From: anwar+@cs.cmu.edu (Anwar Mohammed)
Subject: Re: CLINTON SPEECH TEXT: RABIN MEETING
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 14:01:49 GMT




The point is that this is all a LOT MORE than you could say 
for any other Arab country.  I've yet to see someone challenge 
this statement.

Before responding, it is important to point out that I 
posted that this was a good "first step". 


In article <1992Aug27.024445.4030@mcs.kent.edu> rayes@Snake.mcs.kent.edu (Sandra Rayes) writes:
>In article <BtLEI5.Fp3.2@cs.cmu.edu> anwar+@cs.cmu.edu (Anwar Mohammed) writes:
>>>
>>>Did I miss something somewhere.  Could anyone tell me more about the
>>>election results?  Was the Kuwaiti royal family re-elected?  By what 
>>>margin?
>>
>>You've missed quite a bit:
>>
>>1. Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy, and has been one for about thirty years.  
>>Like Britain and the inumerable other similiar monarchies, the monarch is not up 
>>for election.  There was an active free press and national assembly in all but
>>the period between '86 and the invasion.  Once post-liberation martial law 
>>was lifted, many restrictions on the press were lifted.
>>
>
>Of course, what Anwar does not tell our distinguished readers of tpm, and
>I am more than happy to, are the following comparisons that make equating
>England with Kuwait ridiculous:
>
>1. The monarch of England is a figurehead with no real political power.
>
>2. The country of England is ruled, in fact, by a two-house Parliamentary
>   system with an elected PM. (It is the "Parliament" in Kuwait which is
>   the figurehead, in this case).

While the Monarch in Kuwait holds considerable power under the Kuwaiti
Constitution, so does the National Assembly.

>
>3. Elections in England are free and open to ALL British citizens, male
>   and female.  Citizenship IS granted to many foreigners seeking it.

So what?  Is full citizenship granted in Germany, Japan, Switzerland?
The answer is NO.

>
>4. The "free press" and "constitution" of Kuwait was suspended by the
>   monarch of the country long before the invasion by Iraq was emminent.

I think I already pointed out that this was in 1986.

>
>5. Martial law was lifted in some areas of Kuwait only after the expulsion
>   of more than a hundred thousand Palestinians.

Martial law was lifted all over Kuwait.  

>
>6. Most restrictions on the press still exist.
>
>7. No formation of political parties is tolerated, and no public gatherings
>   are allowed.

This may be formal policy, but de facto policy is otherwise.  Most political
meeting take place in Mosques and Diwaniyahs, a fact that would hardly 
change if restriction son poilitical parties existed.  It is also important
to note that there is a significant opposition movement.  There is vigorous
discussion of granting the vote to those Kuwaitis who can't currently vote,
including Women and those whose families came to Kuwait in the last 70
years.

>
>
>>2. Elections are scheduled for October.  Not having any psychic abilities 
>>myself, I don't think I could provide you with any information on the outcome.
>>
>
>Based on the above information, I will not be holding my breath in anticipa-
>tion awaiting a fair and free elections results come this October.
>
>BTW, for our women readers, many Kuwaiti women have been expressing
>bitterness at the fact that they had actively participated in underground
>activities to free Kuwait during the occupation, yet now have been 
>relegated back to their harems and are not allowed to vote.

I find it absolutely disgusting that you'd perpetuate a falsehood that
has been used to discriminate against Arabs for centuries.  No one I know
in Kuwait (or anywhere) maintains a "harem".  This is utterly ridiculous
and I'm shocked that someone who allegedly is familiar with the region 
like yourself would post such racist drivel.

I would point out to our women readers that many of us Kuwaitis support
the right of women to vote.  Furthermore, I would point out that Kuwait
is one of the most liberal countries in the Arab world with respect to 
women's rights, the right to vote being practically the only thing really
missing.   I am hopeful that these rights will be granted (as well as voting
rights for those Kuwaitis who cannot currently vote).  

Again, this is a first step, and a damn sight more than you'll find in 
_most_ other Arab countries.

>
>Sandra.
>(yes, she's baaaaaaack!)

Well, hopefully she'll be back with some facts next time.

>			
>>
>>-- 
>>Anwar Mohammed                           Graduate Student
>>anwar+@cs.cmu.edu  (NeXTmail welcome)    School of Computer Science
>>Voice: +1 412 268 3043                   Carnegie-Mellon University
>>Fax:   +1 412 681 5739                   Pittsburgh, PA  15213-3890
>
>


-- 
Anwar Mohammed                           Graduate Student
anwar+@cs.cmu.edu  (NeXTmail welcome)    School of Computer Science
Voice: +1 412 268 3043                   Carnegie-Mellon University
Fax:   +1 412 681 5739                   Pittsburgh, PA  15213-3890
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast