Kuwait braces for security threats

At greater risk, however, are civilian contractors working with the US military, such as the victims in Tuesday's shooting. US officials and local police are working on the assumption that the killer had staked out the road in the knowledge that the route is frequently used by Americans working at Camp Doha.

About 6,000 Americans live and work in Kuwait. In a letter printed by the Arab Times, an unnamed American asked: "What is there to gain by killing innocents? Do you think that the US will stop sending soldiers? Do you think that any policy will change because of these merciless acts? They will not."

Kuwaiti police were quick to detain several people for questioning about the attack, but there is little they can do to halt such sporadic incidents.

Kuwaitis are also concerned about Iraq fomenting internal unrest prior to or during a US-led invasion of Iraq.

The announcement last week that a Kuwaiti citizen, a sergeant in the National Guard, had been arrested for spying for Iraq caused widespread shock here, where memories of Iraq's brutal seven-month occupation are still fresh.

Mohammed Hamad Fahad al-Juwayd is reported to have confessed to passing military information to Iraq, planning bombing attacks against a power station and gas stations, and plotting to assassinate key Kuwaiti officials in exchange for thousands of dollars.

"Kuwait passed through hard circumstances during the Iraqi invasion, and the occupiers did not find persons in Kuwaiti society to hire as agents," said Kuwaiti Information and Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah. "This is an individual case, although it has deeply distressed me," he added.

Shafeeq Ghabra, a professor of politics at Kuwait University, says domestic attacks being carried out by Kuwaitis is a "very minor factor," due to the national hatred for Hussein.

Kuwaitis are also bracing for the prospect that Hussein may unleash weapons of mass destruction against Kuwait in a final act of revenge. At noon yesterday, Kuwait City rang with the chilling wail of an air-raid siren, the latest precautionary exercise undertaken by the Kuwaiti Civil Defense.

Gas masks and protective tents are on sale in shops, and batteries of Patriot antimissile missiles have been deployed around Kuwait City and key military bases. Every few days, evacuation drills are carried out at government facilities. On Sunday, the Ministry of Food and Agricultural Sciences was subjected to a mock attack with chemical weapons. Smoke canisters were ignited and sound bombs detonated around the building in downtown Kuwait City. An alarm bell rang and employees filed out of a side door, stepping past a "corpse" complete with gruesome makeup on his face.

The exercise proceeded smoothly, but Ali al-Shemlan, the director-general of the ministry, admits that further drills are needed.

"We have been though a surprise before [when Iraq invaded in 1990], and Kuwaitis do not want to be surprised again," he says. "We will be prepared."

Page: 1 | 2