Kuwaiti girls wave national flags at the start on 28 January 2011 of the annual festival in Kuwait City which marks this year the 50th independence day, the 20th anniversary of the end of the Gulf war with the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation and the fifth anniversary of Sheikh Sabah's succession to power. http://www.majalla.com/en/Features/article254962.ece
2/20/2011
Former U.S. Ambassador praises Kuwaiti people's will, determination
Former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Ambassador Edward Gnehm described the liberation of Kuwait as "extraordinarly successful, " saying Kuwait was rebuilt by the "will" and "determination" of the Kuwaiti people."
Gnehm, who served in Kuwait from 1991-1994, told KUNA in an exclusive interview marking the 20th Anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait, that the liberation of Kuwait was "such an intense, emotional time for all of us; the Kuwaitis, the Americans involved. What I remember most are my relationships with people and the issues that we struggled together to work with." "It was a great partnership and camaraderie between the American teams that were working with me and the Kuwaitis who were working; the civil affairs unit that were planning the contingences, what we would do to take care of people on liberation day and also how we would rebuild Kuwait," he added.
Gnehm described the liberation of Kuwait as an "extraordinary successful" and that Kuwait has been "rebuilt entirely, but it was done by the will of the Kuwaiti people who wanted to see it rise from the ashes of destruction at that very bad moment in time." "There was great zeal after the liberation to do that. I remember determination to open the schools in September. We were talking in March and to open up the school system where the schools had been destroyed, all the books stolen.
That was a humongous commitment but it was achieved because of the determination of the Kuwaitis", he added.
Gnehm said that US-Kuwait security relationship "has been critically important to Kuwait but important to the United States as well, the economic recovery of the country, critically important to Kuwait, but critically important to the United States as well".
"In restoration of political life inside the country, the parliament specifically occurred a year and half after the liberation - the truth being is the people spoke and the government apparently responded," he remarked.
He affirmed that "in the initial aftermath of the liberation, the two countries put in place a variety of different agreements that framed the relationship. It has been a close one ever since, particularly in the security field," he added.
"I think if there was any message at all it would be a call on Kuwaitis to remember 20 years ago and the tragedy of losing a country and remember the zeal with which they wished to have it back. Remember the passion to build a better future and be thankful for the country you have today," said Gnehm.
"I love Kuwait, and I love the people of Kuwait and they are so blessed -- the Kuwaitis are really patriots," he added.
Meanwhile, Gnehm, who is also Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at George Washington University, had a lecture titled "Liberation of Kuwait: Reflections" where he talked about his experience as U.
S. ambassador during that period of time.
He mentioned that on March 1, 1991 while he was flying from Saudi Arabia towards Kuwait he was able to see "the black mass of smoke covering the earth ahead" before arriving to the airport.
He stressed that "winning the battle and winning the peace are two different things, as we learned in Iraq." "The Iraqis had destroyed much banks and other commercial establishments, communication infrastructure including this satellite dish. Virtually all government buildings were damaged severely. There was no electricity and no water. Some hospitals had continued to function due to the dedication of Kuwaiti doctors and volunteers; but the facilities lacked medicine and basic equipment," indicated Gnehm.
He talked about three immediate challenges after returning to Kuwait, which are "maintaining order and avoiding random acts of retaliation or retribution, restoring infrastructure and services and re-establishing the Government of Kuwait."
Gnehm noted that U.S. success "was very much a consequence of the bonds and ties of respect and trust that developed between American colleagues and our Kuwaiti counterparts". "To this day Kuwaitis view President (George) Bush as Kuwait's liberator. The feeling in Kuwait toward America --- 20 years after liberation --- remains one of gratitude, appreciation and thanks," he added.
Gnehm said that the liberation of Kuwait "truly demonstrates what the U.S. can do.
We built an international coalition. We gained international support through UN resolutions." "We fielded a professional military with all the capabilities it needed to win. And we used the talent and skill of American professionals to plan and implement the reconstruction of a country. We can do it," he concluded.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2146363&Language=en
Former U.S. Ambassador praises Kuwaiti people's will, determination
Former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Ambassador Edward Gnehm described the liberation of Kuwait as "extraordinarly successful, " saying Kuwait was rebuilt by the "will" and "determination" of the Kuwaiti people."
Gnehm, who served in Kuwait from 1991-1994, told KUNA in an exclusive interview marking the 20th Anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait, that the liberation of Kuwait was "such an intense, emotional time for all of us; the Kuwaitis, the Americans involved. What I remember most are my relationships with people and the issues that we struggled together to work with." "It was a great partnership and camaraderie between the American teams that were working with me and the Kuwaitis who were working; the civil affairs unit that were planning the contingences, what we would do to take care of people on liberation day and also how we would rebuild Kuwait," he added.
Gnehm described the liberation of Kuwait as an "extraordinary successful" and that Kuwait has been "rebuilt entirely, but it was done by the will of the Kuwaiti people who wanted to see it rise from the ashes of destruction at that very bad moment in time." "There was great zeal after the liberation to do that. I remember determination to open the schools in September. We were talking in March and to open up the school system where the schools had been destroyed, all the books stolen.
That was a humongous commitment but it was achieved because of the determination of the Kuwaitis", he added.
Gnehm said that US-Kuwait security relationship "has been critically important to Kuwait but important to the United States as well, the economic recovery of the country, critically important to Kuwait, but critically important to the United States as well".
"In restoration of political life inside the country, the parliament specifically occurred a year and half after the liberation - the truth being is the people spoke and the government apparently responded," he remarked.
He affirmed that "in the initial aftermath of the liberation, the two countries put in place a variety of different agreements that framed the relationship. It has been a close one ever since, particularly in the security field," he added.
"I think if there was any message at all it would be a call on Kuwaitis to remember 20 years ago and the tragedy of losing a country and remember the zeal with which they wished to have it back. Remember the passion to build a better future and be thankful for the country you have today," said Gnehm.
"I love Kuwait, and I love the people of Kuwait and they are so blessed -- the Kuwaitis are really patriots," he added.
Meanwhile, Gnehm, who is also Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at George Washington University, had a lecture titled "Liberation of Kuwait: Reflections" where he talked about his experience as U.
S. ambassador during that period of time.
He mentioned that on March 1, 1991 while he was flying from Saudi Arabia towards Kuwait he was able to see "the black mass of smoke covering the earth ahead" before arriving to the airport.
He stressed that "winning the battle and winning the peace are two different things, as we learned in Iraq." "The Iraqis had destroyed much banks and other commercial establishments, communication infrastructure including this satellite dish. Virtually all government buildings were damaged severely. There was no electricity and no water. Some hospitals had continued to function due to the dedication of Kuwaiti doctors and volunteers; but the facilities lacked medicine and basic equipment," indicated Gnehm.
He talked about three immediate challenges after returning to Kuwait, which are "maintaining order and avoiding random acts of retaliation or retribution, restoring infrastructure and services and re-establishing the Government of Kuwait."
Gnehm noted that U.S. success "was very much a consequence of the bonds and ties of respect and trust that developed between American colleagues and our Kuwaiti counterparts". "To this day Kuwaitis view President (George) Bush as Kuwait's liberator. The feeling in Kuwait toward America --- 20 years after liberation --- remains one of gratitude, appreciation and thanks," he added.
Gnehm said that the liberation of Kuwait "truly demonstrates what the U.S. can do.
We built an international coalition. We gained international support through UN resolutions." "We fielded a professional military with all the capabilities it needed to win. And we used the talent and skill of American professionals to plan and implement the reconstruction of a country. We can do it," he concluded.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2146363&Language=en
