America’s Liberal Persian Gulf Friend: An Uneasy Kuwait Confronts Domestic Critics and Regional Threats

Doug Bandow Kuwait City, Kuwait—Kuwait is a shrimp among whales in the Middle East.  It lies among three much larger states, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, all of which have the potential, noted one American diplomat, of swallowing the small Gulf kingdom.  Indeed, Baghdad attempted to do precisely that in 1990. Although more than two decades have passed, Kuwaitis remain grateful to the U.S.  They know they would be the 19th province of Iraq absent American military support.  The Sheraton, where I typically stay, includes photos of the damage wreaked by Iraqi invaders.  Today Iran looms as the larger threat, though Kuwaitis actually are less concerned about nuclear issues.  When your neighbor holds a gun to your head, who cares how big it is, quipped one.  With a heretofore well-integrated minority Shia population, most Kuwaitis actually worry more about the Shia-Sunni battle being fought especially vigorously by Iran and Saudi Arabia. However, most Kuwaitis appear to back the Obama administration’s diplomatic approach.  They know that military strikes are an alternative to negotiations, and war would be disastrous.  Moreover, Kuwaitis hope future talks ultimately could ease tensions in other areas.  Kuwait’s assent offers an important affirmation of Washington’s strategy. Regional events, not just Iranian threats but the Arab Spring bust, have helped reduce domestic political tensions.  Kuwait is among the Gulf’...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs