQUIP KUWAIT'S TWO-MILLION RESIDENTS
BEFORE THE CURRENT CRISIS IS OVER.
INSTEAD, THE GOVERNMENT IS ADVISING CITIZENS TO DESIGNATE ONE
ROOM IN EACH HOME THAT CAN BE STOCKED WITH EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND
COMPLETELY SEALED-OFF IN THE EVENT OF A GAS ATTACK.
//OPT// WALID BOURASHED HAS ALREADY FINISHED PREPARING A ROOM IN
HIS HOME AND, ON THE BASIS OF INSTRUCTIONS PRINTED IN LOCAL
NEWSPAPERS, HE HAS ALSO MADE A/R/T/I/S/A/N/A/L (AN ARTISTIC WORK)
GAS MASKS FOR HIS FAMILY, USING GROUND CHARCOAL AND SPONGES.
/// SECOND BOURASHED ACT///
WE STUFFED THE SPONGE WITH THE CHARCOAL, THEN WE COVER
THE WHOLE THING WITH A PIECE OF CLOTH AND WE HAVE
ELASTIC ON THE SIDE, SO WE CAN JUST PUT IT ON OUR FACES
IN CASE WE NEED IT.
///END ACT/// //END OPT//
THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT SAYS A WESTERN MILITARY ATTACK ON IRAQ
WILL NOT PROMPT RETALIATION AGAINST KUWAIT. BUT FEW PEOPLE HERE
TAKE ANY COMFORT IN THAT REASSURANCE. "WE TRUSTED SADDAM HUSSEIN
ONCE," SAYS MR. BOURASHED, "AND THE RESULT WAS AN IRAQI
INVASION."
//REST OPT// /// THIRD BOURASHED ACT///
NOW WE LEARNED SOMETHING. NEXT TIME WHEN HE WALKS IN
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SLEEPING, NO. THIS TIME WE'RE
GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO STOP HIM.
///END ACT///
AS THE CRISIS BUILDS, KUWAIT'S ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN PUT ON
HEIGHTENED ALERT AND THE DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS BEGUN A A CALL OF
RESERVISTS. BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE DISPATCHED
ADDITIONAL WAR PLANES TO KUWAIT, AND AS MANY AS THREE-THOUSAND
MORE AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS ARE BEING SENT TO THE COUNTRY IN A
BID TO DETER ANY IRAQI ATTACK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
16-Feb-98 5:34 PM EST (2234 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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