EDITORIAL: Kuwait’s great gesture to Australia

Kuwait Towers were decorated on the night of the 26th January with lights depicting Australia’s flag, marking Australia Day. The gesture signals the close bonds between the two friendly countries, and Kuwait’s appreciation for the nation that stood on its side during the Iraqi Invasion. Kuwait’s fondness towards Australia is a great example of how two nations can work with each other on an international level.

Kuwait with its loyal leadership and people have not forgotten Australia when the people of Kuwait were subjected to aggression during the Iraqi invasion. The Iraqi military caused tragic loss of life amongst the Kuwaiti citizens and destroyed homes, buildings, oil wells and industrial sites in their wave of terror. With the aid of Foreign and Arab military intervention, including Australia, Kuwait was liberated in a short period of time and drove back the flames of the Iraqi invasion.

It is very comforting to Australia that for 2016 Australia Day, Kuwait Towers presented the Australian Flag. Such joy permeated through the Kuwaiti people under the leadership of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This year marks 25 years since the Iraqi military was driven out of Kuwait with the people celebrating the liberation from the Iraqi invasion. This is in stark contrast of the images of oil fires in Kuwait in 1991, which were a result of the scorched earth policy of Iraqi military forces retreating from Kuwait.

Australia’s contribution to the liberation of Kuwait is firmly planted in the minds and hearts of the Kuwaiti people and wise leadership. We at the Middle East Times International have great fondness in our hearts of the memories from 1991 when peace was restored to Kuwait. It was a time when the world’s media gave great attention to the situation in Kuwait. Here in Australia the Middle East Times and its radio program, Australian Lebanese Radio 90.1 FM carefully covered the events and fully supported Kuwait and its leadership.

Since 1946 to the present Kuwait has enjoyed large scale modernization. It quickly rebuilt its economy and infrastructure following the Iraqi occupation under its wise leadership and now is a high income economy with the world’s sixth largest oil reserve.

The people of Australia are very happy to see the acknowledgement of its flag being displayed in Kuwait which further increases relations between our two countries.                                                          

Editor in Chief

Camil Shalala