http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/kuwait/ en-us Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:42:39 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404367/posts n the wake of the crumbling of certain sandcastles in the sky, sovereign wealth funds in the middle east have baited our analytic gaze over the last month or so. It takes very little, therefore, to prompt us to take careful notice now just about whenever one is mentioned. Today, the Kuwait Investment Authority (hereinafter the "KIA") and its brutal body-blow to Citi demand our attention. While pinning solid figures on any of the sovereign wealth funds in the middle east is a speculative effort at best, it is difficult to come up with figures much smaller than $150-200 billion... Zero Hedge http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404367/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:42:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404255/posts Note: The following text is a quote: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, December 9, 2009 United States Transfers One Guantanamo Bay Detainee to Kuwait Fouad Mahmoud al-Rabiah, a Kuwaiti national, has been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the control of the government of Kuwait. As directed by the President’s Jan. 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, the detainee was approved for transfer from Guantanamo Bay. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the Administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer... US DOJ.gov - Justice.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404255/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:24:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397340/posts Growing up in Kuwait, I had the best of everything. My father owned a successful construction company, and provided us five children with amenities like piano lessons, swimming, calligraphy and trips all over the world. Although we were Muslims like everyone else, we were totally secular and my father always aimed to shield us from religious people whom he described as crazies. I grew up being told that Israelis and Jews were the lowest type of creature in existence, put on Earth only to kill us Arabs. In math class the teacher would say, “If one rocket killed X number... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397340/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 02:42:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393198/posts SNIPPET: "Iraqi soldiers foiled a potentially deadly suicide attack today at the border crossing at Al Qaim in western Anbar province. From Aswat al-Iraq (Voices of Iraq): “A force from the 28th infantry division managed to defuse a car bomb and to kill its driver in al-Qaim, Anbar province,” said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The suicide driver carries the Kuwaiti nationality, and had on his possession a fake ID issued from Baiji,” the statement added. “The car was loaded with three tons of Chlorine and C4 as well as other chemical materials,” it added. Having closely... LONG WAR JOURNAL.org - Threat Matrix http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393198/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:12:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368141/posts Kuwait hoping for French jet deal Kuwait is hoping for a deal to buy Rafale fighter jets from France, the Gulf state's defence minister said on Wednesday. Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said his country would be "proud" to have the supersonic jet in its armed forces. "We hope to see an offer (from France) on the matter soon," he told journalists in Paris after signing a new defence accord with his French counterpart Herve Morin. Any deal would be studied carefully by the Kuwaiti air force, he added. "We hope to get the Rafale for our air force," he... Agence France Presse (AFP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2368141/posts#comment Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:32:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167923/posts GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) - Plans to close Guantanamo are not sitting well with the Sept. 11 victims' relatives who sat stunned while two alleged terrorists declared they were proud of their role in the plot. AP via WTOP.com News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167923/posts#comment Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:48:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361737/posts Note: The following text is a quote: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 9, 2009 United States Transfers Two Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Kuwait and Belgium WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice today announced that two detainees have been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the control of the governments of Kuwait and Belgium. As directed by the President’s Jan. 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of each of these cases. As a result of that review, these detainees were approved for transfer from Guantanamo Bay. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated... US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361737/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:05:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2334236/posts police have targeted those who “break their fast publicly” and if caught eating or drinking anything in daylight, police have arrested them immediately, including one man who was purchasing juice for his family. That man, Ahmed Mustafa, was quoted by al-Youm al-Saba’a as saying “I was standing at the store buying juice for my children for Iftar [meal that breaks the fast],” adding that he was indeed fasting. He is just one of many citizens who have felt the heavy hand of Egyptian police during the holy month. It is part of an odd campaign launched by the interior ministry... Breaking through the clutter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2334236/posts#comment Mon, 7 Sep 2009 23:23:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2319122/posts The ex-wife of the groom at a Kuwait wedding where a raging fire killed 43 women and children has confessed to starting the blaze as an act of revenge, local newspapers reported on Monday. Al-Qabas newspaper said the 23-year-old woman had told police she used petrol to torch a wedding tent packed with women and children to avenge her ex-husband's "bad treatment" of her before their divorce. Interior ministry spokesman Colonel Mohammad al-Saber told state-run Kuwait Television that Saturday's fire -- which engulfed the tent in just minutes and triggered a panicked stampede -- was an act of arson. "We... Times of India http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2319122/posts#comment Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:31:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2318410/posts Earlier today, we posted a link to an article which mentioned that Kuwait Islamic Bank had entered into a joint venture with Colorado-based real estate company UDR: We were curious as to what, if any, restrictions were to be imposed on the real estate properties in which Kuwait Islamic Bank invested here in the United States, so we made an inquiry via UDR’s “contact us” form on the company’s web site. The company was quick to reply as, within minutes, we received a phone call from Dave Messenger, CFO of UDR. I asked Mr. Messenger two questions: 1. What, if... shariahfinancewatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2318410/posts#comment Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:06:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2317759/posts Ex-wife 'admits starting' Kuwait wedding party blaze that killed 43 Many of those who died were killed in the stampede for the exit of the tent, in which 180 women and children were celebrating James Hider, Middle East Correspondent A fire in a wedding party tent that killed 43 women and children in Kuwait was started deliberately by the ex-wife of the bridegroom, a Kuwaiti newspaper said today. Al-Qabbas said that the 23-year-old former wife had admitted pouring petrol on the cotton tent and setting it on fire, furious at what she called her “bad treatment” by her former partner... The Times(UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2317759/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:54:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2313768/posts WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2009 – U.S. military officials are crediting Kuwaiti security services with foiling a planned terrorist bombing aimed at a major U.S. logistical hub and staging operation in Kuwait and several other Kuwaiti sites. Kuwaiti authorities reportedly arrested six al-Qaida operatives accused of conspiring to carry out the attack on Camp Arifjan next week, during the opening days of Ramadan. Two suspects confessed to planning to use a truck laden with explosive chemicals and fertilizer to attack the base, according to Kuwait’s Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper, which quoted a Kuwaiti interior ministry statement. The defendants reportedly rehearsed the plot... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2313768/posts#comment Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:51:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2308281/posts An Ottawa taxi driver who grabbed and kissed a female passenger after following her into an apartment building committed a “serious predatory attack” and should spend at least a month in jail, a Crown prosecutor argued Tuesday. Assistant Crown attorney John Ramsay said Hassan Jabar Majli, 36, abused a position of trust when he took advantage of a female passenger. Majli, who has lost his taxi licence since the incident, was found guilty of sexual assault in May after court heard testimony from the victim, a teacher, about how the driver followed her into the apartment block and kissed her... The Ottawa Citizen http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2308281/posts#comment Tue, 4 Aug 2009 22:59:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2306396/posts Here is a brief video report on the August 2, 1990 Iraq invasion of neighboring Kuwait, 19 years ago today. Iraq invaded using over 100,000 troops and 700 tanks. The invasion led to the First Gulf War in which a coalition of nations - led by the United States - drove Iraq out of Kuwait. Below is part of a speech by President George H.W. Bush to a Joint Session of Congress on September 11, 1990, in which he demanded that Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally from Kuwait. . . . . . Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2306396/posts#comment Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:24:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2302784/posts BAGHDAD — Britain says it will withdraw its remaining forces in Iraq to Kuwait, after the Iraqi parliament failed to pass a deal allowing the British troops to stay beyond the end of the month. The deal would have let up to 100 British troop stay in Iraq to protect oil platforms and provide training in the south of the country. The rest of the British forces are withdrawing under a separate agreement. British Embassy spokesman Jawwad Syed said Tuesday it's a procedural delay and that the remaining British forces will pull back to Kuwait until the issue is resolved.... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2302784/posts#comment Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:22:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263189/posts Kuwait says Rafale worth "serious consideration" Tue Jun 2, 2009 1:18pm EDT KUWAIT, June 2 (Reuters) - Kuwait's defence minister said on Tuesday that buying Rafale fighter aircraft was worth "serious consideration", the official Kuwait News Agency reported. "On a Rafale French military aircraft deal, Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah said the issue will be looked at, noting that the French aircraft's high quality and advanced technology demands serious consideration with regard to buying them," the agency said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in February that Paris and Kuwait were in talks on a possible sale of warships and 14-28 Rafale... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263189/posts#comment Tue, 2 Jun 2009 20:27:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2261678/posts The Best Speech of the Virginia GOP Convention. Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi:"Impossible is Nothing..." Click here for the video Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi "Impossible is Nothing"We had so many speakers at the Virginia Convention, we had Mitt Romney, Sean Hannity and a slate of Virginia representatives but it was not one of them that claimed the day. It was Cadet Colonel Adnan Barqawi, a new citizen and descendent of Palestinian refugees born in Kuwait, who brought the house down with his speech given from the heart with a clear love of his new country and its founding principles. His success... http://www.rpvnetwork.org/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2261678/posts#comment Sun, 31 May 2009 17:32:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258684/posts WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – The 586th Air Expeditionary Group is one of three Air Force groups organized to complete joint expeditionary taskings and is contributing significantly to operations in Iraq and Kuwait, the group’s commander said. Col. Alan Metzler, 586th AEG commander, spoke with journalists and bloggers during a DODLive Blogger’s roundtable May 20. Metzler is responsible for organizing, training and equipping more than 650 ground combat airmen across four geographically separated locations to fill U.S. Army requirements. The airmen conduct combat logistics, convoys, area security operations, detainee visitation, explosive detection and chapel ministry. “When deployed, those forces --... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258684/posts#comment Tue, 26 May 2009 23:45:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2257568/posts Several swine flu cases have been detected among U.S. soldiers passing through Kuwait, officials said Saturday. The soldiers were treated on a U.S. base and some of them have left the country, the state news agency quoted a Health Ministry official as saying. The official, Ibrahim Abdul-Hadi, did not say how many soldiers were infected or where they were traveling from. The U.S. Embassy said cases have "tentatively" been confirmed without providing details. It said the soldiers did not come into contact with the Kuwaiti population. "Each case was characterized as being a mild flu-like symptom," the American military said... ap via knx1070.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2257568/posts#comment Mon, 25 May 2009 01:48:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254523/posts FORMER President George W. Bush's policy of en couraging Middle East democratization has just produced spectacular results in the Kuwaiti general election. In a major victory for the secular reformists over the Islamists, women -- four of them -- were elected to the 50-seat national parliament for the first time. The Islamists' share of Sunday's vote dropped almost 30 percent from the last general election, held just more than a year ago. The radical Muslim Brotherhood lost three of its four seats, while the hard-line Salafis dropped to two from four. The election of women represents a political earthquake in... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254523/posts#comment Wed, 20 May 2009 10:03:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252718/posts Sunni Islamists lost ground in Kuwait's general election but women made history by bagging four seats, their first ever in the 50-member parliament, according to results released on Sunday. Official results from the five electoral districts showed that the two mainstream Sunni Islamic groups were dealt a heavy blow by losing most of their seats they held in the outgoing parliament. The hardline Islamic Salafi Alliance won two seats out of four it held while the Islamic Constitutional Movement, the political arm of Muslim Brotherhood, won a single seat down from three it had in the dissolved house. Overall, the... Hindustan Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252718/posts#comment Sun, 17 May 2009 16:44:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251943/posts CAMP BEUHRING, Kuwait – At the core of any combat arms Soldier lays discipline, fighting instincts and the distinct ability to put lead on target. The Advanced Close Quarters Marksmanship course lays a foundation to ingrain these attributes into their minds. The combat arms Soldiers who comprise Company F's "Blues Platoon," 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, will spend multiple days learning advanced techniques from civilian contractors with Special Operations backgrounds. The training encompasses multiple phases culminating with a final assault on a two story complex, said Rick Gordon, a civilian contractor... 1st Air Cavalry Brigade http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251943/posts#comment Fri, 15 May 2009 23:54:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2247282/posts CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait, May 8, 2009 – If enemies fear one Marine, they now have twice the reason to be afraid. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert I. Johnson, right, and his twin bother, Marine Corps Sgt. Tracey R. Johnson, enjoy a brief reunion on Camp Virginia, Kuwait, April 23, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michael T. Knight  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert I. Johnson and Sgt. Tracey R. Johnson, twin brothers, enjoyed a brief reunion here, far from their small hometown of Albany, La. Robert, currently deployed to Kuwait, met up... Face of Defence http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2247282/posts#comment Fri, 8 May 2009 23:49:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2237362/posts WASHINGTON, April 24, 2009 – Before U.S. military troops touch ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, they must first pass through one of a handful of military portals, or gateways, that coordinate their movement in and out of the theater. Soldiers await their bus to the air strip at the Theater Gateway in Kuwait. The gateway processed more than 700,000 troops and civilians last fiscal year moving in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. It is a behind-the-scenes effort that sometimes can be best described as “organized... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2237362/posts#comment Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:59:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235807/posts Salah Bahman, an independent candidate for the Kuwaiti parliament, has dropped out of the race a day after he called for full normalization of relations between Israel and Kuwait, igniting a storm of controversy in the Persian gulf state. In a radio interview Wednesday, Bahman backtracked on his previous statement before announcing his withdrawal from the race. During an interview Tuesday with the news Website "Al-Arabiya", Bahman said Kuwait needed to normalize relations with Israel immediately after their liberation from Iraqi occupation. Bahman stated that Kuwait plays an important role in international relations and normalization of ties with Israel would... Ha'aretz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235807/posts#comment Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:49:31 GMT