Kuwaitis firmly in Bush camp

Kuwaitis were glued to their televisions the night of November 2, hoping for a Bush win as Americans went to the polls. The country saw myriads of gatherings long after iftar, rooting for George W Bush and discussing the question of why he is best for the country.

Kuwaitis in general adore the Bush family, firstly because George Bush Senior liberated Kuwait after it was invaded by Saddam Hussain in August 1990, and more importantly because his son took Saddam out of the equation, and in doing so got rid of a menace that had threatened their country for a long time.

Most Kuwaitis said the Democrats in general do not have the same foreign policy resolve as the Republicans do, and any change in America would affect Kuwait negatively.

Anti-Muslim

Senior officials polled, privately wished for a Bush win but would not go on the record because "we have to work with whoever is in power". People on the street, however, were not shy in expressing their opinion.

Khalid Al Mutairi, a writer for Al Rai Al Aaam said, "Of course Bush must win. It is a common perception that he is anti-Muslim, anti- Arab and has made a complete mess in Iraq but he is a man of resolve. Four more years will give him the time and the space to make things right. A Kerry win will mean a quick exit strategy out of Iraq and that will lead to a worse mess for the region".

Ahmad Hashim said, "If Bush loses, we in Kuwait will regress to living in fear again because the Democrats will leave behind an extremely chaotic region".

Not everyone though was a Bush fan, Ahmad Al Mikhled, said, "Both are rubbish. They are pro-Israel and very anti-Arab but Kerry would be good for America. On the other hand in the next four years Bush will destroy America and the rest of the world".

A Chinese woman at one of the gatherings however said, "It has already been predicted that Bush would win. This is the year of the Monkey according to Chinese astrological tradition and monkeys will have all the luck."