Kuwaitis seethe with anger as U.S. war drum beats
By Michael Georgy
KUWAIT, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Kuwaitis in American-style
shopping malls, coffee shops and mosques are hoping for
Saddam Hussein's downfall.
But they no longer trust the old friend who ousted the Iraqi
leader's forces from their country in 1991 -- the United
States.
As thousands of U.S. soldiers train for war in Kuwait near
the Iraqi border, some of the people they have promised to
protect are growing tired of what they call U.S. President
George W. Bush's "cowboy" style of leadership.
"We don't like Saddam. But we hate the Americans," said
Ramiz Abu Qweidar, a civil engineer who lives in the poor
town of Jahra, a 30-minute drive from the capital.
Perhaps the United States thought its liberation of Kuwait in
1991 would give it unlimited political mileage in the country,
where many people still drive big, gas-guzzling American
cars.
Many Kuwaitis -- from Islamic militants to lawyers to
parliament members -- would disagree.
Although they believe only the United States has the military
firepower to topple Saddam, many Kuwaitis complain that
Washington has gone too far in its war on terrorism and
unilateral calls for regime change in Iraq.
Those mixed emotions were palpable at a diwaniya, an
informal gathering of parliamentarians, lawyers and
businessmen.
WAR JITTERS AND ANGER
At a spacious villa, two elderly friends in flowing robes sat
twirling worry beads through their fingers while speculating
on the date of a possible war. "January 21," said one. "No
February 21," said the other.
There were few kind words when the subject turned to the
man whose father helped save Kuwait from Iraqi tanks --
Bush.
"This is highway robbery. It is the policy of a cowboy. Bush
can just say 'I don't like that leader's face so he must be
removed'. If he removes Saddam he will do the same in the
whole region," said lawyer Ali Radwan.
"If anyone removes Saddam it should be the Iraqis."
Anti-American sentiment in Kuwait boiled over in November
when a Kuwaiti policeman shot and seriously wounded two
U.S. soldiers. There have been a number of reports of shots
fired at U.S. troops training in the Kuwaiti desert.
While many Kuwaitis condemned the attacks, some said U.S.
policies in the Middle East invited hatred and violence.
"The attacks in Kuwait were not surprising and I expect
more to take place. The Americans talk about democracy in
the Arab world but that is not their motivation. Everyone
knows that," said Mahmoud Awadi, a retired businessman.
The U.S. embassy in Kuwait has warned Americans to avoid
apartment buildings and public places where Westerners
gather.
Anti-American sentiment was even running deep at a coffee
shop where teenagers puffed on cigarettes and water pipes
while watching U.S. pop stars in music videos.
On the wall, a large photograph of a Kuwaiti official aiming a
Kalashnikov rifle who was killed in the Gulf War reminded
customers that oil-rich Kuwait remains vulnerable.
"It is a game. The Americans are just trying to impose their
influence on Muslims. We hate the Americans," said Salih
al-Bishr, 17.
For now, Kuwaitis are preparing for war by simulating
chemical weapons attacks in the event that Baghdad takes
revenge against the land it once called Iraq's 19th province.
"When the Americans liberated Kuwait my wife used to make
drawings for them and I used to give them art as presents.
But now things are clearer. We know why they are here. It
is not for the sake of the beautiful eyes of Kuwaitis," said
Khalifa Ikhrafi, a municipal council member.
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