Kuwait Celebrates 25th Liberation Day

[newyorkguy]

It hasn't been reported on much in the West, but a friend of mine is currently vacationing in Kuwait and he said they have a huge celebration going on, honoring the 25th anniversary of their liberation following an invasion by Iraq. It was a U.S.-led military force that quickly mobilized and came to their rescue.

After intense diplomatic lobbying from the government in exile, international pressure was brought to bear against Saddam Hussein. Thus, the largest military coalition of allied nations in modern history was formed and military personnel from 34 countries, led by the US, counter-invaded. Saddam’s army was forced out of Kuwait on February 28th 1991, and rightful government was restored. news link

Kuwaitis quickly restored their institutions and never looked back except to celebrate and say thank you to the nations who came to their aid.

The government quickly resurrected its parliament and government institutions and did not suspend democracy despite the emergency situation facing the country. Together with the private sector, ministries and state agencies, Kuwaitis began the difficult, expensive and time consuming task of rebuilding the country. 25 years on, Kuwait is the epitome of peace and prosperity.

This is a great success story not only for Kuwait, but for the Western nations who came to their aid. It is a great victory for democracy over totalitarianism. And it all took place in a region where Western foreign policy has had few success stories. Yet in the West the Kuwaiti Liberation Day goes largely unnoticed.

What's the matter with us?

 

[Darth Rotor]

It hasn't been reported on much in the West, but a friend of mine is currently vacationing in Kuwait and he said they have a huge celebration going on, honoring the 25th anniversary of their liberation following an invasion by Iraq. It was a U.S.-led military force that quickly mobilized and came to their rescue.


Kuwaitis quickly restored their institutions and never looked back except to celebrate and say thank you to the nations who came to their aid.


This is a great success story not only for Kuwait, but for the Western nations who came to their aid. It is a great victory for democracy over totalitarianism. And it all took place in a region where Western foreign policy has had few success stories. Yet in the West the Kuwaiti Liberation Day goes largely unnoticed.

What's the matter with us?

Some of the more cynical among us, in the West, view restoration of a familial monarchy to power as a dubious success story, and at best a lesser evil than the growth of Kuwait's bellicose neighbor.

 

[The Fool]

It hasn't been reported on much in the West, but a friend of mine is currently vacationing in Kuwait and he said they have a huge celebration going on, honoring the 25th anniversary of their liberation following an invasion by Iraq. It was a U.S.-led military force that quickly mobilized and came to their rescue.


Kuwaitis quickly restored their institutions and never looked back except to celebrate and say thank you to the nations who came to their aid.


This is a great success story not only for Kuwait, but for the Western nations who came to their aid. It is a great victory for democracy over totalitarianism. And it all took place in a region where Western foreign policy has had few success stories. Yet in the West the Kuwaiti Liberation Day goes largely unnoticed.

What's the matter with us?

How is it a great victory for democracy?

 

[Jules Galen]

What's the matter with us?

This is a good question....and I think I may have an answer. The issue confused me for years.

You see, the Kuwaitis are happy we got Saddam out of Kuwait, but I don't think they were happy with having the monarch re-installed. I mean, it's sort of like replacing Stalin with Mussolini - things get better, but it still sucks. As a result, the Kuwaitis don't have much love for us.

Here's a 2002 article that talks about some Poll numbers - it seems like Kuwait didn't have much sympathy for us after 9/11.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/645704/posts

 

[newyorkguy]

You misunderstood me. I don't mean what was the matter with us then; I mean what is the matter with us now.

A friend of mine is vacationing in Kuwait. The Kuwaitis are appreciative of the Western forces that threw Sadaam out. February 28th is a national holiday in Kuwait. There are all kinds of celebrations going on. My friend -- being an American -- was given a guided tour of one of the big mosques. Then he attended a secular celebration with young Muslims and young Christians, the latter mostly foreigners employed in Kuwait by multinationals.

This was a victory for the good guys. Yet in the West we ignore it. Not only that, the first three responses in this thread are all essentially negative. Kuwait's a monarchy. How is it a victory? The Kuwaitis don't like us.

We not only can't win we are our own worst enemies at times.

 

[Jules Galen]

You misunderstood me. I don't me what was the matter with us then; I mean what is the matter with us now.

A friend of mine is vacationing in Kuwait. The Kuwaitis are appreciative of the Western forces that threw Sadaam out. February 28th is a national holiday in Kuwait. There are all kinds of celebrations going on. My friend -- being an American -- was given a guided tour of one of the big mosques. Then he attended a secular celebration with young Muslims and young Christians, the latter mostly foreigners employed in Kuwait by multinationals.

This was a victory for the good guys. Yet in the West we ignore it. Not only that, the first three responses in this thread are all essentially negative. Kuwait's a monarchy. How is it a victory? The Kuwaitis don't like us. We not only can't win we are our own worst enemies at times.

Hey...things can change, and if the Kuwatis like us now, then Great: it's good to have friends! And, if the Kuwatis are Happy, then I am happy for them.

Thank you for the update.

And no...I'm pretty sure there is nothing wrong with America, we are just a bit slow to realize the good news.

And...if I have once again misinterpreted the question, then please feel free to tell me that I'm a dope.

 

[The Fool]

This was a victory for the good guys. Yet in the West we ignore it. Not only that, the first three responses in this thread are all essentially negative. Kuwait's a monarchy. How is it a victory? The Kuwaitis don't like us.

We not only can't win we are our own worst enemies at times.

our own worst enemies?

One of our major problems in the middle east is our ability to pander to totalitarian rule because (like you) we classify them as "goodies".


I hope you take time from your applause to consider the foreign workers you mention. Their abuse and mistreatment that you chose to ignore....whistle a happy tune and look the other way.



Frankly its weak pandering acceptance like yours that enables this sort of abuse. Its a pity your friend was an american tourist and not a Filipino maid maybe you would learn more from talking to them....

You still have not answered the Question of how you manage to hail the restoration of a royal family as a victory for democracy??

 

[angrysoba]

It hasn't been reported on much in the West, but a friend of mine is currently vacationing in Kuwait

I guess the Oscars knocked his holiday off the front page.

 

[newyorkguy]

It's the Middle East. Kuwait is one of the most democratic nations in the region. This is from the Middle East Institute.

Kuwait is a special case in the Gulf in terms of governance. Despite being a semi-constitutional monarchy, its citizens enjoy a margin of freedom that those in other Gulf countries do not. Such freedom can be seen in how Kuwaiti writers and thinkers speak their minds about the most important issues in their country and in the region. It can also be seen in the vibrant opposition, which is composed of Islamists and liberals who convey the pressures of an expressive public. These circumstances are in part due to the ability of the Sabahs—Kuwait’s royal family—to live up to the semi-democratic nature of the 1962 constitution, if sometimes hesitantly. Link

When Kuwait was invaded by an outside government should the West have resisted calls for help, for intervention? The foreign workers my friend has met are doing quite well. These are skilled and college-trained professionals and they appreciate the vibrant economy, the secular nature of Kuwaiti society, the freedom from the kinds of threats that exist for Westerners in other Middle Eastern nations. Is Kuwait perfect? Is the West?

The fact of the matter is, we were asked to help repel an invasion and we did. Then we left. Kuwaiti society picked up and went on, Now they celebrate their liberation.

If some Westerners prefer to accentuate the negative, to wallow in self-loathing, okay by me. That we -- the West -- should have stuck around in Kuwait long enough to overthrow the monarchy and install a Western-style democracy that would be more to our liking? That sounds nonsensical to me.

 

[McHrozni]

Some of the more cynical among us, in the West, view restoration of a familial monarchy to power as a dubious success story, and at best a lesser evil than the growth of Kuwait's bellicose neighbor.

Well, no.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait#Political_culture

It's a constitutional monarchy, with a fair amount of political freedoms. Not ideal, but far from a familial monarchy akin to Saudi Arabia.

McHrozni

 

[CapelDodger]

The test for Kuwait's democracy will come if and when it poses a real threat to the ruling family's position. The Sabahs are astute enough to prevent that, I think (unlike the Sauds, who are simple desert thugs to the core), especially given the crap that's happening all around them.

 

[CapelDodger]

The fact of the matter is, we were asked to help repel an invasion and we did.

You mis-remember - the invasion was entirely successful. Repelling it would have been a damned sight easier and cheaper than what we did do, which was end the occupation. Unfortunately the threat was not taken seriously in Washington, or at least not by the right people.

 

[Mycroft]

The test for Kuwait's democracy will come if and when it poses a real threat to the ruling family's position. The Sabahs are astute enough to prevent that, I think (unlike the Sauds, who are simple desert thugs to the core), especially given the crap that's happening all around them.

Dude, uncool.

 

[KDLarsen]

When Kuwait was invaded by an outside government should the West have resisted calls for help, for intervention?

I thought they did? At least until Hill & Knowles got their PR campaign under way, and even then it was a close call. Good thing Nurse Nayirah got her story out there to help sway the congressmen in favour of war

 

[CapelDodger]

Dude, uncool.

I calls 'em like I sees 'em.

 

[newyorkguy]

Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. This action was immediately condemned by the international community. Within 48 hours the United Nations had passed a resolution condeming Iraq and demanding its unconditional withdrawal. U.S. President George H.W. Bush warned Iraq, "This aggression will not stand." After various initiatives aimed at negotiating an Iraqi exit, in January 1991, a little over four months after the initial invasion, the U.S.-led coalition instituted military operations. One month later hostilities ceased as the last Iraqi military units withdrew from Kuwait.

The criticism is that the U.S. and the other coalition nations didn't use the military option fast enough? You can't be serious. In point of fact, I recall discussing events as they unfolded at work with co-workers. I wasn't in favor of military action. I preferred to see more efforts at getting a negotiated settlement through diplomatic means. But Bush and the other leaders decided on military force and, given the efforts they'd made at reasoning with Iraq, I couldn't fault them. And it seemed to work and work well.

Twenty-five years later Kuwait is celebrating and saying thank you. That's pretty cool.

 

[Childlike Empress]

Twenty-five years later Kuwait is celebrating and saying thank you. That's pretty cool.

Not cool at all. Saddam was getting annoying acting not-puppet-enough, State Department assured him that invading Kuwait is ok, they took the babies out of the incubators in lalaland according to a teenage daughter of royalty, he was removed from Kuwait, half a million children killed in the next decade of inhumane sanctions were worth something according to Madeleine Albright.

This is known and documented all over the world. In case this thread isn't somehow tongue-in-cheek, here's a classic of German cabaret I'm sure will be at least as educational as it will be funny to you:

 

[CapelDodger]

The criticism is that the U.S. and the other coalition nations didn't use the military option fast enough?

My criticism is that no military action was taken before the the invasion. The threat was there for months, during which time a battalion or two of US Marines could have appeared near the Iraqi border for "long-planned military manoeuvres" with their Kuwaiti allies, creating a trip-wire for war with the US if Saddam invaded. Saddam would have had no opportunity to miscalculate the way he did.

 

[Joey McGee]

known and documented all over the world.

I have heard this more and more over the years and is now included in almost every conspiracist/politically radical screed and internet comment. Everyone knows it but you! My favorite is when people say that a world polls said that the US is the greatest threat to peace. Yeah like I should really give a **** what the citizens of Russia, China, Bosnia (the highest amount of of anti-American voters in the poll) etc think about America, as if their free press and open-minded academic traditions should give me reason to accept they know something I don't know... and the 24% of people who said this in the poll should therefore should make me feel some shame about American foreign policy. *********** delusional.

Is as convincing when someone tells me that the public worldwide knows 9/11 was an inside job.

 

[CapelDodger]

Saddam was getting annoying acting not-puppet-enough ...

Saddam was the US's best great hope against the Great Iranian Satan, and the State Department was behind him in Iraq's efforts to have his war debt with the Gulf States cancelled. He was nobody's puppet but the US and Iraq had shared interests, which is what makes for good relations.

.. State Department assured him that invading Kuwait is ok ...

If they did something that crass you have no way of knowing it. You're simply relying on your belief-system here.

It may be that Saddam was given to understand that an occupation of the disputed cross-border oilfield would lead to nothing worse than protests and decided he'd catch them off-balance and grab the whole cake. It may be. We don't know the full story yet and won't for decades, if ever.