[quote="jaapolanco"]defender you sound as if you speak from experience in Kuwaiti jails.

Kathryn3 are your comments directed to me or defender?[/quote]

I do, I work very close with KMOI, and been there several times looking for americans....

First I want to assure you that I back Katherine 100%....

I was in Kuwait during the liberation, spent several years here and now I returned and have been here for the last 2 years....Kuwait is not what it was or what most westerners think this is....

Kuwait has and will have a pecking order that its felt with more impact due to the size of Kuwait, it goes something like this..

Kuwaiti, Bedoun (Kuwaiti related), Arabs, American, European, Asian..its just the way it is, the ony way around it is by converting (Islam) or look the other way, I love Kuwait but its the only 2 ways about it...

Kuwait is not a democracy, it is a decreed democracy that is neither supported not liked very much by most Kuwaiti....unlike the US that was a Republic and fell in to a Democracy...Kuwait will always remain what it is a Kingdom...who can and has eliminated the Senate not once but several times....

Dont waste your time with the Embassy, in Kuwait or in anyother country, they are not here to serve US citizens they are here to represent Interest.....I have traveled the world...they wont do a thing for you....you can, thou buy a shirt, have a beer or get pages added to your passport...more than that and your wasting time..

Just like the US military, who have no SOFA (Forces Agreement) with Kuwait the bases are not US bases but Kuwaiti Bases, they tolerate us nothing more nothing less we serve at the pleasure of the Amir.....

The best you can do is not to apoligize the way we understand it, stand your ground but be polite about it, if you give in and lose face, they will not respect you and your done, they will see you as weak..its the Arab Way...

People here imitate, they imitate western styles with an Arab twist....they want results without the work....

Remember most of the Arab world went from tribal nations to a world power house due to OIL...not because they discovered the cure for cancer..

A good friend of mine an influential Kuwait has several daughters with certificates from the Ministry of Educaiton, interesting since they never set a foot in school...its just the way it is..dont kid yourself the US was that way 50 / 70 yrs ago...we just dont remember...

Remember we had jets when they first started to have cars....it will take several generation for them to get the issues of car setas, seat belts, or turning your lights on when driving..

Best thing to do, is make noise, news media, blogs, letters, etc...arabs dont like to be in the spotlight specially when wrong....but be respectfull...they also have real good lawyers that can help...

Dont get me wrong, Kuwaiti citizens do serve time, go to jail and some are in the Black List, but that is not the rule.....

When in Rome, do like the Romans, during Desert Storm we had a motto....Just Defend Us, Dont offend Us...they paid for a service (Liberation) now its time to go on with life...only the older generation remember....

If I can help in anyway tell Katherine to drop me a line...

PS

Jail in Kuwaiti is not safe, mental and physical abuse including rape is not rare, they can and will keep you up to 4 days without a charge , you are not allowed to place a call and your cellphone will be taken away, you will be without contact for those 4 days....food , geez limited and at times not available....