H I L A L I Y A

The '90 Occupation - Student, Female Volunteers: The Kuwaiti Spirit Of Yesteryear

Reprinted From The Correspondent (The American Business Council Magazine) Summer 2011

In the early morning of August 3rd, 1990, the day after Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, Kuwaitis from areas around Washington, DC converged in front of the White House to hold a demonstration asking President George Bush Senior for his help for their country. Most Kuwaitis, their friends and families who marched that day, held faces which revealed much; bloodshot eyes and blank, lifeless stares. Their world had just been changed overnight. Many people were crying softly. It was solemnly quiet and the air was full of grief. "Have you heard from....?" "How do I find out about...?" "I think my mother was going to travel..." "What do we do now?"

It was the beginning of a long desperate seven months of agony, rumors, and the unknown. No one knew how their families and friends were faring inside Kuwait; none knew their future. None of the students that day knew what would happen next. Phone lines to Kuwait were down. It was too soon to know what the legitimate government of Kuwait would do.

True to the nature of Kuwaitis who use humor at even the most difficult of moments (often to fight off discomfort); Jasim K marched along side of his friends asking if they thought they could get jobs in the 7-11. They didn't know if they would receive salaries or how they would live.

Some of my friends, like former MP Basil Al-Rashed, blindly boarded planes went to join Kuwaiti forces in Saudi Arabia during the first few weeks following the invasion. I heard later that MP Al-Rashed served with the Kuwaitis on the Saudi border. I am incredibly proud of him (as are others) for taking the initiative to pioneer it alone during those early days of uncertainty.

These were not the days of the internet. E-mail didn't become popular until after the war was long over. The phone lines to the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington DC were jammed and information was hard to come by. However, almost immediately offices were set up to form assistance teams. Information trickled out of Kuwait, sometimes from people escaping; sometimes from ham radio operators. Lists were compiled of people, their whereabouts and their circumstances (including, heartbreakingly, names of those who had been tortured or taken as hostages). Grass roots newspapers like, "Ku-waiting for News" (which was written and distributed by an American woman married to a Kuwaiti) provided information in English to friends/relatives of Kuwaitis in the States. These were the days of no e-mail; distribution was by fax or "snail mail" system. People made copies and copies of copies and the information proved invaluable to those, like me, who were waiting to hear what was happening.

Citizens for a Free Kuwait (CFK) began operations to coordinate volunteer efforts. People started to flow in to show their support and to see how they could help. I walked in and the volunteer behind the reception desk thanked for my gesture, but responded that they didn't require additional volunteers. I stayed (by force of will) and worked with CFK throughout the occupation (and any other organization that I thought I could assist) in any way I could.

Other small entities popped up; including my own, Kuwait Link. I ran a 24 hour phone line (which was really just my home phone next to my bed) and linked people with inquiries to resources. Some of my greatest accomplishments during the 7 month occupation came through phone calls I received (often in the middle of the night) from people who needed assistance or from the media (like CNN) wanting to speak to Kuwaitis for stories. Everyone who had a love for Kuwait during that time did what they could: Kuwaiti Association to Defend War Victims, Solidarity International for Kuwait, to name a few. The Kuwait Emergency Recovery Program started long before the ground war ever started. In an office on K Street in Washington, DC, Dr. Rola Dashti often spent her nights sleeping behind her desk in a sleeping bag on the floor, and starting her work again in the morning.

I made friends with many people during that time and I either I never took their names or I didn't want to; believing that the cause was more important than anything. Most didn't want credit for their individual actions; collectively they were named as a united group of people who supported the liberation of Kuwait.

There was a group of women that I met during this time who were some of the strongest people I have ever known; many of whom are still nameless to me and many who are not written about in Kuwaiti history books nor mentioned in speeches.

I volunteered with some of these women during the early days at CFK. We later went on to join others who wanted to go to Kuwait to help. We had no idea how we would go; or how we would help, but we began taking emergency first aid and trauma courses at the American Red Cross (through sponsorship and blessing of the Kuwaiti embassy). Lail Dehrab was my training partner. Her friend, Mandy Hakim, was also in our group. We learned how to handle a variety of battlefield traumas like gunshot wounds and burns. Some volunteered at local ER's to gain experience and quick knowledge.

We were later taken to Quantico Marine Corps Base to learn how to fire various types of small weapons that we might encounter on the ground in Kuwait for our personal security. I still have a scar on my right hand from improper use of a Magnum 44 during the training: It is my only "battle" wound, but I am proud of it. Base officials looked on our group with genuine concern and compassion. At the base, Um Salah, MP Dr. Rola Dashti's mother, fired her machine gun on rapid fire next to me (she had one son in Kuwait with the Resistance and another son who went with the US forces as a volunteer and wanted to be prepared to assist if she could). Balkhees, a small woman who was the daughter of a Kuwaiti Brigadier General, walked over to the biggest, meanest marine she could find and asked him to teach her how to fight. Twenty years later, I still remember that tiny 19 year old woman and the raw determination on her face. All the Kuwaiti women I knew at the time were adamant to help in any way that they could. Several faced opposition from their families, but they continued regardless.

In 1991, at the McLean Hilton in Virginia, Kuwaiti students from around the US gathered to volunteer as interpreters with the US forces headed for Kuwait. I was the only American to go with my group of female friends. The students walked away from their lifestyles and their educations in the States and boarded busses headed to Fort Dix in New Jersey for basic training.

After it all, I was not allowed to go because, as an American, I would have been a liability to the group. I would have to join the military for at least 4 years and probably never get to Kuwait . I said goodbye and watched what happened in the news. I prayed for all.

Cindus Al-Sarraf was pictured on the front page of a newspaper shortly thereafter. Another slight woman, holding a grenade in her hand and running around a barricade; she was the face of Kuwaitis (especially the women) who went to fight for their country. I later asked Lail Dehrab what the most difficult part of the basic training was, "The gas tent. They made us take off our gas masks and breathe to get used to it and to know what it was like. It was awful. Everybody got sick," she said with a giggle.

It is a little-known fact that twenty five Kuwaiti women volunteered as interpreters with the US Forces. Like their Kuwaiti brothers, they were all bestowed with the honorary rank of "Sergeant" by the Kuwaiti military during their service. Most of these women are now mothers and wives (some still hold onto their dog tags and combat boots). Seeing them now, you would never imagine (with their manicured nails and tidy hairstyles) what their lives were like during the occupation or what they did for Kuwait. I still find it hard to believe, but it was a different time and a different country.

As we sit today and have lunch or talk about recent events in Kuwait, all of us who remember (men and women alike) have a hard time believing how much has changed since then and what we have all lived through. I sometimes look at Kuwaiti students now and wonder what they would do for their country.... but I already know the answer: You do what you have to do. You go on and you hope that someday you have a chance to thank others who have worked or fought by your side.

...And, twenty years later, you might be able to write an article and remind a few people of what you remember from those days.

We Have Lost Our Moral Compass
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (23rd August 2011)

Every Ramadan we are inundated by articles and features highlighting the proper means of fasting, alms-giving, praying and other essential pillars of Islam. I am not going to do that.

Most citizens are decent, God-fearing individuals trying to improve their lot and the lives of their loved ones. I believe the Kuwaiti character in essence is one of integrity and generosity -- we are a charitable people, evident by the Ramadan dinners we sponsor and the alms we pay (Zakat) -- indeed we are almost always the first to rush in aid of others, local or internationally. We should be proud of this trait.

We are, however, far from perfect. Praying, fasting and spending alms on the needful are not enough to qualify us or other societies as superior Muslims.

Our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stated, 'The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.'

Recently, we have all been witness to a drastic deterioration in the way people treat one another and conduct their lives -- a certain segment lacks the proper traits, either due to lack of decent rearing, non-implementation of laws (which they view as 'toothless') or the gradual radicalism in society which encourages gender segregation, non-tolerance of foreigners and non-Islamic ideals and views.

Our society seems to have lost its moral compass; gaze around you, materialism and power is valued over integrity and honesty; harshness in tone is embraced, over humility and etiquette. An individual's caliber is immaterial; what matters is how one can 'benefit' another, the extent of personal influence and how many laws one can break with impunity.

On the behavioral level, this is evident all around us, nothing is respected; people don't wait their turn, they drive erratically, they walk into elevators without waiting for others to exit, they are rude to foreign workers, they disturb women in malls and public places, they cause a ruckus in movie theatres, road and traffic signs are ignored, municipality laws are ignored, smoking signs are ignored. The list goes on...

This personal methodology is poisoning society -- we are all victims of and responsible for this collective, ethical Achilles' heel.

Follow the law, pay your bills on time, stand in a queue, follow road signs and you're regarded as a dimwit.

These days you get a taste of good manners when you travel to countries like the United States and the European Union where parents educate their children 'not to point at others', 'scream' and wait patiently for their turn in a queue, saying 'please' and 'thank you.'

Even progressive GCC states such as the UAE -- eager to attract foreigners and investment -- do not tolerate any law breaking: speeding tickets affect the validity of your car license and insurance premiums; if unruly youths disturb or sexually harass women in public, security arrests them, shaves their heads, splashes their mugs in the papers, for example. People think twice before embarking on any moves which might offend the personal space or respect of others.

It's the atmosphere of tolerance, openness and the implementation of laws that truly make an Islamic society, not the number of mosques built or how many foreigners converted to Islam.

Where is Islam if society deems Expired Food Merchants and MPs and their 'state benefactors' -- who dabble in tens of millions of corrupt money -- for example, as 'untouchables'?

People's behavior forces one to ditch the law because the law is not really on one's side, it's not really being enforced -- it's an illusion. Additionally, we need to start embarking on 'naming and shaming' lawbreakers and criminals instead of shielding their identities from the public, who have a right to know.

The state apparatus -- traditionally infatuated with forming committees, hosting seminars and running bloated campaigns -- needs to execute them properly, namely by implementing a two-track initiative: On the one hand formulating an awareness campaign on 'Islamic Moderation And Tolerance' by highlighting the work of groundbreaking pioneers and world-renowned Moderate Islamic voices such as our very own Dr Naif Al-Mutawa (creator of the comic book series 'The 99') and Dr Reza Aslan, author of 'No God But God,' among other accomplished intellectual luminaries -- so that younger generations may be able to benefit from their stimulating, refreshing views.

Simultaneously, on the other track enforcing Civic and Constitutional Laws preaching freedom of speech, equality and appropriate justice -- so individuals may learn to respect state laws and tolerate differing views -- they need to realize grave repercussions are incoming -- leading imprisonment or worse -- if they indulge in any lawbreaking or negative antisocial behavior. Ultimately, the State needs to step up to the plate and protect society, lest individuals take the law into their own hands and mob rule surfaces.

Islam without proper laws, justice for all and proper education is abridged, toothless -- as a society we need to instill the values amongst ourselves and future generations, not just censure 'external influences,' the media or the West for our ills (many which are self created). Moreover, we need as a community to re-examine the way we conduct ourselves and treat others -- to realize that no good can come from a society that obliquely persuades fraud, dishonesty and ill-treatment of others.

Arab Governments Should Pay Heed To Aspirations Of Their People
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (Feb. 17th 2011)

AS RECENT as a few weeks ago a mantle of anxiety, melancholy and, dare I say, fatalism was shrouding the youthful face of the Arab world. Anyone who socialized, worked with or communicated with the young through Twitter, Blogs or other social media sites could sense a gradual erosion of the spirit, albeit one that fueled a stirring sort of activism, which wasn't palpable in the past.

There was a growing disconnect between governments and the young, a feeling that the priorities of the state did not synchronize with their own desires; anxieties stemming from corruption affecting their job and financial stability, their environment and quality of life.

A glimmer of hope, however, gleams on the horizon; recent tumultuous developments in Tunisia and Egypt -- leading to the removal of their long-standing leaders through peaceful civil disobedience -are a turning point, a testimony to this. Idyllic eras, in government eyes, who manipulated media via their state television, state news agencies, state cabinet press releases and newspapers -- laying the foundations of their unfeasible utopian state -- have come to an end.

The fusion of technology and the internet via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as the revolutionary, divisive Wiki Leaks, are shedding light on the Arab world's traditionally hidden, obscure cigar-and-aperitifs political backrooms where both blunt talk and cagey subtleties of diplomacy are king -- shoving much needed political reform into the faces of traditionally closed, autocratic states.

The young are mobilizing swiftly, one step of the government, bypassing blocked sites, proxies and IP's, releasing new information concerning fraud, human rights abuses and Machiavellian political machinations.
The fact that our very own Kuwait Twitter feed is an resourceful amalgamation of activists, MP's, journalists, bloggers, and other members of society is a testament to the power of social media and the rapid flow of information among participants and instant feedback.

Incidents such as the unsettling attempts by authorities to infiltrate, monitor and intimidate Kuwaiti Twitter users via 'moles' members of State Security is a direct violation of the Constitution, notably Article 39 which states: "Freedom of communication by post, telegraph, and telephone and the secrecy thereof is guaranteed; accordingly, censorship of communications and disclosure of their contents are not permitted except in the circumstances and manner specified by law."

Even the above ominous challenge, however, was met with acerbic wit and fortitude by Kuwaiti men and women of Twitter, cracking jokes at ghostly Security operatives, "I am getting a cheeseburger, can I order you one?" or "I am logging off now, will you be alright without me?"

Undeniably, Kuwait is not immune to the 'perfect storm' (as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently affirmed) concerning social and political change. The toying with people's liberties in Kuwait, frustration with government, rise in political prisoners, and the increase in corruption has fueled this rage against the machine, the catalyst that has also lead individuals to social network sites to exchange information, blow steam and highlight any injustices they may have encountered or heard of -- not to mention deride any statements or actions by self-deluded, ostentatious officials, who have contributed little to this country's development, merely epitomizing Iago's classic line to Roderigo in 'Othello': "Put money in thy purse!"

Government statements including those of our Council of Ministers highlighting 'brotherly nations,' 'exterior threats,' and 'steering the Kuwaiti ship safely to shore,' have become absurd verbal footnotes, relished as hors d'oeuvres of glee at any gathering -- or Twitter feed -- treated as comedy gold due to the fact that young people aren't naïve or dim-witted, they're wired, mopping snippets of information every minute; aware that the issue of 'security' in oppressive regimes has always been exploited as a justification to curb freedoms and hamper queries into fraudulence and mismanagement. They aren't going to buy into that kool aid anymore.

Arab regimes need to wake up to the fact that their systems are analogous; inequality and corruption are the common denominators, directly permeated into Kleptocracies -- regimes that utilize control fraud (bureaucracy and forgery, for example) to exploit governmental corruption to extend personal wealth and power of government officials alongside a specific inner circle or class via misappropriation of state funds and natural resources -- at the cost of the rest of the population.

Fifty years following its independence from the United Kingdom, twenty years following its liberation from Iraq, Kuwait remains a 'closed' state -- wary of foreign investment and participation, unable or unwilling to even free a portion of 90 percent of unused government land to the private sector -- more willing to invest its riches outside the state than internally, limiting and keeping a tight lid on who benefits from its development -- a Kleptocracy under the guise of a Constitutional monarchy. The Young Activists and Wired Intellectuals are aware of this; God bless them -- they are nobody's fools, and they realize that we are not impervious to recent geopolitical developments.

Arab Leadership -- the management of a country -- should not be on a lofty platform, impervious to censure. The term 'public servant' applies to everyone in government from the lowliest clerk to the head of state. Governments, their decision-makers, their entities, their ministries, their employees, are there to serve their people; not vice-versa.

The Arab people are leery of the usual gaudy summits, conferences, communal, sycophantic lip service between their leaders and their extravagant hand-outs to one another. Arab governments should pay heed to the aspirations of their people or regret the consequences. Ultimately, no power anywhere can restrain the fervent, conscientious spirit of the young -- demographically, the majority -- particularly those who have nothing to lose.

A golden opportunity exists now for all regimes to reassess their modus operandi, correct past errors, and realign their policies to erect healthy, dynamic states that focus on elevating their people, not their own persistent survival.

Development Should Focus On Quality, Ease Of Life For Citizens
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (Jan. 6th 2011)

KUWAIT needs a development plan for citizens, one that takes into consideration the quality and ease of life for citizens - one that ties in overall human resources to skills, culture and education, augmented by the latest technologies and processes. We certainly don't need a KD37 billion development plan shrouded in secrecy, with details constantly modified, convoluted by political trials and tribulations and government brokered 'deals' to augment political power, because let me tell you, if the development plan consists mainly of the Jahra Highway, Bubyan Port Phase 2, several new housing areas built in the traditional manner, the Arab-built Jaber Hospital and the Oil sector (i.e. The Fourth Refinery) then citizens are being deluded.

The above projects for example should not be under any 'development plan' - those types of projects, hospitals for example, are a given and should be planned and implemented for the growing population anyway. As it stands now, it's a development plan by schmucks for schmucks.

I am not even going to bring up Silk City because I think it's a dream wrapped up in a mirage that will take over a quarter of a century at the very least to analyze, plan, and execute. Judging by past Kuwaiti methodology it will not be built to international
specifications, and even if it is, it will undergo bureaucratic hurdles and be outdated by the time it's built, not to mention ill maintained. This isn't 'Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision' we're talking about here, folks, so don't get excited.

But I digress. Citizens urgently need the realities on the ground to change. So far they are not seeing anything materialize; on the contrary, services and infrastructure are regressing in all ways, whether it's traffic, food safety, bureaucracy, state of the environment, ease of business, and so forth.

Just driving through an infested, traffic-ridden Ring Road - planned and built for a city a quarter of our population - is an indication that the state is still mired in studies, plans and empty rhetoric concerning metro plans, highways, bridges, flyovers, and road extensions, plans that should supposedly make our life easier. But probably won't. Every year we take to the streets and the situation is grimmer.

Allow me to indulge in a few civic fantasies: Citizens want to travel through decent, well constructed roads and stroll on quality pavements, use clean transportation modes and breath fresh, clean air - it is high time development plans included strict environmental and litter laws (with soaring fines and imprisonment for lawbreakers) and also embraced alternative energies such as solar power, wind turbines, recycling plants and Waste management facilities (Kuwait currently invests less on waste management than its Gulf counterparts).

Obesity and diabetes are serious health issues in Kuwait, and are among the highest rates in the world. The state should invest in 'green' pathways, parks, community centers or walk areas for citizens to exercise and socialize (in the long run it will save millions in health care costs).

Additionally, what is the first image that greets a visitor upon entering Kuwait? The airport should represent modernity, efficiency, ease and comfort of travel, a pristine glimpse symbolizing a city of the new millennium; in actuality, however, Kuwait Airport is an unpleasant experience: crowded, smoky, dimly-lit, appalling parking and lackluster facilities, a truly Third World cesspool compared to other Gulf airports - citizens deserve much better. There are plans to build a new Terminal and new airports but those will take years at best due to the regular Kuwaiti methodology of management.

The state does not seem the least bit concerned in the aesthetic component of Kuwait; appalling zoning everywhere, vacant plots of land scattered around, undeveloped, neighborhoods encircled by desert land, unpaved and devoid of vegetation, bus stops so rundown they look like they were caught in a Fallujah firefight, roads with potholes and speed bumps that can gravely damage your car, diminutive, plastic garbage containers that encourage you to litter - the list is endless.

The city needs to be beautified, by competent landscaping, in a Kuwait lined with millions of trees and flora, a 'green' alternative: pumping oxygen into the atmosphere to dispel the Co2 and pollutants emanating from Kuwait's ancient, ill-managed power stations and factories (which also need to be torn down and rebuilt - some date to the 1950s).

Citizens demand 21st century tools, a polished, competent, up to date infrastructure that caters to their needs, high-speed broadband internet (whose speed is not limited by feeble MoC phone lines), they require an efficient monitoring system of goods and services, including food testing labs, electronic government so citizens can finalize paperwork online, whether car registrations, license renewals and the like - as other Gulf states do (Currently, if you want to survive Kuwait's Kafkaesque bureaucracy you need an army of 'mandoobs').

Unsurprisingly, many new areas such as Mubarak Al Kabeer, for example, lack basic telephone services, its citizens resorting to mobile phone lines and mobile data plans for Internet. Ask those citizens about development and they'll respond with four letter words of encouragement at the government - a government that constantly claims to 'safeguard the dignity of its citizens.'

What is the status concerning fiber optics plan by the Ministry of Communications encompassing all of Kuwait? The fact that copper lines are still being installed in some areas instead of fiber optics is indicative the MoC failed to execute its fiber optics infrastructure plans on time. Additionally, Bahrain, Oman and UAE are getting their own new flag cable - why didn't Kuwait? I wonder what our friends at the Ministry of Communications have to say about this - probably an instant replay, clueless message about "MoC's desire to live up to sublime vision of HH The Amir for Kuwait to be a financial hub."

Citizens and businesses demand a more competent Customs Department, one armed with the latest technologies, with workers who toil in conscience - as opposed to dozens of 'professionals' drinking tea with one person doing his job -while others demand more bureaucratic paperwork from half a dozen ministries to clear customs. Entrepreneurs, companies and citizens in general know what used to take days to clear can sometimes take up to a week or more now (if you throw in a weekend) and people end up paying the late fees because of their inefficiency.

Now as much as I desire some of the above wish-list upgrades to occur, the cynical side is aware no matter what plans are weaved, whether it's a new airport, terminal, metro, building a resort island in Failaka, it's the same old song: bring in an international consultant, have them devise a blueprint and strategy, forward it to an inefficient ministry - with the bulk of employees, at best, armed with high school degrees and with technical and administrative competencies of a soiled shag carpet - have them modify and 'supervise' the plan, kill the plan, bring in a local contractor - whose tentacles extend into the Central Tenders Committee, therefore getting the winning bid - who eventually cuts corners with cheap materials, modifications and makes the bulk of their profits from tender 'variations' and presto, it's Kuwait development served at its best!

We can only judge development by what we see and feel; by the way our lives are enhanced. For example, if we renew our registrations online next year, form a business in record time, attain swifter broadband, or drive on less congested roads, we'll know we're on the right track.

I am not holding my breath, however.

Free Kuwaitis From The Shackles of Radicalism
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (10th December 2010)

Respect for human rights, democracy (embodied in our Diwaniyas and later in our Constitution) freedom of speech, gender equality, and religious and cultural tolerance - all these traits were ingrained in the Kuwaiti culture and person for hundreds of years.

These days we witness media reports of MPs attempting to pass legislation to 'ban bikinis,' 'female sportswear,' or completely eradicating the legal and constitutional presence of female Parliamentarians - as if all major problems of the State: Ahmadi gas leaks, Mishrif Station pumping sewage into our waters, expired meat, visa trafficking, development and all the other major issues were already dealt with.

Some of those same individuals wouldn't even run for Parliament in the 1970s because they regarded democratic public office as 'UnIslamic.' Now, they are not just attempting to run the show, they are attempting to re-write history and modify the political and social structure of the State, by using Democracy as a means to eradicate Democracy.

These same 'religious' MPs who abhor even the National Anthem and refuse even to stand in respect to their State, these 'Sharia Sheikhs of Swing' who observe female groups and file police reports about 'lesbian gatherings' - even though the assembly of women was at a wedding - and who attempt to free rapists and child molesters from police stations, visa traffickers, expired food merchants and other lawbreakers and criminals, not to mention defend terrorists who threaten the State and the troops of our Allies; hypocrisy at its finest.

Additionally, treating women, employees and compatriots with disdain and disrespect looking the other way whilst corruption seeps and takes hold of society - nullifies any Sharia degree or religious gravitas an individual might have.

Let us be candid, If Kuwait truly was a civilized society the MPs would have been sued, prosecuted and kicked out of Parliament for such inflammatory-jumping-the-gun statements and for attempting to influence criminal investigations. But politics is politics and deals are made, always at the people's expense. Furthermore, tribes and political groups - some who report to and coordinate with foreign entities - currently dwarf the power of the State (much of this is the State's doing).

Right wing critics who slam progressive Kuwaitis for encouraging respect for other cultures and religions are dismissed as "agents of Western propaganda" or 'Liberals' - for wanting to highlight those ideals and reinforce them - are obviously unfamiliar with Kuwait's history and background, and are apparently not familiar with the basic tenets of Islam which value and guarantee the aforementioned rights. Maybe some are unfamiliar with history because they just got the Kuwaiti citizenship; others are familiar but think we were living in the Dark Ages then.

In any case, they are certainly not familiar with Kuwait's real 'tradition and customs.' Kuwait was more of a trading and commercial hub before oil than it is now; one of the many reasons why Kuwait was a merchant city and trading post - a haven of culture and commerce for hundreds of years even prior to the advent of oil - was tolerance and openness.

Men and women shared equal responsibilities; toiling away from dawn till dusk, women taking care of the household, educating their children and were active in producing goods (i.e. embroidering the 'Sadu') and in commerce - they kept things together, while their partners embarked on six month or longer pearl diving or trading voyages to places as far as India and Africa. They were partners in the true sense of the word. They were equals.

We were no less Muslim then. In some ways, we were superior Muslims; we weren't arrogant like we are now, with that wretched 'holier than thou' attitude; we were broke - desperate for sources of income. Kuwaitis had to interact with other cultures, learn their language and customs; it was an issue of survival, whether it was opening a trade route for water, dates, gold or otherwise. We needed others and that taught us humility and real tolerance of cultures, peoples and religions.

That great Kuwaiti attribute is being diminished by the day in this day and age.

Ultimately, Islam should not be measured by the amount of Mosques that are built (even though this is a blessing to any society), how many expatriates are converted, or by the amount of Quran memorization schools (even though this is a noble activity) but by treating your fellow men and women, irrespective of whether they are native or expatriate, with respect and dignity, accepting their views and their way of life even though you may disagree with them and by combating inequity and corruption.

That is real test of democracy and Islam is all about Democracy, its real targets are oppression, corruption, intolerance, injustice, not impeding the construction of Churches, wiping out pictures of the Virgin Mary in magazines, removing Christmas trees, impeding foreign National Day celebrations, removing horse statues from a Chinese bistro at the Avenues, forced segregation and so forth.

It is truly outlandish when Kuwaitis - true citizens of the world with their astute, cultured predispositions - have to travel to a neighboring Gulf state to see a banned film, watch a concert or buy a book. It boggles the mind. Thirty years ago we did all that here and more, without any problem - which means our original 'traditions and customs' were much more broadminded.

If only people took the time to learn about our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and his kind, good-humored, patient, compassionate and tolerant ways, instead of blindly following self-imposed Judges, Juries and Executioners of society - who pass ethical judgments on so-called 'moral pariahs,' restricting people's freedom of expression and worship and stifling their personal choice - Kuwait would be in a much healthier shape than it is now.

What's happening these days in Kuwait is tragic. The potential for greatness is there but in order for us to meet the vast economic, cultural and intellectual benchmarks, our current State-wooing of extremists alongside their Parliament-supported xenophobia has to finally end and justice applied to all.

The good news is the tentative ban has been denied by the authorities as well as the local newspaper that ran the original story (which they retracted). Nevertheless, I do believe there was an 'intention' somewhere along the line to enforce this and they may have backed down when the local and international outcry (The Guardian, LA Times, Endgadget etc) took hold.

Kuwait Camera Ban Regressive Idea
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from 'Arab Times' (27th November 2010)

For a country that possesses a Constitution which safeguards civil liberties and freedom of speech, Kuwait sporadically sure likes toying with those liberties such as tentatively banning the Blackberry service, shutting down You Tube, impeding public gatherings and marches, banning and censoring books, literature, films and magazines which are available elsewhere in the Gulf.

This week according to media reports, and highlighted extensively in local Weblogs and Twitter, a palpable growing outcry is directed at the tentative plans by The Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance to outlaw public photography and relegate it to journalism purposes only. This has allegedly resulted in the ban of Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs) in public places. If this charade is true, then it bodes ill for this country, another regressive move into the annals of ignorance.

During the 1980s video cameras and photographic equipment were also shunned by the authorities. I remember visiting Failaka in 1985 and being confronted by a military officer who demanded I hand in my bulky video camera until I left the island. These types of infringements in the name of security were insignificant - we still had an attempt on HH the Amir, explosions at Foreign Embassies in Kuwait and an actual invasion.

Why does this country always attempt to stifle home-grown talent? Banning cameras in public places is demoralizing to all the passionate, talented young Kuwait men and women who have excelled in this field and love their hobby, not to mention visitors who attempt to document their travels here. Moreover, banning DSLR cameras is irrational and counterproductive if you think about it; in this day and age of iPhones, Blackberries, 5 MP plus camera phones, Google Earth and the like, anyone can take photograph of anything, quietly, without fanfare, which makes the potential DSLR ban even more preposterous.

I have just returned from a trip to Dubai where I witnessed dozens of tourists proudly using their cameras to document Burg Khalifa and the other picturesque locations. No one stopped them, impeded them or asked them what they were doing and you know why, because they respect people's rights and are intent on making their country more appealing. UAE is able to manage security matters confidently because they have proper security and ID processes in place: eye scanners at airports and entry points, proper electronic government, high fines for breaking the law, a brilliant CCTV system in place in every street corner (not the shoddy black and white choppy, streaming-like quality of the limited equipment we have here) - they truly invest in their infrastructure, maintain it and upgrade it.

If Kuwait is serious about its security then it should invest in the same caliber of CCTV and not the bargain basement tenders that usually go towards ineffective systems (i.e. Highway signs with the useless 'no mobile' plasma screen) belonging to members of the matching ministry who want a 'piece of the action'. The sad reality is the government sector here would rather ban something than actually strive to improve it through sheer hard work and effective processes. It's just easier to ban; a question of laziness and neglect.

Needless to say, Kuwait seems unfazed when foreign jets infiltrate our airspace and take aerial shots of our oil refineries and military installations, or when agents and their local conspirators are found to possess blueprints and photographs of said installations, but no, lets go after the 'little guy', the amateur photographer or tourist on the street taking pictures. It's a hypocritical, spineless action by the authorities.

Moreover, I suspect the issue is not just relegated to security, a myriad of reasons could have led to the support of this ban, fundamentalists who felt cameras and pictures are a 'Tool of the Devil,' government officials and ministries disgraced at seeing shots of Kuwait's dilapidated infrastructure, environment and mismanagement on weblogs, internet forums and magazines. You cannot conceal the squalid side of Kuwait; it is there for everyone to see.

Furthermore, this law against public photography will not be enforced, just as seatbelt, no mobile while driving, no litter, no smoking areas, and other 'laws' cannot be enforced in this Land of Confusion.

Much has happened. Lots to write about.

Soon.

When will The Ministry of Public Works realize it's not the amount of contracts signed nor the amounts involved, it's how projects are designed and executed.

Update 28/4/10 : We have received the following message from Ms. Nadia, a close friend of the victim.

"Hilaliya thank you so much for posting this!

I just want to point out a few things that the newspapers didnt mention:

Dana is 22 years old NOT 20.
Her mom passed away from a STROKE (not heart attack) due to the stress of her daughter being treated this way.
Dana was on Jawazat round about when this traffic officer in a pick up truck with tinted windows cut her off and made her slam on her brakes. He got out and WAS wearing the police uniform, however he was off duty (and NOT in a police car). He took her license and told her to follow him to the RUMATHIYA police station EVEN though they were right infront of the SALMIYA police station. On the way he was speeding and not even indicating. When she arrived to the police station she waited in her car while he went inside. Soon he came back with a man in a dishdasha and told her to go inside. She said no as she was the only girl alone and there were men inside, and she wanted her parents to arrive first.(Dana was speaking in English as her Arabic is poor). The disgusting officer started screaming at her at the top of his lungs saying that he'd KILL HER, put her face under his shoe and squash it, and punch her face that her glasses will go in her eyes and start bleeding to death! The story gets even worse, however its best told by DANA herself.
Dana and her family are respectful people that obey the laws of KUWAIT as well as the religion. They are good people, and they DO NOT deserve this. Her friends and family will not rest until JUSTICE IS SERVED.

Dana and her father have been interview by AL WATAN TV, and the show will be aired onTHURSDAY 29TH APRIL @ 10pm. ('The Khaled Adul Jaleel Show').

May her mother REST IN PEACE.

Her best friend Nadia".

Updates And Links:

'Safi's Retreat' Blog

'Al-Watan Daily' (English)

'ilSul6ana's' Blog

'Some Contrast's Blog

'The Avenues' Blog

Excuse us for interrupting you and your ministry's hard work, obviously busy busting foreign National Day celebrations in stadiums, expelling Al-Baradei supporters and pontificating about Dual Nationality 'measures.'

I am not going to touch on Taxi drivers (working for companies owned by Interior Ministry personnel) selling female passengers into slavery and prostitution.

I am not going to touch on Human Traffickers: certain Merchants and Companies, MPs, Municipality Members, Sheiks and others being untouchable.

I am not going to touch on certain 'Security Apparatus' members, bribed by dangerous foreign elements attempting to infiltrate Kuwait.

I am not going to touch on your ministry's plans to alleviate traffic, reduce congestion and car accidents.

I am not going to touch on the increasing crime rate in Kuwait.

I am sure you and your 'team' tirelessly work night and day to formulate solutions to the above issues. However, I do have but one simple question.

What are you going to do about this?

This post is fat too long which is why I never published it. Please try and read it ... pretty please ...all 6 of you who still visit this site.

Your first day in medical school: three subjects for one year: biology, physics and chemistry, mostly rodents, reptiles and Schiff bases...stuff I can't remember anymore, nor will I ever need.

Your second and third year in medical school: You're finally seeing a human body for the first time, you see the parts (anatomy), the mechanisms (physiology) and the witchcraft (biochemistry).

Your fourth and fifth year: You analyze diseases, study about pathology and microbiology but barely see twenty patients a year; half the time you don't know what they are doing or what you're doing to them just taking a general patient history (interview) and physical exam (forget the diagnosis, that's miles off).

The final year: you read, read, read and read - realising that you've barely seen enough to know what or how to recognise what you're reading if a patient even suffered from it.

Graduation Day: You're happy! YOU ARE DONE! But what now? Where do you go from here? You've passed, you know your stuff but don't know what's next ; The reasons why you went to medical school are forgotten and you're not all that inspired, you want to treat people but don't even know how to prescribe yet.

That's a summary of my medical "education" and as most of you can tell, I'm not exactly satisfied by it. Now, I'm not an educator, I'm no teacher. They need to inspire, to possess that ability to make you trust them enough to guide you; they have to have that gift that lets them build a mental structure in which information can be stored and eventually made useful. Sadly, few of my superiors did - and looking around at the new batch of interns from both Kuwait and abroad - few seem inspired. Don't get me wrong, they work hard, right to the bone, they have skills but not the useful ones.

How many of the young doctors you see or meet actually make you feel comfortable, know how to ask the right question at the right time, know how to relay to someone they have a grave disease such as cancer or that a loved one died minutes ago?

How many of the doctors reading this (if any.. ) actually feel a sense of awe at what they do? How many of us actually enjoy reading about how IV fluids (drip...or 'drib' as they say in Kuwaiti slang) were originally made, how the inhalers ('Ventolin') we use evoloved, why we tend to wear green, blue or green scrubs rather then white or grey ones? Or who the first open heart surgeon and how did he achieve that milestone? How many of us were taught the ethics behind palliative care? Contraception? Experimental treatments? Or how clinical trials evolved and the difference between them and standard treatments?

Medical history isn't the reason why you went to medical school, it isn't how you save lives, but in that third year when all you know is the Krebs cycle (the gearbox of your metabolism) and the anatomy of the Brachial plexus (nerves in your arms) you need to feel inspired by people who've done it before you. You need to find a reason to read, to debate, to analyse and to understand and during that final year, you need to learn why trying out new treatments for MS and charging people for it is unethical and why the current manager ('mudeer') is a douchebag and why patients blame you for cancer rather than try to understand it...

You don't learn these things in textbooks on surgery, rheumatology or internal medicine, and contrary to popular belief, you won't learn them by parading the hallways in your new white coat and seeing fifty patients in the E.R.; you learn them by reading about ethics, sociology and other humanities that underpin our profession.

Kuwait University and others like it have the ability to reshape education and inspire us. The reason why they can is - because unlike other institutions - they were built from the ground up to educate us; other institutions need to attract research grants to survive,we don't.

We also have experienced faculty, there are people currently teaching who were there when stomach stapling came to Kuwait and can tell us how they tackled it, how they dealt with errors made during those first cases. We have people who saw Viagra become the drug du jour and who saw the eradication and rebirth of tuberculosis in Kuwait.

We need to reshape our education and have graduates who can debate, discuss and be knowledgeable in our field without feeling the need to read about ethics once a day. Maybe then we'll stop hearing about how doctors who "don't know my name", "don't spend enough time with me" or are "too brash" or "shayif nafsa" (arrogant) - maybe then doctors won't get slapped around too much.

I'll leave you with the following quote relayed to me one afternoon years ago, inspiring a sense of awe. John Cardinal Newman describes a university as a citadel built with the purpose of:

'Raising the intellectual tone of society, at cultivating the public mind, at purifying the national taste, at supplying true principals to popular aspirations, at giving enlargement and sobriety to the ideas of the age, at facilitating the exercise of political powers, and refining the intercourse of private life.'

I only hope that one day the spirit of the above quote materializes at the local university, one whose faculty and students should really expect much more from each other.

I just returned from a US Embassy event featuring the prominent Blues band 'Little Joe McLerran Quartet' - they were brilliant, performing many notable blues songs such as 'Midnight Hour Blues,' 'Hip Shake,' and lots more, including a great take on the 1955 classic 'Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)'.

The band is a "collective of seasoned musicians drawn from the rank of Tulsa's finest, who came together specifically for The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. The ensemble brings blues to life through the study amd performance of this unique American roots genre," describing their style as "simple, supportive, inspired and inventive."

(Click To Enlarge)

You can catch them tonight at a special Kuwait University concert.

Place: Faculty of Law, Othman Abdel Malek Theater, Kuwait University, Shuwaikh.

Date: April 14th.

Time: 7:30pm.

The concert is open to the public and is free. Don't miss it.

Today I was so pleasantly surprised to discover a hidden treasure for kids with mechanical and robotic interests (If any of the kids you know like Lego, they are guaranteed to love this place). I originally heard about it from an acquaintance and must say I was impressed. The place is like a Robotic Centre created by MILSET (A French acronym for 'International Movement for Leisure Activities in Science and Technology'). After hard work, the Ministry of Education backed up the idea and provided a venue: a humble renovated building in Rawda near a gas station.

Kids there are really encouraged to think which in this part of the world is rare. They are presented with problems given by the main centre to all MILSET global branches and try to offer solutions to that problem in regards to their environment (e.g. traffic). I saw wonderful solutions presented by even twelve year olds. In addition, they learn how to install programs from a computer into actual mini robots. Additionally, each student is given his own robot which is locked safely in a tool box when the student leaves (this is all provided free of charge). All you need to offer is a picture of the member. Unfortunately since it is a fairly new club, memberships for the moment are restricted to Kuwaitis boys only (they don't have female employees yet, hence the 'boys only' aspect).

There are competitions held there as well; presently the 'Fourth Annual School Robot Competition' is being held where the finalist goes to Jordan for the semi-finals and the winners go to the United States for the finals. More than three thousand students attend that from all over the world.

If you are interested here is their link: www.milsetasia.org

Check out the video above (taken in 2008 by RTL); It features a European Parliament member whose monthly salary is 14,000 Euros (KD 5,580) sign in for work then dash out with their luggage.

Even moralistic Green Party MEP Hiltrud Breyer, one of the founding members of its party signs in, dashes, out banging her head on the elevator entrance. Maybe she was going to save a beached whale somewhere or harass a super tanker with an inflatable dinghy.

I always thought not coming to work, or signing in and dashing out was a Kuwaiti tradition perfected by Kuwaiti Government employees. Whenever you venture to a Kuwait Government establishment, you rarely see any Kuwaitis, only the Indian tea boy, the Bangladeshi cleaning boy, and the Egyptian clerk.

It seems even Europeans are not immune to laziness and cheating on the job.

(Still from Al-Arabiya)

Kuwait has one of the highest accident rates in the world, and it is only getting worse.

The recent tragic accident on a Doha, Kuwait highway resulting in the death of five individuals with fourteen injured (the victims included onlookers and racers on the popular highway strip) only goes to show that being on the road has turned into a hazard for all citizens.

When is this country - an affluent country - going to build a racetrack a la Bahrain or Abu Dhabi so kids can go race and save themselves and us further tragedies. It is time for Kuwait to build a track, whether its government or private funded is irrelevant; young men will never change, they speed, they show off, they do stupid car tricks - at least at the race track they can race, blow of steam and improve their driving and be monitored.

From what I have been relayed, Basil Salem Al-Sabah tried for years to push for a race track but was shunned - this was followed by offers from private citizens willing to invest in a race track but the government refused them land and permission.

This is a serious safety issue and the government needs to move on this as ASAP.

On Christmas Day, I had my brother send me some medications from the United States through Fed-Ex. When the package was late, I attributed it to the holiday rush. When 'late' turned into 'very late' and the website clearly showed the package was in Kuwait, we started calling them on a daily basis and every time we would got the same answer: "Customs took them for inspection and when they give us a specimen number we will call you."

A "specimen number"! Sounded like a Sci-Fi movie line. I had been receiving my medications from the U.S. for ten years through Fed-Ex and never had this happen to me before except for that one time during the war on Saddam a few years back.

January 11th - There is still no "specimen number." I lost hope so I reordered them through my doctor there.

January 14th - Called them again and finally at 7.30 p.m. I got my number - almost screamed out 'Bingo!' even though I never played the game. Bear in mind that I was the one who called ('customer care' being such a cliché') and it was a Thursday so nothing could be done until Sunday morning.

I was told to go to the Ministry of Health, the 'Drug Inspection Department' near Sabah Hospital where I can collect my "specimen".

January 17th - Finally we hit Sunday. Woke up early, no breakfast, rushed out to avoid traffic and after a few wrong turns I was there at 8.20 a.m. It was a Department all right, more like a low ceiling three room apartment. It was a "chabra" literally like the ones they put temporarily for engineers at a building site. As I entered the door I couldn't help but notice the pieces of glued grey thin carpet on the corridor floor. To my left was a closed door with a 'Parcels' sign on it. Next to it was a window counter with a man wearing a lab coat.

"Where can I get my Fed-Ex parcel?" He pointed to the door next to him.

"But it's locked," I said. He came out and said "Wait shwaya, he'll be back" referring to the man 'in charge of parcels'.

"Can't you call him?" I asked.

"No mobile."

I waited, and waited, shifting from one foot to the other trying to hold on to my favorite but extremely heavy bag resisting the urge to place it on such an ugly, filthy floor.

My legs seemed fast asleep even though I didn't get more than 4 hours of sleep that night. I had to sit. No sign of any chair around, so I decided to explore. There were three or four rooms to the right and one more to the left. I peeked through one and saw a woman working behind a desk in a minute room with two chairs placed in a straight line near the door. I asked her if I could sit and she welcomed me in. The chair was of the old black leathery dusty variety, with a folded table attached; the kind used for students. Why would they place such a chair there is beyond me. The room, like all the others, had rubber floorings of something like a tile design. (A bit of mix and match decor with the dinghy carpeted hall I guess!).

As I glanced around, my eyes widened in astonishment; I saw their method of file storage: a large Fed-Ex box. a used, old torn half-cut Fed-Ex box. Even the logo tape was struggling to hold on to the sides of the box. That was only one of many of the collections of carton boxes used for storage on the floor.

Then I heard a woman complaining to a man, also wearing a lab coat, that she has no "specimen number" only her Fed-Ex paper and I knew it was my queue. I followed her and the man who finally opened the sacred 'Parcels' room. I couldn't believe it. It was so minute that if you were claustrophobic you would have suffocated with the three of us in there. To the left was a glass cabinet where all the small parcels were and on the floor were all the bigger boxes. The man was very helpful trying to match the woman's name to any of the numbers he had in his big lined notebook (or as we call it "kashkool"). Don't even think the word computer is going to show up here - we are talking 1965 stuff here, folks.

He looked at his ledger, shaking his head in dismay.

Numbers 1 to 19 all had names and their parcels had arrived.

Numbers 20 to 30 had no names and no parcels (i.e. blank pages).

Numbers 30 to 40 contained names and parcels.

As the woman talked to the Fed-Ex office pleading for a "specimen number" so she could take her post-surgery meds, the man found my name one number below my given one.

The parcel was stacked with others in the stuffy glass cabinet. Thank God it was not August otherwise I would have needed meds to recover from my expired meds! Just when I thought I was done, he looked at me with a sympathetic smile, "Sorry can't give you without a prescription".

I was shocked.

"Well I don't have it with me now! I do have it somewhere at home" then I stopped myself before blurting out "I think". So he motioned me to follow him. We walked until the door at the end of the corridor leading to a considerably large room. There was a woman behind a desk inside that spacious room where scented candles were lit. She was so into her pink laptop that she did not even lift her eyes to look at me as she answered my "salam". Eye contact was wishful thinking. So I decided not to even bother explaining anything to her.

The man explained the problem, assuring her I had the prescription paper at home as he placed the form near her laptop. She took one glance (at the paper of course), nodded, and gave her approval.

I was so relieved my parcel hunt was over but even more relieved to leave that place. It was yet another reminder of our reality when we are supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world and still have decrepit systems and processes in place, not to mention surroundings.

I'll write again when my next "specimen" arrives and Fed-Ex kindly inform me where to pick it up (Door to Door 2010 style). That is if they ever let my meds through after today.

The Sith Republic - behind the scenes - forwarding a despotic agenda; utilizing demagoguery, charm, diplomacy, offering power and riches, as a bait to corrupt, divide, conquer and maintain control.

The Rebel Alliance, broken, outnumbered, fighting for freedom, justice and order.

Sound familiar?

Govt Attempts To Censor Blogs 'Unacceptable'

By Ahmad Saeid, Staff Writer

Reprinted from 'Kuwait Times' (4th January, 2010)

KUWAIT : A number of Kuwaiti bloggers said that government's attempt to impose censorship on blogs is unacceptable and unrealistic. The comments were made amidst expectations of the government's plan to amend the 'audio-visual Law' after a TV show on the Al-Soor channel caused a wave of outrage amongst Kuwaiti tribes. "It was only a matter of time before these restrictions were imposed on bloggers," said Amer Hilal Al-Mutairi, a Kuwaiti blogger. He added that the government has been waiting for the right excuse to strengthen its grip on the blogging community.

The minister of information is using the instability caused by the programs aired on those two TV channels, and the whole issue of national unity, as means to impose restrictions on bloggers," said Al-Mutairi.

While he agreed that there is a group of MPs who support freedom of expression Al-Mutairi noted that some Parliamentarians have double standards about this issue. "I think that, unfortunately, a large group of MPs support the media when it speaks favorably of them and discard the media when it criticizes them," he said.

Muhammad Al-Yousifi, another Kuwaiti blogger, said that the government has been wanting to place restrictions on bloggers for some time now. "They have been wanting to do this since the scandal of changing the electoral districts in 2006," he said. "They only got the chance to do it now with this Parliament which is mostly 'governmental.' Especially since a number of bloggers are now attacking MPs.

Al-Yousifi said that the law is "more laughable than it is scary" both because of the motive to monitor blogs, and the process of monitoring blogs itself. "How do they want to conduct this censorship? They can't do it, they physically can't do this," he said.

Abdul Aziz Al-Ateeqi, Kuwaiti blogger and a co-founder of the biggest blogging aggregation website in the Middle East, 'KuwaitBlogs.com,' said that it will be very difficult for the government to censor or block blogs because most of the servers that contain these blogs are outside Kuwait . They don't fall under the jurisdiction of Kuwaiti law. "Even if they are willing to block them, people can still access them via proxies. Governments cannot stop that and cannot identify those who access them," he said.

Al-Ateeqi also pointed out that there is a huge misunderstanding about what blogs are among Kuwaiti people in general. "Blogs are a micro prototype of Kuwaiti society. They are like diwaniyas. People speak what they think in them and if someone is [upset] by a Member of Parliament he will write his feelings in his blog. These views and feelings are varying and they are about different subjects. Political blogs are less than 15 percent of the whole blogosphere of Kuwait .

The issue of freedom of expression has been dwelled on for the past few years in Kuwait . The Amir of Kuwait, HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, has repeatedly urged local media to adopt more responsible measures of tackling delicate subjects such as national unity.

Minister of Information, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, is still under fire from the National Assembly (NA) after a number of MPs demanded the closure of the Al-Soor channel. They accused the Minister of allowing the channel to broadcast without proper permission. A number of MPs announced they will file an interpellation motion against the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah if he does not fire the Minister.

Last October however, some of those same MPs held a number of demonstrations where they claimed the government was not doing enough to protect the freedom of expression. The demonstrations occurred after the publisher of an online newspaper, Zaed Al-Zaed, was attacked by an anonymous man. Kuwait occupies the 60th position on the Press Freedom Index issued by media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders. It is also the highest ranking Arab country on that index.

Listen to this girl.

What we can do is embrace an initiative like solar energy, we've got plenty of empty desert land and a bright sun.

Now if only I could get a permit from the 'Baladiya' (Kuwait Municipality) to build my solar farm.

Kleptocracy is a form of political corruption that refers to a state in which politicians exploit natural resources in order to stay in power. Does that sound similar to something that's been happening in Kuwait these days?

To answer "Yes" would be to disregard the nature of Kuwait's society as an Arab and Muslim caretaker ethos.

It is written in our Holy Book as Muslims that people should spend their wealth towards the benefit of the larger society whenever they can. Religiously, it's Zakat, where the Muslims pay their annual tax either directly to people in need (at the discretion of the Zakat payer)or in some cases towards a central collections authority that then distributes it to betterment of the society, by way of social development, through schools, hospitals, mosques, homes, etc...Wealthy people with hearts of gold race each other to build something that would benefit society, especially in Kuwait. Examples range from renovating hospital wards, building schools, educational endowments and scholarships, all the way to providing free housing and job opportunities.

To answer "NO" would be to ignore the fact that Kuwait's wealth is solely built upon one natural resource: Oil.

This resource is controlled by the state, its production and sale is controlled by the state, and the revenue it generates is distributed by the state, the distribution process is performed by way of paid salaries, social allowances and benefits. There is no "Free Money" in the Government's Monetary cycle. This means that anyone who works for the state will earn enough money to stay safe and housed, but would never earn enough money to become rich enough to run for political office.

So the first question in this logic is, how does a Kuwaiti Politician become a Kleptocrat in a supposed Democracy?

The First route is the simplest: Active Networking. You make enough friends and acquaintances to build a large enough network of supporters that would vote you into office. How that happens is too lengthy for this post, but think "Tribal/Sectarian/Primary Elections" and you get the picture. They would then support you financially and politically.

The Second route is more difficult: Passive Networking. You build up your reputation as a capable and fierce supporter of justice and equality so much that it becomes visible to the masses, who will turn towards you for assistance and guidance. You then make your way up to the top, only this time it's due to your hard work and reputation, not your connections and affiliations. This is a textbook example of how a Democracy should be held; the power of the people would select the most ideal candidate to represent them, based on principles, morale standing and reputation.

The Third route is Nomination: An individual or a group would appoint you as their representative, and would then mobilize all of their resources to support you into office. Once there, you'd be doing their bidding as their representative in Government. It's closely connected to Active Networking, but without the means nor the skills to to so. This may be acceptable in may Democracies, especially where Political parties and affiliations are admissible.

The Fourth route is Hereditary: You're born into government and rule by association. Examples include Kingdoms, Sheikhdoms and hereditary Republics. Your Mommy or Daddy ruled over everyone, and when they die, their authority reverts to you, barring the presence of any legal framework that would prevent, undermine or limit the extent your authority (such as a Constitution).

The Fifth and Final route is Money: You buy your way into Politics. This is the most corrupt and dangerous route into politics. Your constituents are composed of paid mouths who will sing your praises for a fee, or people already in power that you have packed into your shirt pocket, or legal representatives who will manipulate the Law in order to facilitate your ascension to Political power.

In this context, consider all the present Members of Parliament and the Government currently in office, would any of them fall under a different category? Hardly! Some of them are an actual and clear embodiment of some or all of these descriptions.

Case in Point: HADAS, Salafists, Popular Action Bloc, National Democratic Alliance, they're all political affiliations and de-facto political parties who nominate the most suitable candidate from among them and support this candidate into office to represent them. The problem is, these parties do not enjoy the benefit of a legal acknowledgement under the current Kuwaiti Law, nor do they represent the masses in terms of their political agenda, but, rather simply, they enjoy the generalized affiliation of the masses who have shared principles and the perceived moral standing of their members.

In other words, "I'm a Salafist, so I'll vote for XX the Salafist in my constituency", or "I've taken out a large Bank Loan, so I'll vote for the Popular Action Bloc whose agenda will force the Government to write off all Consumer Loans". Generally speaking, it's as simple as that!

On the other had, those in Government, namely those in the "Hereditary" offices, will strive to protect their personal and political interests from those that strive to attack them, so they utilize their wealth and political power in order to attain their goals. Currently, MP Faisal Al Muslim is trying to prove this is the case with the Prime Minister.

MP Al Muslim raises a difficult question: If you're not from a wealthy merchant family, but you've managed to use your personal wealth to protect your political position in Government, taking into account that you're only source of income 'should have been' your salary, how can you afford to spend so much money to protect your interests? But the MP raises yet another question: If you've risen only from among the masses within your tribal, sectarian or regular connections - who support and assist your endeavors - what gives you the right to attack the Prime Minister in the name of the People with documents you've obtained under shady circumstances?! I believe that MP Al Muslim was trying to prove that the Prime Minister was a Kleptocrat, who usurps his position, power and wealth in order to control and manipulate the Parliament.

As a person who has intimate knowledge of the Kuwaiti Banking Sector, I'm fully aware of the legal penalties that entail the exposure of private information and/or documents within the Bank; I have seen, first-hand, what happens to people who do 'these things', willingly or otherwise. Not only is it in complete violation of the employee's contract with the bank, let alone sickeningly unprofessional, but more seriously, it's a betrayal of the employer, the people and shareholders you work for, and may well get you into prison, destroying your reputation completely without even the slightest chance of redemption.

Constitutionally, if proven correct, the documents pertinent to this case allude to a clause within Article 111 of the Kuwaiti Constitution, which states:

"Article 111: Except in cases of flagrante delicto, no measures of inquiry, search, arrest, detention, or any other penal measure may be taken against a member while the Assembly is in session, except with the authorisation of the Assembly." ("Flagrante delicto" means "Caught in the act of a misdeed").

I'm no lawyer, but I imagine that if it's proven that the documents in MP Al Muslim's possession are authentic, it stands to reason that they have reached him via unauthorized means, which means clearly he's caught red-handed in the crime of possessing private and personal documents. Moreover, he would also be guilty of committing a crime by association of the person who had given him these documents in the first place, and if both these crimes are proven against MP Al Muslim in court, they make the case against the Prime Minster completely illegal since the evidence against him was obtained illegally, and is therefore inadmissible in court.

What remains in question is where did the money came from? Let's assume I'm one of those tree-hugging-love all-live all-people who claim that if it were from the Prime Minister's personal funds, then so be it; he's a kind-hearted person who likes to spend his wealth helping people (and it's his personal wealth that he's using) so any suspicion of misusing public funds gets thrown out the window. But then again, why pay an MP (he did not run for reelection this time) when that person has no clear use for that amount of money? His income is secured by way of his pension from the Parliament, so he's pretty well financed and secured. Moreover, many former MP's become board members of private companies, with very beefy salaries, or revert back to the family business, if one exists. So what's this payment all about?

And finally, what gives MP Al Muslim - a representative of the people - the right to use illegally obtained documents as 'evidence' against the Prime Minister's ''misuse of public funds''? If anything, this case proves what I've been blogging about all along; Proper reforms come from proper voting. Representation should be based on holistic needs and demands, not sectarian nor tribal agendas. MP Al Muslim may have shocked the state's perceptions of the extent of corruption, some may say, but others may also claim that he's unsuccessfully tried to prove what we all know; People in Power are liable to be corrupt, no matter what side of the law they may be standing on. His Immunity as an MP made him believe he's untouchable, while simultaneously trying to prove the same about the Prime Minister.

Power corrupts - and absolute power corrupts absolutely - and that goes for MP Al Muslim too!

Give me a month. Any given month, just one month without a horror story, give me a month in which no one makes a medical error, one month in which we don't hear about some person's horror story at the hands of evil doctors and the henchmen in nurse's outfits.

Chances are you can't, because there aren't any. Medical errors are seemingly inevitable, they have to happen, just like car accidents and farting in public, mistakes happen. They are part and parcel of having healthcare. After all; unlike the airline industry and the people who make the iphone we don't really have a blueprint or a service manual.

This is why I'm using the bible of all medical error literature to date - and the keystone of America's healthcare revolution - to prove my point. The U.S. Institute of Medicine white paper entitled "To Err is Human ...." estimates that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die from medical errors in the US annually. That's more than the people heart attacks and strokes combined kill in Kuwait and is more than those who are killed by breast cancer in the US.

Having said that the study was written in 1999 and the number would probably be three times as high this year if it weren't for the boffins who wrote the document and forced people to follow it.

There's another reason why I chose this study, it's because we have the same problem as the US. We have lots of doctors, lots of hospitals/practices and not enough oversight (three exams make you registered to practice, 2 more make you a specialist in the US and you can do all five without looking at a patient) so I figured their answer would be ours. After all, we've imported everything from ketchup to coffee chains and managed to make them work, might as well do the same for policy; besides we know it works because they've managed to reduce medical errors to about 10% of the original number over ten years.

The study looked into every major medical error, every big lawsuit and settlement and every single post mortem they could find and came up with the following:

• They found that medical errors occur in three stages: failure to diagnose (wrong tests, wrong timing of tests, old and redundant tests), failure in treatment(delay in treatment, lack of drugs, technical error during a procedure) and failure in prevention (lack of patient follow-up, lack of foresight given patients current condition)

• Creating a nationwide program for leadership, research, tools, and protocols to enhance the knowledge base about safety and patient awareness. In other words, integrating administration into day to day healthcare and making it part and parcel of the practice of medicine.

• Developing a nationwide public mandatory reporting system and by encouraging health care organi­zations and practitioners to develop and participate in voluntary reporting systems meaning that you need to report any problems you face without being blamed for them directly and providing the manpower required to piece together the sequence of the events that lead to the problem.

• Providing standards to adhere to and aspire to within each branch of healthcare. As it stands we don't provide doctors with job descriptions when they are hired, only a set of arbitrary rules.

• Putting in place safety systems in health care organizations to ensure safe practices at the delivery level.

The point I'm trying to make with this whole post is the fact that in all of the above not a single doctor/nurse/security guard was beaten, sued or had his license stripped. If anything the strategy outlined tell you to go back and hold yourself accountable for what you've done and find out where you went wrong and how to fix it then share what you've learnt with the people you work with so that the same mistake doesn't happen again.

I am quick to point out however that the study doesn't condone negligence in which someone has made a deliberate error that they should not have (i.e. cutting a nerve because it simplifies the surgery or giving a patient an overdose so that they sleep and leave you alone for the night only to find them not breathing in the morning).

So perhaps the newspaper stories, TV interviews and patient export program may not be quiet as effective (or affective ....still can't tell the difference) as teaching medical students and doctors in training to review medications they've given and procedures they've performed and sharing their experiences with their colleagues.........

Oh well ...I'm not holding my breath...

The Study mentioned can be found on Google books but be for-warned it's about 300 pages long .......

I received the following press release from Hussa Al-Humeidhi from 'Sout Al-Kuwait,' concerning the anniversary of the Kuwait Constitution:

"Sout Al-Kuwait is a civic lobby group protecting personal and social freedoms through the activation and preservation of the rights stipulated in the Kuwaiti constitution. The Group meets its target through organized media campaigns, public relations and direct communication with the Parliament member and other State decision makers. Since its establishment, the Group published several booklets and brochures providing simplified review of constitutional rights, their impact and importance, and their conflict with some of the current legislations - (available on www.soutalkuwait.com). Sout Al-Kuwait also participated in several exhibitions, rallies, and carnivals in an attempt to educate the youth about the Constitution articles and relate them to our daily lives. We lead several educational activities in schools, colleges and universities introducing students to concepts like citizenship, human rights, constitutional rights and encouraging their involvement in volunteer civic and social work.

One of our most important events is the celebration of the anniversary of the Constitution of Kuwait which was signed off by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem in November 11, 1962. This year we plan a grand carnival in front of the Kuwait Parliament (Sahat Al Irada). This event will be a collaborative effort by other NGOs and some civic groups. It is a family event filled with activities suitable to all ages and interests. There will be a special area for children and another for art and poetry national music band lead by Belal Al-Shami and many other outdoor activities. Participants will be taken through the amazing journey of the Constitution in a fun and friendly environment.

We hope that you and your family will join us celebrating the Constitution anniversary this year on Wednesday, November 11 in front of the Parliament from 5:30 to 10 pm".

We salute this initiative and wholeheartedly support it and the stellar work these lobby groups are doing to promote democracy and civil liberties in Kuwait.

I'd like to thank Hilaliya for letting me post in his website and promise and do solemnly swear not to use words like 'slut', 'prick', 'shit', 'fuck', 'bastard', 'tits', or 'whore', 'hooker', 'slut' (twice ..... apologies ......), 'bitch', 'hoo hoo', 'pee pee' or 'prick.'

It's very hard for us as Kuwaitis and as humans in fact to live without politics and politicians. For one thing we wouldn't have anything to complain about or anyone to blame and lets face it our parents would have very little to do at family gatherings if it weren't for these close-minded, hypocritical, lying, cheating, corrupt and lurid men (and recently women) who we have chosen to represent us and our stake in the country we live in.

Sadly, however as with most things involving money, power and the public eye, politics has become a foray for those of us who are smart - for the most part, some can't write their names yet but it's still early and I doubt that the people who voted for him know the significance of literacy in the modern world - have scrupulous and rather mercurial morals.

So how do we fix our politicians? (And no I do not mean neuter them - although the idea may appeal to some; it is simply not a solution in the civilized world).

How do we make them represent us the way they should and promised? Unlike the cure for cancer, the flying car or cloning, not even Hollywood could come up with an answer...politicians can't be fixed because they didn't get into politics to change things, they got into politics to become famous and gain respect.

And they can't be held accountable because no one can...lets face it, I've never been held accountable for a single unpaid bill or parking ticket and neither have you. We even have people who have been convicted of manslaughter in the US and are living happy k-town-esque lives and we enjoy our freedom to bypass rules, get things done quickly and forget about that speeding ticket.

So what solution could we possible come up with? (Before you ask, truth serum doesn't work)

The answer apparently lies in cleanliness and lemon scented Windex...According to Professor Liljenquist of some University I've never heard of morals are largely dictated by how fresh the place smells....ugh...She compared how likely people were to be charitable in a Windex scented room and in a standard one and found that people were about twice as likely to be charitable and morally bound if you provided them with a clean environment.

But the trouble with that - apart from the fact that it sounds like hogwash - is that knowing the people within our current "Majless," they'll probably end up killing each other for the government tender to provide lemon scented, morally assured freshness in their meeting hall.

Kuwait has been an official state since it's independence from Great Britain in 1961, further back it was an official political entity since the 1922 Treaty of Uqair. Even further back during the 18th Century, it was a thriving sea port for the busy spice trade between East and West, and even before that, during the 17th Century, it started as a settlement for Bedouin tribes seeking refuge from massive seasonal drought around the Arabian Peninsula. Indeed, the earliest recorded history of the State of Kuwait goes back to the year 1613.

Throughout Kuwait's history, no religious animosity was demonstrated, no sectarian bigotry was recorded, and indeed, no religious affiliations were bragged about, until Oil created wealth, which in turn created education, which was (at the time) heavily influenced with Arabism and Pan-Arab ideals and values.

Kuwaitis thrived on their own self-disciplined tolerance and peaceful co-existence, not just with themselves, but with other people as well. When the Saudi Monarch Abdulaziz Ibn Saud and his family were overthrown by the Al Rasheed, they sought refuge in Kuwait. When Sa'adun Pasha, leader of the Muntafiq Tribe fled the Ottoman Wali in Basrah, he sought refuge in Kuwait. When the Israelis attacked Palestinian villages and kicked them out of their own homes, Kuwait offered them a temporary home, all 400'000 of them, until some of them turned rogue and bought into Saddam's lies. The same goes for the Lebanese, the same goes for many others.

This short and brief history describes Kuwait as a haven for freedoms and liberties, and if one goes into more detail in this regard, one can clearly outline the massive tolerance of the Kuwaitis, people and government, throughout its history. All this was done without any Islamic Political Movements like HADAS and the Salafists dictating religion to the masses.

Fast-forward to the present day, and here's what we get:

1-Women must wear the Hijab when in Parliament.
2-Women must have the authorization of their guardians in order to get a Passport (Edit: This was annulled by the Constitutional Court last week)
3-Voting for women is "Haram."
4-Women and Men must wear admissible swimwear.
5-All Shisha (hubbly-bubbly) joints, cafes and restaurants are to close by midnight.
6-Females saluting Males is "Haram."
7-Standing up to the National Anthem is "Haram."
(...and much more trivial stuff I can't recall at the moment!)

What is being enforced on us as a people is not religion, nor is it a return to religious piousness, Kuwaitis were always pious, and observed religion (all religions) in ample fairness and respect to all the inhabitants, including Kuwaiti Jews and Christians, not including the many other denominations that came as expatriate workers, who helped build Kuwait up from a mud village into a city of skyscrapers and advanced financial institutions. All lived side by side in peace and respect, for both themselves and to others, ever since the 18th Century. They never needed people like some of today's MP's dictating religion and claiming their God-given destiny to bring back the populace to its religious piousness. Those people do not represent me, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't represent what Kuwait stands for. Moreover, had they truly been Kuwaitis, and had they known Kuwait's true history of tolerance and respect, they wouldn't have brought these complications up in the first place!

I believe in Democracy. I believe it can work in Kuwait, and I believe in free speech. I condone these values, as someone who 'at least' believes in equality for all. What I don't believe in, and what I can't condone, is a weak and fearful reactionary government that responds favorably to idle threats made by socially insignificant malcontents and religious zealots who think that, just because they can hold a group prayer in mosques, that automatically makes them leaders and protectors of the people's religious values.

Drawing from my own 'limited' experience, it's very hard to be a leader. You need charisma, intellect, objectivity, tolerance, a belief in oneself and one's plight. Most of all, however, you need a consensus of opinion. This can only be brought about through open, frank and fair dialogue between the opposite sides.

Evoking a Fatwa that restricts personal freedoms, and then forcing the Government to implement this Fatwa, in direct conflict with the country's constitution, is not a consensus, it's a dictatorship! At the very least, it's the beginnings of a state where the power of the few overrules the rights of the many, where the law of the land is the rule of men, not of the Law, where there is no protection for civil liberties, where there is no tolerance for any form of political opposition when men in power invoke religion, and where allegiances are made and created through socialization and blind allegiance.

This type of state is an Authoritarian state, it is the middle ground between Democratization and Dictatorship, and right now, we're witnessing Kuwait moving through this middle ground towards a Dictatorship. This is a dangerous time for Kuwait's Democracy, and I fear that MPs such as Mohamed Hayef's (and other like-minded individuals) recent collective uproars are precursors of even more sinister things to come.

"What is past is prologue"
- William Shakespeare

Kuwait's Polluted Bay (Still from Kuwait Times)

I have heard rumblings lately about the water quality in the Kuwait Bay - and wondering how much (little) has been done to better regulate what goes into the bay since the 2001 fish kill. Most of us can smell the answer to that question. Kuwait's environment is in deep trouble.

In 2001, I conducted my own research into the fish kill problem after being asked to write scripts for a series of documentaries to be aired on KTV2. What I discovered so disgusted me that I vowed never again to put my toes into the water surrounding mainland Kuwait. I still won't - especially after the Mishref sewage accident this year.

When are the authorities going to wake up to the problem? Every summer, I wonder if I am going to wake up, once again, to the smell of rotting fish.

The following are two eco-minded scripts I found dating back to 2001:

"Earth Vision" Documentary,
Director - Noora Bourisely
AIRED KTV2 September, 2001

Long before oil was ever found on the land of Kuwait, proud, hard-working people made their livings from the clean waters at the tip of the Gulf. Oyster beds and sea creatures abound. Pearl divers and fishermen supported their families by harvesting the sea.

Today, Kuwait is facing a monumental catastrophe. Fish and oysters are harder to find. The cleanliness of the waters is doubtful.

Lately, if you were not able to notice the troubled waters by walking outside and smelling rotting fish on the shorelines; you have probably noticed the decline of the population's favorite food at the dinner table.

No matter what cross-section of Kuwait's diverse population you are from, chances are that you have regularly enjoyed good seafood meals here until recently.

Who would have though several years ago that you would ever hear someone in a local restaurant ask, "Where is your fish from?" Several years ago, it would have been impossible to find a front-row parking space at any of Kuwait's fish markets.

Many Kuwaitis and expats alike turn to the sea for their livelihood - most prominently during the summer months. Many people here own boats. As you pass by the marinas these days, you will notice how many boats are in port - and it is not because of bad weather.

We have been hit by a nameless, faceless environmental terrorist.

In 1990, an enemy snuck up on the northern border of Kuwait.

In 2000, a silent enemy emerged in the waters of Kuwait when 'meide' (or mullet in English) began to die mysteriously.

Again this year, the enemy returned to exact a more dramatic and tragic consequence:
Not only were 'meide' dying, but also 'hamoor' (grouper) and other larger species such as sea mammals, a dolphin ad a small whale. The enemy is still lingering on our sea borders. Who is this enemy? Who is to blame? Why is he still here and why has the population seemed to have turned a blind eye towards recent events? Will the enemy return next year or the year after to kill again?

This contamination is unprecedented in the history of Kuwait. It is possibly the environmental catastrophe of the century. When Iraq pumped oil directly into Gulf waters during its brutal occupation, the world condemned the act of eco-terrorism. However, the spills were contained and the following year, the fish returned as normal.

What is happening now in Kuwait is different. The disaster and its impact are continuing and we can not be certain that whatever has killed the fish won't return because the root of the catastrophe has not been found.

Casual attitudes may be the main culprit. People occasionally toss a soda can or plastic bag into the sea. How can one small act be a big deal? Destruction of natural resources begins with complacency. Our relaxed attitudes are now keeping our children away from the beaches and islands of Kuwait. It is keeping 'hamoor' and 'zubeidi' off the menu. We al need to act together to do something now, before it becomes a problem which will take years to reverse.

What are the contributing factors? We are looking at numerous factors, which may contribute to the problem - either singularly, or as a group.

Iraq has been a suspect by its diversion of the natural flow of water through the marshes of Shatt Al Arab.

An oil processing technique called "oil shifting" may be another factor to the fish kill. Until recently, Kuwait had not used this method. This process pushes oil from below ground by the use of water and corrosives. Used water is treated and sent back out to the Gulf. Ground seepage from years of casual dumping - either in personal use of chemicals and used oil, or by companies and car shops - may take some of the blame.

Is toxic waste being dumped in Kuwait? Is the problem possibly from tankers in the Gulf? Microbes are most likely not the main cause of the fish kill because birds that have fed off the dead fish have not been affected.

Raw sewage has been periodically dumped into the water. If you have ever been in a boat close to Kuwait's shores in the summer, you will know that the sewage is there. If you live within close proximity to any of the numerous sewage outlets, you will know that sewage is a problem. Rounding Ras Salmiya on a boat on a hot summer's night will make you wonder why nothing is being done.

Are we swimming in a stew of waste and chemical by-products? Many countries in other parts of the world have long-understood that water is a resource to be cherished.

Marine Pollution (Still from Blushberry)

"Earth Vision" Documentary,
Director - Noora Bourisely
AIRED KTV2 October and November 2001

What is happening with the fish in Kuwait? Is it safe to eat fish yet? What we know is that we still don't know. Explanations still vary. Reports given to the public have been vague and general and lately, almost everyone you speak to has another report - often conflicting with what you've already heard. Most people are still waiting for answers, but nothing is being provided. We may not ever know for sure what killed the fish this year and we won't be able to know if the fish will die again next year, or in the years to come.

Some of the population has started to eat fish again, thinking that it is safe, but is it really? How do we know for sure that it is safe if there have not been any definitive answers to how the fish kill began? If the reason behind the fish kill is not conclusive, then how can the problem are rectified so it won't happen again; what if the cause is infectious and a danger to humans?

In August, we were told not to eat fish for 2 months, then later for 2 years. Is it safe yet? The 2-month time frame has not yet elapsed, and obviously not the 2 year frame. Our love of seafood and the willingness to readily buy it and consume it may be putting us in danger.

The ecology of Kuwait's Bay is fragile. Many people don't take into consideration how gentle this ecology is or how it can be affected by many variables. We have to look at each variable to determine the answers - not just because of this year's fish kill, but to keep it from happening in the future. Once an underwater environment is changed, several things may happen in a domino effect. Plankton will die. Floor-dwelling creatures will die. Small fish will die. Larger fish will die. Human life and activity will be affected. Conservation of our marine ecology must start at the lowest level.

Reduction of oxygen in the bay

Several experts believe that a combination of the high temperature, high salinity (salt content in the water), and low oxygen concentrations in the bay may have been the cause of the fish kill.

What would cause lowered oxygen in the water? A high concentration of inorganic nutrients in Kuwait is most likely to blame. It is likely that the nutrient from sewage, in combination with several nutrients released at the acqua culture site in Kuwait's bay is major sources. The sediment found in Kuwait bay (sienna) might also be an important source of inorganic nutrients if the water conditions are such that the sediment becomes mixed.

Bacteria

While searching for answers to the cause of the mystery, a name has often been coming up: Streptococcus iniae. Quietly, this killer is known to cause "mad fish disease."

An electrical generator depot burning in Faiha following an explosion.

If what I am about to convey to you seems grim, it's because it's the truth, and the truth usually is that way.

In my opinion, Kuwait is not what it used to be. I don't mean the advancement in economic and educational levels, I mean on a social, ethical level. For example, it used to be the case, back when I was growing up, that when a policeman passed by, people would actually respect the authority he represented. Nowadays, police officers get scolded whenever they try to do their job of regulating the speed laws, thanks to glorified MP's who come-a-running whenever the guilty parties cry "wolf'!

It's a shame to see Kuwait in the state it's in right now; Economic uncertainty, Environmental time-bombs, Political instability, Geo-political threats, Social discord (despite what the naysayers say!), and through it all, a shadowy, semi-dominant authority rules over all, pitilessly exercising it's power of coercion and manipulation in between the cracks of jurisprudence and double-meanings in order to either quietly privatize or blatantly rip off the entire state, leaving nothing but polluted crumbs for the rest of the populace to fight over.

Think I'm exaggerating? Consider this:

• It's been almost a month since the Mishref Sewage Plant disaster and the investigation is still ongoing as to exactly who was to blame between the Ministry of Public Works and the Contractor! Ironically, though, this issue was flagged as a potential problem by the Green Line Environmental Group back in 2007, and was issued in a report to the Ministry back then. At the same time, local newspapers report on Kuwait's Oil investments in Vietnam and China, in light of the global economic downturn and potential reduction of Oil supplies in the region. One has to ask where all this money came from, and where will it go.

• Government schools have just opened up their gates for the beginning of the school year and the MP's are still shouting over the decision to 'endanger the children with the Swine Flu epidemic', as well as the usual drivel regarding the lack of preparedness in confronting Swine Flu and addressing educational needs! Also, Funnily enough, the recent decision by Kuwait University to raise the minimum acceptance requirements for new students because they are pushing the notion that a 3.0 GPA is better than a 2.8 GPA simply because the University "doesn't have enough seats!" -If you don't believe that one, just look at today's Al Qabas newspaper!

• The Government pushes Parliament to issue a new law that penalizes whoever 'endangers the national unity, whether in deeds or in words', while simultaneously allowing a football match to take place between the Kuwaiti and Iraqi teams - despite local sensitivities on such issues - and begins to internationally endorse the notion that it's contemplating Iraq's suggestion to restructure Iraqi debt owed to Kuwait! On this particular note, and to put it clearly, this Kuwaiti (me) is definitely not in favor of these decisions; I believe Iraq should remain indebted to Kuwait until all dues are paid, in complete accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Such is the way of 'civilized' and 'educated 'societies, and not tribal ones.

While all this is happening, some MP's are calling onto the Government to curb 'illegal Disco Clubs' in Kuwait as it is in conflict with social morals and standards!

Never mind the MP whose son is the chairman of a company that extorts salaries from poor expat workers, never mind the MP whose KD5 Million check bounced and has been 'out of sight' for the past 4 months, and is nowhere to be found, never mind the MPs who paid, bartered & coerced their constituents for votes just to get elected to parliament.

Instead of focusing on pressuring the Government to clamp down on the rising problems of housing, health and education - like we voted them to do -these characters are asking the government to instead clamp down on illegal acts of immorality in Kuwait and its Islands, as if Kuwait was one big Playboy Mansion!

Unfortunately, this is the New Kuwait, a country with laws but no responsible lawmen, a country with a government that is not governing as it should, a country with rights that are not given. In short, a country with no foreseeable future except the inevitable collapse.

In one of my older posts, I mentioned that "What we need to do is dare to think outside the confines of our traditionalist ways, and encourage other to do so as well. " How many of us are actually prepared to do that, I wonder.

People need to change the way the State's Authority is practiced and implemented in a manner that commensurate with their own credibility and reputation. I say "people" because this is still a Democracy, governed by the People for the People, and not a state that is governed by a handful of royals, loudmouth MP's and Fundamentalists who are out for their own gains. We are still living on this land, and we deserve better. Keeping in mind the feebleness of the individual needy constituent when it comes to his own personal gains, the corrupt MP will eventually find it extremely difficult to succeed if he is constantly confronted with people who aren't afraid to lose some personal privileges for the sake of the 'Greater Good' that is Kuwait's future prosperity. This will inevitably turn the Parliament into a more effective tool in the face of the Government, who will come to respect (not fear) it's wishes and demands, and eventually do some good for a change.

To make a long story short: If you want to change something, change yourself first, only then will other changes eventually follow. This is what happens to prosperous societies such as those of Singapore, Post-WWII Europe, Japan, China, and yes, even the United States!

Ironically, what has clearly been prescribed in the Holy Quran is being shunned, very few of us actually attempt to better ourselves as people - we tend to negate life's priorities. Yet we can easily call ourselves "Muslims" just because we speak casually in classical Arabic with heavy religious undertones, grow our beards, perform the five basic tenets of Shahada, Prayers, Paying Zakat, Hajj and Fast during Ramadan while we threaten the Government with feeble, idiotic threats if nothing's been done to curb social deviance? That's the double standard Mr. Islamic MP according to any dictionary you pick up.

Islam - the religion as a whole - is not simply a set of rules or regulations, it's a covenant with the Creator to be the best you can be while ensuring that the lives of other people all around you are equally improved, whether you're a leader or a follower. Personally, I feel sorry for the candidates, who buy into the lies and deception; I sincerely hope that change is for the better, socially before officially, and we can finally rid ourselves from all those loudmouths who thrive on social misconduct and use it as fodder for their political gains. One can only hope, especially one in despair.

If, however, some of you think that it's not all that bad and things are actually better than the apocalyptic scene I just presented, I hope you'll excuse me if I present you with these words of wisdom!