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'After Iftar' Column
STAKES HIGH
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted From 'Arab Times' (19th September, 2008)

THE Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stated: "He whom Allah gives his authority of ruling people and fulfils not their needs and treat their poverty but Allah will not fulfill his need nor treat his property (for mercy) on the Day of Resurrection." (At-Tirmidhi).

For the past couple of years we have been highlighting corruption, the state's blatant lack of compassion and neglect towards its people, mismanagement and lack of vision, but what has not been obvious is that all of the above is not just plain ineptitude but it is utterly un-Islamic to the ideals of a modern Muslim state, a state that has been blessed with riches from the Almighty.

As a country we reap what we sow, the results are evident all around us: State Security agents bribed into smuggling dangerous foreign elements into Kuwait, toxic materials dumped in areas such as Messila and Um Al-Hamain, visa traffickers importing tens of thousands of laborers and refusing to pay them, widespread embezzlement in government institutions, among countless other infractions.

Citizens -- struck this Ramadan by rising prices, decrepit health care services, feeble infrastructure and higher cost of living in general -- want their quality of life in Kuwait to improve, they demand less bureaucracy, favoritism, and more transparency, accountability and justice -- they want to spend less time whizzing from one inefficient, power-hungry bureaucrat to another in order to get their business in order -- they want to live as citizens, as human beings with decent health care, decent education, with efficient pricing mechanisms on commodities (as the more progressive Gulf states currently do), without worrying about rising over-inflated prices, human rights abuses, tuberculosis, cow scares, sleeper cells infiltrating the state, environmental pollution and other typically Kuwaiti 'manifestations'.

A spirit of cynicism and anger is sweeping through Kuwait, a mistrust of old school government and business-as-usual politics, citizens detect a lack of compassion from both the inept government and various duplicitous parliamentarians; bitter that this affluent country aids others beyond its borders but cannot or will not help its own citizens -- citizens who always seem to be at the mercy of a power or water cut, a bureaucrat, a KD 50 carrot.

And the state continues to announce its willingness to become a 'Financial Hub'; a running joke verbally perpetrated by an assortment of governmental lackeys in denial. Don't believe the hype. We need to clean house before we start talking big, unrealistic ventures. There is no way in hell Kuwait is ever going to be a 'financial hub' unless a complete metamorphosis, a cultural, legal and work systems revolution takes place. Parliament and the government can pass as many laws as they can muster but they are doomed to failure unless the state begins to serve the people, not vice-versa (and they need to be efficient and professional doing it); outdated laws are overhauled and updated (in addition to being enforced in order to gain transparency to local and foreign investors) and state of the art Administrative and Financial systems are integrated into institutions (so projects, expenditures and general income are kept track of).

We must eradicate 'corruption' by applying the full extent of the law, because corruption is not just relegated to 'bribes,' it affects the environment, it fuels crime, it propels jobs and positions of leadership to the wrong people, it instills despair and hopelessness among the populace, it devastates our infrastructure and resources, it stimulates bureaucracy and human rights abuses, frees lawbreakers, tarnishes Kuwait's image, reputation and collective pride, among many other concerns. The day we can eradicate most of the above is the day we can truly call ourselves a 'Muslim State.'

Kuwait -- blessed with a major financial windfall -- will never get another chance to makes things right. How the state acts today -- for our sake and those of the next generations -- will be the deciding factor on whether Kuwait ends up being a safe, modern, thriving metropolis or a dingy, underprivileged, dilapidated state with no future.

It's the difference between you and your kids living comfortably and leading a productive life in Kuwait the year 2025 or your children becoming expatriates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha because this state squandered its intellectual, natural, financial and, dare I say, moral resources. The stakes are very high, but until the powers that be and their minions exhibit compassion towards Kuwait by stressing accountability, reform and the rule of law, we will continue on the road to oblivion.

Death Of Sheik Salem, Beginning Of End Of Era
'Other Voices'
Reprinted From 'Arab Times' (12th October, 2007)
By Amer Al-Hilal

Sheik Salem Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's death represents the beginning of an end of an era for Kuwait and its people. Indeed, what moved me about Sheik Salem was his compassion, one of many astonishing qualities that made him an immense leader, but most of all, a genuine human being.

In my humble opinion, when Sheik Salem assumed the hefty mantle of the Chairman of the National Committee for the POWs and Missing Affairs, he truly began to achieve greatness and thereby entered Kuwaiti legend.

In 1993, a colleague from KUNA and I volunteered to join the media team of the National Committee for POW and Missing Affairs. When Sheik Salem heard of our joining the team he personally asked to meet with us, we were led into his office where he warmly welcomed us, spending at least 45 minutes talking about the importance of volunteerism, our roles in the organization, and the POW issue. Here we were, two young volunteers amiably received and treated like professionals; indeed, we left the meeting, pleasantly astounded that Sheik Salem had taken the time out to meet with us. I could not help but be impressed by Sheik Salem's revealing, warm and candid approach, he had the aura of a father figure; I admit I liked him right away. From behind the scenes, he monitored our work, encouraged our efforts, always generous with praise and acknowledgment.

It was an invaluable period for us, under Sheik Salem's tutelage we travelled to European destinations highlighting the POW issue, we helped organize the famed yellow-colored media campaigns ("Help Free Our POWS") we visited homes of the missing, the latter aspect the most emotionally excruciating part of our work, alas this was done on a limited basis. However, Sheik Salem did not have that luxury; on a daily basis he dealt with the emotional rollercoaster of the hurting POW families, as well as juggling POW-related political efforts related to the Red Cross, Arab League and Geneva's UN Tripartite Commission, not to mention innumerable other governmental tasks. He carried an aching burden on his shoulders; he couldn't just 'switch off,' discarding his duties at work.

At his physical peak, Sheik Salem was a vigorous, handsome gentleman, who could disarm the most cynical of pundits. I saw him weave some of his magic first-hand during a press conference; he called journalists by their first names, briefly joking with them, patiently and assiduously answering questions, they were in the palm of his hand. On a personal level, Sheik Salem possessed a splendid combination of charm, modesty and authority (few Kuwaiti leaders encompass all those qualities). But most of all, we felt like he cared about us, about the POWS, about Kuwaitis, he had an emotional stake in our lives, and we cherished him for it.

I remember his resolute spirit in the face of health issues, specifically his visit to the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington DC during the late 90s (we were serving as diplomats under his brother, Ambassador Sheik Dr. Mohamed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah -the current Minister of Foreign Affairs). Sheik Salem, accompanied by his private physician, sat with us in the Ambassador's 'diwaniya', recounting the latest developments concerning UN Security Council 686-formed Tripartite Commission - under the auspices of the ICRC (its mandate involved the search for Kuwait POWs) - and Iraq's continued refusal to cooperate with it. Sheik Salem seemed frustrated, distraught yet hopeful that our POWs would return. During the conversation he stated a line I have never been able to forget to this day: "I would crawl on my knees to Baghdad if I knew it would guarantee the freedom of the POWs." Remember, we were at the height of animosity between Kuwait and the Iraqi regime; Sheik Salem's unconventional statement was bitterly honest, straight from the heart and devoid of the usual political rhetoric, and I admired his candor, it renewed my affection and reverence for this gentleman, who defiantly kept clinging on to his responsibilities towards the POWs and their families, even though his health was diminishing by the year.

I believe Sheik Salem's legacy will be a humanitarian one, on a personal level, his death unnerved me for a variety of reasons, notably he symbolized a fragment of my youth, a period during the early 1990s when young Kuwaitis such as myself - fresh from serving with the American forces in the Gulf War and eager to rebuild Kuwait - worked for men of his caliber, who embraced us in the pursuit of noble, humanitarian ideals; additionally, he represented a special era for Kuwaitis, when the bonds of affection between Ruling Family members and "the people" were at their most potent.

I was distressed by Sheik Salem's death but also consoled by the fact that he was longer at the mercy of a decade-old health tribulation. Most of all, however, I was soothed by the fact that he passed away on the 27th of Ramadan, surely this was a blessed and holy omen, a testament to an outstanding human being.

'After Iftar' Column
'SHEPHERDS' OF OUR CONSCIENCE
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted From Arab Times (24th September, 2007)

I truly believe that the majority of Kuwait and its citizens are upright, compassionate people who believe in charity, in all its forms, and fear God. Indeed, religion is invaluable to the fabric of society: the charity organizations functioning to assist the needy; distribution of Iftars and meals; the Zakat allocated to society’s poor, among other examples are a tribute to this country and a testament to the spiritual caliber of the average citizen. It is insufficient, however, because society demands that two main components be evident in order to maintain a healthy equilibrium, safeguarding citizens and their rights: Justice (“Adalah”) and Compassion (“Rahma”).

Kuwait is on the precipice of a spiritual and moral descent, every so often sliding into a ‘Devil’s Playground’: escalating violent crime, embezzlement and corruption, discrimination and intolerance, physical abuse, rapes, among other transgressions on basic human rights. One cannot pick up a newspaper without reading of someone being randomly picked off the street and sexually assaulted, of abuse, of murder, among other crimes (this very newspaper recently created a ‘Kuwait Crime’ section online due to rising crime).

White collar crime is on the rise as well.

One can embezzle hundreds of thousands (if not millions) from ministries (such as Communications) and remain on the job, paying off their larceny in installments like a regular bank loan, not even the threat of a sacking on the horizon.

Others play for much bigger stakes and walk unscathed among us.

Visa (“Iqama”) traders continue to smuggle thousands of laborers whom they will eventually disown (making millions in the process) — Kuwaiti movers and shakers know exactly who the culprits are but are impotent to do anything — and our inaction continues to lead to human rights abuses and tarnishes Kuwait’s reputation abroad.

Neglect on the part of corporations leads to unnecessary deaths of employees. Committees are formed to investigate. Months later results are shrouded in secrecy and the guilty are acquitted.

And the tragic farce goes on. It’s in your local paper everyday. No one is accountable.

How can we expect our society to instill respect of the law and human rights when the law is not impartial and when we do not castigate the guilty? The laws that protect the innocent are in place; however, loopholes in the legal structure and an inability to implement the law effectively on all individuals, not just the weak, is fueling despair, distrust and cynicism on the Kuwaiti street — this in turn leads to political quandaries delaying progress and development, but most of all it sends a disturbing message to the young generations: “Don’t respect the law. The law is for the weak.”

The Holy Quran states: “O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” [An-Nisa 4:35]

As long as there is no fear of punishment on the street level and in the upper echelons, corruption will continue to be rampant, crime and injustice will continue to flourish.

In conjunction with a firm and impartial implementation of the law, a society must also show empathy; unfortunately, a lack of compassion at a civic and governmental level is also evident, affecting health care, education and employee rights. Social unrest is on the rise. It seems like every ministry and government institution is on strike or threatening to strike due to unacceptable employee benefits (or lack thereof). Newspapers contain full page ads by employees of the oil, health, justice and aviation sectors (among others) demanding more rights and better financial incentives.

Doesn’t charity begin at home? God has blessed this nation with riches beyond belief and yet we choose to disregard our home, our community. We neglect investing in our infrastructure: our neighborhood clinics, hospitals, our electrical grid, our water resources, our roads; we neglect building shelters; we neglect building proper adoption homes for orphans (victims of broken homes and illicit marriages). Factories are being built in downtown civilian areas such as Hawalli and Salmiya and close to the city endangering our children. The Bidoon humanitarian issue continues to loom, a dark blemish on our heritage and reputation (it isn’t sufficient that we deny them free education or birth certificates, we also have to be malicious and deny them education in foreign countries as well) — I could go on but I think you get the picture and it isn’t the embodiment of what Islam should stand for.

Islam’s core principles revolve around fighting injustice and offering compassion to all members of society, irrespective of race, gender, ethnic group or religion. The society must protect its own and care for its weak and underprivileged (the poor, orphans, the abused etc) — at both a civic and legislative level. Irrespective of whether we are Muslims or not, we are members of this society: shepherds of our kin, our businesses, our employees, our neighbors, and our community. We all need to get involved, need to speak out against injustice whether we live in affluent comfortable neighborhoods or dingy ghettos.

‘Reform’ is a word that is bandied about too effortlessly in Kuwait, but you cannot have true reform if the social order does not take care of its own and has double standards meting out justice. It is only by directly facing the dark abyss of society’s shortcomings that Kuwait can underline the hidden causes of our hindrances and take back its rightful and historic place as a vanguard of progress, equality and integrity.

A CALL TO WEB CALLS
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (10th March, 2007)

The Kuwait Ministry of Communications apparently is not familiar with globalization, the shrinking 'world village' and the communications revolution sweeping the world. The bureaucratic, backward MOC mentality is stuck in a 1985 time warp. As reported the last few days, the Ministry of Communications has blocked Internet Telephony Services. One could see this particular train wreck coming ever since one of the MOC Under-Secretaries complained a few months ago of losing "20 million KD" in revenue per year due to the Net services.

But let us ponder the issue at hand what is KD 20 million to the MOC? Is this amount more important than allowing our expatriates and businesses to communicate in a swifter, less expensive manner via the net? The majority of citizens in Kuwait are expatriates, and many of them rely on services like Net To Phone because they cannot pay the exorbitant prices by the MOC. These tactics by the MOC are akin to Mafia extortion tactics (arrests, intimidation, blocked sites), forcing citizens to use high cost, sub par services. We are dealing with basic human rights here, the right to communicate with family and friends and not pay outrageous prices.

I am positive tens of millions more get wasted due to corruption and mismanagement at the MOC. The Kuwait international rates are among the highest in the Middle East and the world, technology is catching up; internet telephony services are one day going to make charges obsolete, so the MOC needs to 'get with the program' : preparing itself for its essential and eventual transformation from a traditional, bloated, pedantic government bureaucracy to an "Authority" that provides services and quality control.

Thousands of people are moving away from landlines (part of a global trend) and obtaining mobile numbers (they are the real MOC revenue-killer) - does the MOC intend to sue Wataniya and MTC as well?

Former MOC Minister Masouma Mubarak should have spent more time attempting to 'fix' Kuwait Airways (which is now being sued by 17 stranded passengers in Thailand) than trying to milk every last cent out of poor expatriates and citizens attempting to communicate with others via the Net (I sincerely look forward to a high-tech, pioneering technocrat being offered the MOC portfolio, not Ms. Mubarak again). I also hope expatriates and their representatives in Kuwait help pressure the MOC to revers its course.

For a ministry that has proclaimed its willingness to 'reform,' 'modernize' and avail Kuwait of the latest technological developments in the Communications field, it has failed miserably to keep up with modern trends, limit ISP charges and upgrade its digital and broadband services to be on par with most modern states. The MOC needs to move away from its bureaucratic, inefficient and intrusive Orwellian world into the 21st century.

An Old Kuwaiti Neighborhood (from Kuwait.Past.Com)

'After Iftar Corner'
Embrace Tolerance
Reprinted From Arab Times (15th October, 2006)
By Amer Al-Hilal

During the blessed month of "Ramadan," Muslims fast, abstain from impure thoughts and actions, donate to charity, and aspire to live up to the ideals of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) by worshiping Allah, the All-Mighty, through their hearts and minds.

Tolerance, humility, civility and compassion, I was raised to believe, were noble characteristics that required constant support and encouragement. These characteristics in an individual are an offshoot of a decent upbringing by conscientious parents everywhere; indeed they are among many pillars of Islam, and are embodied by the character of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

The origins of Kuwait, prior to the oil boom, were also founded on tolerance, kindness and an innate curiosity of other cultures and peoples. Our citizens were pearl divers and merchants, they traveled far and wide, and they become proficient at languages - ranging from Swahili to Indian; our livelihood depended on it. Kuwait was far from affluent during those harsh years; people woke up at dawn, women would work tirelessly to bake food and take care of the homes and - by and large - men would do manual labor. Nevertheless, the community was phenomenal: strong, vibrant, and enriched by a sense of camaraderie, of belonging, united by faith and love. All would share sorrow and happiness; for instance, wedding celebrations would last for days. Long pilgrimages to distant exotic lands, by camel caravans and by the traditional wooden Kuwaiti "Dhows" would span months, occasionally longer. The women and children stayed behind working hard, protecting other's homes and possessions. Indeed, we were expatriates and laborers in other countries, away from our families for extended periods.

An Old Kuwaiti Gate (from Kuwait.Past.Com)

And yet we were a beacon of tolerance and kindness. Kuwait was the foremost Gulf country to build an American Hospital, to embrace non-Muslims into their communities, notably missionaries, leading to the establishment of churches and places of worship here. We were an open, transparent and God-fearing society; our minds were wide open and our arms were ready to welcome strangers who might ride through the visage of a distant sandstorm into our "Kut," (the word Kuwait derives from it, meaning "Little Fort").

We never were a country that fueled fanaticism, bigotry, injustice, corruption: rising embezzlement, shopkeepers being attacked because they stocked Christmas trees, foreigners being targeted because of race or country of origin, Kuwaiti cultural legacy being shunned (because they include music or dance), rising censorship against all forms of intellectual works, among many other examples. These events are un-Islamic; a warped, narrow-minded form of ignorance roaming under the guise of religion.

Celebrating A Feast (from Kuwait.Past.Com)

Tolerance, compassion, sincerity, humility, treating individuals with respect - regardless of rank, race, ethnic background or religion; these are both Islamic ideals and traditional Kuwaiti ideals, they are a form of charity: pure in nature, high in stature and evocative of equality and goodwill.

These ideals should be embraced, always, not just during the holy month of Ramadan. They were the ideals of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and a way of life. Only by acquiring knowledge of our Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and emulating his gentle, just and compassionate traits, can we become better Muslims.

People Want Decisive Action, Tangible Accomplishments
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (6th July, 2006)

Elections are over. The people have spoken. The new Parliament is an opposition one in the true sense of the word. The reform movement is as formidable as ever and its main defenders in Parliament have returned imbued with a sense of energy and determination.

Even with 25 Constituencies and unlimited resources, the government and its supporters could not extinguish the flames of reform and the vociferous spirit rallying against corruption. Last minute “yellow journalism,” interviews with tainted Ministers and empty talk about “national unity” could not dispel how people felt both about corruption and the aimless, unproductive role the government has played during the last few years. Infrastructure problems such as the water shortage issue only augmented people’s frustrations at the government, a government that has failed consecutively to advance Kuwait into the 21st century.

The ball is in the government’s court now. The people and the Parliament have demanded that certain individuals do not return to a new cabinet and that the government take a heightened stand against corruption - prevalent in all of Kuwait not just government bodies - which taints everything it touches whether it be housing, social issues, technological upgrades, among other issues. Corruption is no longer a symptom of a failed society; it is now an ailment which not only menaces all of Kuwait but renders it impotent.

If the government is serious about privatization, upgrading Northern oil fields, improving health care and the environment, tackling unemployment and creating new jobs, then it needs to listen to the Kuwaiti street. Nevertheless, we want things done right, if the government upgrades or privatizes, we want a transparent mechanism that benefits the Kuwaiti citizen, not some Tom, Dick or Harry who is “close to the inner circle.”

The government cannot blame Saddam or Iraq for the lack of progress and development in Kuwait. There are no more internal problems within the branches of the Ruling Family impeding progress. Oil is not at $7 a barrel. There are no more scapegoats.

People want decisive action and tangible accomplishments. They are tired of rhetoric concerning ‘national unity’ and ‘navigators steering the Kuwaiti ship safely to shore’ and all the other useless jargon the public has been spoon-fed the last quarter of a century.

If the government is serious about reform, it will help pass 5 Constituencies (or even one Constituency) it will eradicate corrupt elements from future cabinets, it will work on a plan to upgrade Kuwait’s infrastructure and seriously analyze the needs of the young Kuwaiti men and women coming of age who need decent jobs, security and prosperity to help build this country.

However, if the government chooses the defiant route ignoring the will of the people, then we all tumble into another political abyss the results of which will not be pretty and the government will not be able to blame its incompetent performance on “internal elements hurting Kuwait’s national unity.”

Iran's Installations

'Radioactive dreams'; Spare Region 'Another War'
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (24th April, 2006)

Dear President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

Please allow me to interrupt your latest preparations for the bizarre "Holocaust: Myth or Fact" conference and congratulate you on your active and vibrant Presidency. Iran continues on its path of enlightenment, its respect for human rights, combating terrorism, its support for freedom of speech, the Middle East Peace Process, security in the Gulf and the international arena by continuing to thumb its nose at the West and the Gulf countries by pursuing a nuclear program.

During the Kuwait invasion, Saddam "I Invaded Kuwait But All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" Hussein torched over 700 oil wells, literally making us live through Joseph Conrad's Darkness at Noon, local lax environmental regulations on factories and the oil industry, leading to an increase in asthmas rates and cancers.

So Mr. President, you are just speeding up the inevitable; we are now on the path of an uninhabitable Kuwait, one shrouded in cancers and innumerable deaths due to the radioactive smorgasbord - due to a potential earthquake, human error a la Three Mile Island or a smart-bomb attack - from your strategically-placed-on-the-Kuwait-border nuclear reactors.

Of course placing such reactors around Teheran or your major cities would have alarmed citizens, so they got moved to our neck of the woods (ie the Busher plant).

You were well aware that our Ministers would run to you with open arms, with their gleaming, toothy smiles, and hug you and treat you like a visionary head of state when you visited us. You knew we'd make statements "supporting peaceful nuclear work."

We also embraced your envoys (ie. Rafsanjani) but what use will their words of reassurance be when people are getting chills and fever due to environmental radiation?

You actually went one step beyond an invasion. This won't be seven months of torture, rapes and killing (featuring over 600 POWs missing); rather Kuwait will be uninhabitable, not for one month, or seven months or three years, but for decades. It's genius. You will actually manage to do something Saddam never dreamed of: create a ghost town - fueled by alarming cancer rates and innumerable deaths - where human life is worthless and billions in revenue whether earned (oil) or spent (infrastructure, investments) will be worthless. The history, heritage and land of a country will be erased, not in name but in reality. Who would want to live here under those conditions? Mr President if you don't believe me, I'll try to make this easier for you: watch Stanley Kramer's 1959 motion picture "On The Beach" (you can order it from Amazon.com). Listen to Fred Astaire's monologue.

Oh, I just realized that you - as a former American hostage-taker during the Iranian revolution - are probably not "cool" with the idea of watching Western films, unless they are "Wag The Dog" or "Fahrenheit 911." Take the Russian deal. And spare the region another war. Kuwait is tired of being in the eye of the storm every decade. We've had enough. Otherwise its welcome to Radioactive Dreams, Mr. President. And that will be all due to your sheer genius and respect for human life.

WAR BRINGS FORTH BEST TRAITS
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (22nd March 2006)

It's been three years to this day since I heard sirens piercing the airwaves at noon, on March 20, 2003.

I had moved two days earlier to a new domicile, the only reason I had bothered to change my location was due to the fact that the new one had a basement room which I could seal in case of a chemical or biological attack by Iraq.

In Kuwait we lived through over three weeks of the Iraqi fallout: sirens blazing several times a day, missiles being intercepted by Patriot missile batteries, some striking the city, fear of a chemical attack; indeed all of us were in 'low frequency' or controlled panic mode.

You can prepare yourself psychologically but when the siren's sound becomes audible, on the streets and the radio, it becomes an altogether different beast to tame.

When the sirens pierced our surroundings the first day of the war, I sat down in silence, I had dry mouth, I attempted to collect my thoughts and "get it together," I wasn't worried about myself, but was concerned about my children and thoughts of what a chemical attack could do to Kuwait were devastating. During the Gulf War thousands of us Kuwaiti students and professionals had volunteered to serve with the U.S. Army, and we received training at bases such as Fort Dix, NJ (even receiving chemical training) but when you're in Kuwait with a family and children, it's an entirely different scenario.

We rushed to the basement - already stocked with supplies: radios, flashlights, food and water - and locked the door, sealing it with plastic wrappings and tape.

We sealed ourselves in the room. I had never done such a thing in my life.

The radio was on, the Kuwaiti announcer coolly reporting the situation. He was the voice we clung to, he was the voice that would tell us 'everything's okay,' the voice that would allow us to break the seals on the door and leave the basement room, as opposed to being stuck in there for days like hamsters, because of any chemical threat.

The first dozen or so siren warnings we all did the same "shtick"; scurrying to the basement room and locking ourselves in. I'd sit wondering how the British dealt with years of the "blitz" in London, being bombarded with sirens piercing, using shelters, and utilizing food rations, eventually many of them having to send their children to the countryside for their own safety.

After a few days of sirens intermittently going off, we got accustomed to them and began ignoring that little "panic room" we had set up in the basement. We actually celebrated my son's birthday in the living room once while they screeched in the background.

Nevertheless, the air Conditioner was still off and all the windows in the house were still sealed, the war still raged, and the rumors still flew, but it was work as usual and life went on. We would follow the news closely no matter where we were, any ministry, house, place of business had MSNBC or Fox News in the background. Let's not forget Al-Jazeera featuring the Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Al-Sahaf lambasting the U.S., describing the grave casualties they were suffering. He was Iraq's Inspector Clouseau, the buffoon of the hour; mocked nightly on Jay Leno and David Letterman (Al-Sahaf is now comfortably retired in Dubai).

Al-Sahaf In Action

10 days after the initial war had broken out, the outlook was bleak. We became uneasy, preparing for the worst. We actually had expected a Gulf War videogame scenario where Iraqi soldiers would surrender to television camera crews and the like, but now there was resistance in places like Basra and there were reports from the US media that U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld had wanted a leaner and meaner strike force as opposed to a larger and formidable one (i.e. The Powell Doctrine: Overwhelming Force). The war didn't seem like it was progressing at the expected rate; I remember a hefty number of expatriates were beginning to leave Kuwait and we were worried that the American invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein would take a minimum of six months.

We had grown accustomed to the American Patriot missile batteries intercepting all the missiles before they reached downtown Kuwait. But then it happened. It was around 1am and I was watching Fox News - which had a decent live feed of Kuwait - and I felt a distant thundering blast, the house shook slightly. The live feed featured a shot of Kuwait city, quiet, orange lights glowing in the distance behind skyscrapers and buildings, and then we saw it: a rising mass of smoke appearing in the background.

No sirens had blared. This missile had gotten through.

Immediately I worried that it might be a chemical attack but began skimming through the channels, Fox, MSNBC and CNN.

The Missile Explosion In Kuwait

It was bizarre watching Fox News report on something happening in my vicinity while I was there. This wasn't some desolate remote country thousands of miles away, this was here and now.

Gradually they all began featuring the live feed from Kuwait featuring the explosion. Within an hour we found out that Souk Sharq - one of Kuwait's premier malls by the beachfront - had been hit; young Kuwaitis in defiance left their homes and drove to the location. Camera crews were taping everything; dozens of Kuwaitis, maybe hundreds, showed up, taunting Saddam and Iraq, yelling out in Arabic "bring it on!"

Within a few days, the war effort picked up pace and the Americans had reached Baghdad. The regime had been decimated.

When I reminisce of those apprehensive weeks we went through three years ago, they humble me; they also spark memories of the invasion of Kuwait when fearless Kuwaitis - accustomed to a comfortable life - joined the resistance, distributed food, helped people in need and worked blue collar jobs to help themselves and others. Many paid with their lives. Others were taken as hostage to Iraq. The resistance characteristic of the Kuwaiti invasion has never truly been highlighted in the global media or popular culture but it was invaluable to the efforts to free Kuwait and maintain the status quo, political or otherwise.

The spirit of camaraderie, strength, faith and sacrifice was prevalent among both Kuwaitis and expatriates; people went out of their way to make sure others were fine, well-stocked and out of harm's way.

In times of crisis, our best traits are brought forth.

It would be astonishing if one could maintain that spirit even during peace; a noble ideal one should aspire to.

Sculptured Hands On a Solid Past- 'Booms' To Take You Back
By Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (1993)

His hands carefully slide across the dusty wooden object. The white-bearded man then places the object on a wooden rack and carefully chooses his tools. The sound of hammering is audible as the elderly craftsman begins to knock wooden nails into the seafaring vessel.

His name is Abdulwahab Issa Al Rashed and he is a miniature boat builder. Abu Issa, as he likes to be known, is a meticulous craftsman and enjoys constructing a variety of wooden ship and boat models, in a various sizes.

Located on the Gulf Road, adjacent to the beach, surrounded by traditional Kuwait mud houses and a small mosque, Abu Issa can be found constantly working on new miniatures in his cramped little edifice, highlighted by its wooden gate - it is like stepping into Kuwait's pre-oil, pearl-diving past.

Abu Issa has been working his trade since 1972 and states that his work first "began as a hobby." He works on a variety of miniature and not-so-miniature boats (such as the 4 feet long 'Al Boom,' a traditional Kuwaiti fishing and pearl-diving ship). Abu Issa believes that newer generations of Kuwaitis should not forget their humble and hard-working past, and encourages them to preserve the heritage and craft of ship-building.

Some of the miniature ships that Abu Issa builds at the present time include the 'Jalboot,' 'Sanbook,' Albatil,' and 'Alshuia;' all traditional boats which were once used as merchant and fishing vessels.

The demand for his work has considerably increased since the liberation, due to the theft and destruction of much of his work by the Iraqis, and due to increased public interest in the ancient Kuwaiti art forms. Indeed, his clients include Gulf citizens, as well as Westerners who have a keen interest in Kuwait's heritage. Most prefer to order the 'Al Boom' models (a Kuwaiti icon if ever there was one).

Abu Issa's easy-going, relaxed, yet disciplined demeanor is tailor made for the kind of model building that he specializes in. His work hours can sometime hit the midnight hour, whether demand for his miniatures exists or not (he takes up to one week to build a full-scale model, but with bouts of energy, he can build one in two days).

Abu Issa is not a materialistic man; most of his pleasure is derived from the craft itself. His prices are reasonable as well (ranging from KD 30 to KD 900 for a massive, meticulously crafted model). His models can beautify offices, living rooms, hallways and make ideal presents for foreigners unfamiliar with Kuwait's ships of yester-year. Fortunately, Abu Issa's love and passion for his trade guarantees that the fate of this particular Kuwaiti art form is in solid hands.