Salmiya, Sunday, 6.1.08, 6:45pm

What a day.

An environment consisting of bitter cold, fierce wind and dust is sweeping Kuwait.

It’s like being trapped in an hourglass, under the brunt of falling sand.

Stay home.

…This…

“KUWAIT: The theft of copper wires and other cables from the Ministry of Electricity and Water during the first six months of 2007 has cost the ministry KD 500,000. Because of this, the MEW held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Interior to take action and stop this phenomenon. The Interior Ministry in turn, informed the owners of scrap yards to make sure to get a photocopy of anyone who is selling wires or cables to them in order to see if the wires were stolen or not. The Ministry of Interior noted that any scrap yard owner who does not follow these rules will be penalized”.

[LINK]

“Et tu, Brutus“?

George Orwell (‘1984‘) would have had a field day with the Arabesque double speak emanating from both the Kuwaiti press and official circles.

Here are a few I have decoded for you:

• “The meeting focused on bilateral relations between the two states” = We are KUNA. We never know the details.
• “We must steer the ship safely to shore” = We don’t know what the f*** we are doing, but bare with us.
• “We must protect national unity, it is vital to this nation” = We don’t want you to interfere in the looting of this country.
• “The relations between the two countries are brotherly. Our discussions were mutually beneficial” = They want us to invest in their infrastructure and offer them low-interest loans.
• “Corruption will not stand. No one is above the law” = We decide who gets a free pass and who doesn’t.
• “The press must act responsibly in order to safeguard harmony” = Don’t highlight corruption in public or you will be punished.
• “We support Iran’s nuclear program for peaceful purposes” = We hope the U.S. bombs the living shit out of your nuclear facilities, turning them into parking lots.
• “We are all soldiers for Kuwait” = We are only interested in personal self-aggrandizement.
• “The government is weak and inefficient” = I am still waiting for my exclusive E-Government contract.
• “The parliament is the impediment to Kuwait’s development and progress” = We have 97% of the Kuwaiti labor force working for us, we have billions in revenue, but let’s blame it on the parliament.
• “Kuwait lauds relations with ally” = We are KUNA. We can only use three words: ‘Laud,’ ‘Hail’ and ‘Brotherly.’

Can you add any more to this list?

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A ‘Kuwait Book Fair’ is on the horizon. If you are into cheap Arabic paperbacks, social science books, academic journals by 3rd rate Arab institutions and language how-to-guides, held together by make-shift plywood counters and shelves, you are gonna love it. If you are searching for SKINNY BITCH, Khaled Hosseini’s THE KITE RUNNER, John Grisham’s PLAYING FOR PIZZA and other New York Times best-sellers, I suggest you look elsewhere. Like Borders and Virgin in Dubai or the new Borders in Muscat.

Last Year’s Book Fair In Mishrif

The Kuwait definition of irony is….Kuwait Book Fair Next Week and 230 Books Banned.

There is an obsessive fixation in Kuwait concerning ‘Ministers’ and ‘Portfolios.’

When is this society and its decision-making components (Parliament, Council of Ministers) realize that true change and reform comes not with a new minister but by eradicating or overhauling the apparatus within the ministries themselves: Under-Secretaries, Assistant Under-Secretaries, Directors/Managers of Departments, and so forth. By and large, they are the ones who have been in power for decades and know the nooks and crannies of their ministries and how to exploit the system. Ministers can be replaced left and right but it means nothing without a complete overhaul of ministerial human resources and systems: elimination of bureacracy and corruption via an effective e-government system, succession planning and grooming the next generation, eradication of unproductive employees and managers, firing and prosecuting individuals found guilty of abusing their positions for financial gain or otherwise…the list goes on.

Everyone knows that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results. Both the Parliament and the Council of Ministers are guilty of that behavior.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Discuss.

We told you so…thousands of pirated KINGDOM copies have flooded the Kuwaiti black market. I’m sure the Ministry of Information is ecstatic now that the Studio and Movie Exhibitors get no revenues, but the pirates get all the profit.

Check the ‘Arab Times’ article ‘Pirates Ignore Kingdom Plea.’

The Saudi-based ‘Arab News’ newspaper has quoted ‘Hilaliya’ commenters, including This Lady Says, in an article by Rasheed Abou-Alsamh called “Banning ‘The Kingdom’ Is Counterproductive, Say Experts.” [Link]

A Scene From ‘The Kingdom’ (Universal)

I received word of the Eid being tomorrow shortly after the futur meal and it was a tad unexpected (I thought it would be Saturday).

I for one will be sorry to see ‘Ramadan’ end: the congregational prayers, visiting kin, the atmosphere, the television programs and so forth. I also tremendously enjoyed taking ‘Hilaliya’ for a detour, covering Ramadan-related stories. I had a great time doing it, it was a shot in the arm to the blog.

If you have been a frequent poster here, I thank you. I wish you and your loved ones a very happy Eid Mubarak.