For a long time in Egypt, we heard the word ‘banned', [to describe the Muslim Brotherhood]. Now, we have the ‘revoked majority', and also the ‘deposed' or the ‘troublemakers', [to describe some in the opposition] in Kuwait. In Egypt, the protest movement was justified because of the rigged elections in 2010 (I had said in this column twice before that the elections were manipulated, and once that they were rigged when Hosni Mubarak was still in office). They were also justified given the fact that the entire country was the hostage of political inheritance, and the fact that Egypt's economic boom did not benefit ordinary citizens, but only the top 5 percent. By contrast, Kuwait's political crisis that has been ongoing for weeks now can only be understood to be the result of chronic and endemic political squabbling, in a country that has many blessings. I challenge every Kuwaiti, whether in the government's or opposition's camp, to show me one Arab country that is faring better than Kuwait politically, economically and socially. Every person can claim to love Kuwait and its' people. However, only a sincere person would prove this with actions rather than words. Since I belong to the Al-Hayat family, then the proof of my love for Kuwait has been established, before, during and after the occupation of the country. As I write this, I realize that some will no doubt blame me or go against me, protest and deny what I say regardless of any position I may espouse on the political crisis. While the popular saying tells us to “sing for evil but steer clear of it," I see nothing but good things in Kuwait, and I insist that it is the duty of all Kuwaitis to safeguard the blessings that God has bestowed upon them. What provoked me during the short visit I made to Kuwait this week, and prompted me to carry this ‘coal sack' that is the crisis and which will end up dirtying my hands however I shall hold it, is the fact that some attacked the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. In the course of the attacks made, there was a sense of incivility and shamelessness in addressing him, through some political dewaniyas [salons] and newspapers. This cannot pass without a response. I will start by saying that in recent years, there has not been as much as a cup of coffee between me and the Emir. I answered the official invitation and attended the first summit of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) conference, but I missed the official dinner. I did not try to contact the Emir either, although I have all his private numbers, and I decided that he has enough things on his hands. I also wanted to be able to write freely, so that no one may claim that I have a personal interest in the subject. I have known Sheikh Sabah since 1970, that is to say, I have known him longer than three quarters of Kuwaitis who were born after this date, and longer than those who were naturalized as Kuwaitis in the late 1960s and 70s, and now dare to be abusive. Sheikh Sabah is one of the finest most rational people, with political experience that spans to the Arab countries and worldwide. I have been following his work for decades, and I have seen him working for his country and all Arabs and Muslims, from Morocco to Sudan, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. So maybe Sheikh Sabah's problem is that he does not like problems, and so he is gentle with those who do not deserve it, as they are people that “respect naught and are shamed by naught." I will recount here something that I had previously mentioned in this column. When some Kuwaitis were busy writing articles and poems praising Saddam Hussein, Sheikh Sabah saw the threat that this man posed to Iraq, Kuwait and the entire region. In June 1990, I met with Sheikh Sabah in London, a month after the Baghdad Arab League Summit, and two months before the invasion of Kuwait. After going over the latest news, he told me that he was worried by the actions of Saddam Hussein. He said that Saddam acted in an arrogant and conceited manner at the summit, where he sat in a seat placed higher than the rest of the Arab leaders, even when many were older than him. He sat cross-legged, pointed his shoes in their faces, and spoke condescendingly, which made Sheikh Sabah tell me that Saddam Hussein was reckless, and prayed God to protect everyone from the consequences of his arrogance. Indeed, Sheikh Sabah saw something that none of those pretending to be concerned for democracy and the constitution today had seen. Yet I hear some who tell the Emir, “Let the constitution be the judge between us, if you cling to it then we cling to you, but if you abandon it we abandon you". This is despite the fact that this very constitution they are talking about states that “the Emir is the head of the state. His person is immune and inviolable." Others said, “Take a lesson from Egypt," while addressing the Emir. Yet, Kuwait is nothing like Egypt, so to these people I say: take a hike. The Constitution of 1962 was the first democratic constitution in the whole Gulf region, and this constitution enshrines transparency. Now no doubt, there is corruption in every country, and Kuwait is no exception. Nevertheless, the Corruption Perceptions Index puts Kuwait in 54th place out of 182 countries included in the index. In other words, Kuwait is in the top quarter and top third in the list, which is a good rank. So are those people talking about corruption because they want their share of it? Do they even believe what they say? I heard a lot in Kuwait about the so-called Decree of Necessity, which the Emir is expected to issue, announcing changes to electoral districts and setting a date for the next elections. I will continue tomorrow. [email protected]
