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Thurday, July 17, 2008

Kuwait parliament demanding answers on kingdom's readiness for Iran war

ABU DHABI — Kuwait's feisty parliament has demanded answers to whether the sheikdom was prepared for a Western confrontation with Iran in the Gulf.

Parliamentarians have called for an emergency session to discuss government plans for a civil defense and military response should Israel or the United States attack Iran. They said Kuwait, with 15,000 U.S. troops, would be a leading target of Iranian retaliation.

"The exchange of threats between the two nations requires such a session to ensure that the government is ready for any possibility," parliamentarian Mohammed Hayef said.

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The government has reported plans to counter any Gulf crisis. Officials said the plans, which include civil defense and emergency oil exports, have undergone testing.

"Security authorities have begun implementing an emergency exercise practice drill in which many government organizations, military as well as civilian, are participating," an official said.

In July, Kuwaiti Interior Minister Jaber Al Khalid Al Sabah toured such regional allies as Egypt, Jordan and Syria to discuss the prospect of an Iranian strike. Jaber said Kuwait would not allow the United States or any other country to use the sheikdom as a launching pad for an attack.

Kuwait's parliament has been regarded as the freest in the Arab world. Over the last year, parliamentary pressure has led to the resignation of several Kuwaiti ministers, including the oil minister, amid accusations of corruption and graft.

"The government takes all necessary precautions to face the possibility of war in the area and to ensure adequate food and medical supplies in any emergency situation," parliamentarian Raja Al Hujailan said.

But the government was expected to resist any session to discuss Kuwaiti emergency plans. Officials said the sheikdom has deemed these plans classified.

"The chances of any such emergency session taking place are very slim since the majority of members of parliament are currently out of the state on summer vacation," acting parliamentary speaker Roudhan Al Roudhan said.


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