Cruel plans won't last

In the last two weeks, there has been a series of terrorist attacks in Yemen, Kuwait and Indonesia. In Yemen, a small boat smashed into a French tanker, killing one of its crew. Officials said that the act was deliberate.

In Kuwait, two Kuwaitis, armed with rifles, killed one Marine and wounded another. Kuwaiti officials attributed the attack to one of Al Qaida's sleeping cells.

In Indonesia, a series of bomb blasts targeted the U.S. and the Philippine Consulates and a nightclub in Bali. While both the consulates were not affected, the nightclub was destroyed, killing about 200 people and injuring several hundred. Indonesia has accused Al Qaida of involvement in the Bali attacks. The following is the Arab press' discussion of the violence that hit the three countries.

It is a sin to praise the attacks that occurred recently in Yemen, Kuwait, and Indonesia since such operations weaken the authorities of these countries and threaten their internal security, says Al Sharq (Qatar) in its editorial comment.

The repercussions of these operations not only affect the West but also the countries in which they were carried out. In fact, such attacks weaken these countries' governments, clash with their strategic and foreign policies as well as their external and internal interests, resulting in great damage. This damage is even more severe than the actual killing of Americans and other Western nationals, adds Al Sharq.

Unenviable position

Moreover, such operations support extremism, with the September 11 attacks a terrible result of this dangerous advocacy of extreme measures. This extremism, in turn, has placed the Arabs in an unenviable position and made them pay the price.

In Palestine and Iraq they have paid the price for adopting this approach that links Islam to the sword instead of portraying it as a religion of tolerance that calls for peaceful coexistence with others regardless of their ideological differences, says Al Sharq.

Regretfully, violence as an emotional reaction leads to unimaginable disaster. The tarnished image of Islam in the world and the dramatic change in the way the West views this region are some of the disastrous repercussions, adds Al Sharq.

Because of this blind violence, many view the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance as terrorism. Also, this violence has provided the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with a golden chance to slaughter the Palestinians and humiliate their leaders without any reaction from the world, says Al Sharq.

Striking American establishments and forces is not the right way to express one's opposition to the U.S. presence in the region. Such opposition should be expressed through the legitimate channels available in Kuwait, Yemen and Indonesia. Dialogue and not violence is the way to express the people's resentment of the Western presence, adds Al Sharq.

Otherwise, the pattern will be set for a regime similar to the Taliban which no reasonable Arab will accept. Disorder weakens any state, and violence is an offence against a state's sovereignty since it paves the way for Western countries to impose their military presence so as to maintain order in these countries, something no one wants, concludes Al Sharq.

It is said that there are sleeping cells everywhere which Al Qaida can activate. In Kuwait, one of this cells has attacked the American forces. Those who planned this operation cannot complain of any bigotry because they live in a democratic country that allows them to express their opinion freely, writes Mohammed Al Rumeihi in Al Watan (Oman).

Furthermore, saying that they carried out this operation because of their distress at the events in Palestine is an explanation that no reasonable person can accept. This is because the events in Palestine are not recent.

So why have they suddenly become so concerned about the Palestinian issue? In addition, all Kuwaitis are upset about what is happening in Palestine and have tried to help the Palestinians to the best of their ability, adds Al Rumeihi.

Palestinians cannot be helped by attacking individuals who have no direct connection with what is happening in Palestine. The attack as such was committed to derive the maximum political benefit for this movement that has followers who blindly obey any instructions without thinking and without any consideration for their country's interests, says Al Rumeihi.

The time and place which the aggressors have chosen for the attack reveal that they wanted to imply that Kuwait is linked to the Iraqi issue. It was a deliberate and not an emotional act that only benefits those who oppose democracy and want the suppression of the people to continue.

Thus, their concern is not for Palestine or any other Arab issue. Rather, they follow a well-planned political agenda that contradicts the policies chosen by the Kuwaiti people, adds Al Rumeihi.

The attack also implies that those who committed it were brainwashed to such an extent that they obeyed their leaders even if it ended in death. If this influence has been so powerful, then what is the guarantee that the movement's leaders won't choose other targets, questions Al Rumeihi.

In essence, this attack is a contravention of the law and has harmed the interests of the country. But what is important to remember is that the diseased cells in a human body become active only when the body's immunity is lowered. Similarly, Al Qaida cells became active in Afghanistan only when the state's institutions became weak, says Al Rumeihi.

One side of the coin

It is important to note that the environment itself has promoted extremism. In fact, seeing only one side of the coin and talking only about American hostility or viewing the Al Qaida with compassion are one and the same thing. All such viewpoints reveal rigidity of vision.

It is good that the Kuwaiti factions have denounced this attack but more is required. The first is the separation of religion and politics because the first is absolute and fixed and the latter is relative and flexible. Thus, reference should always be made to the law and constitution, adds Al Rumeihi.

Moreover, it should be made clear to the public that the U.S. is an ally that has defended Muslims in many parts of the world and that the war today is not against Islam, nor a clash of civilisations. The war being fought by both Muslims and non-Muslims is one against fanaticism, autocracy and disrespect for others' freedom. Without such clear goals, many will try to fulfil their personal aims.

The aims of Al Qaida are foggy, based on violence and oppose peaceful co-existence, concludes Al Rumeihi.

The series of explosions and deliberate killing of people regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity is a savage act that cannot be accepted by any human being. What happened in Bali is an attack against Indonesia in the first place, says Al-Ittihad (UAE) in its editorial comment.

It is an attack against the country that has the largest group of Muslims in the world, an attack against its newly born democratic regime and its successful economy that is healing after the crisis which affected the Asian tigers during the past few years, adds Al-Ittihad.

With such attacks, the assailants have tried t