Kuwait remembers former Amir with love, gratitude

[Danny21]

Kuwaitis lost a great leader and a dear father with the passing of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Jan 15, 2006, a day which the country marks for the second time today. Two years after his demise, the memory of the late Sheikh Jaber, whose wisdom of ruling guided the country toward development and prosperity for 28 years, remains vivid and clear. Sheikh Jaber was Kuwait's 13th ruler, and its third leader after the Constitution was approved by the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Nov 11, 1962. He became Amir upon the passing of Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah in the early hours of the final day of 1977.

Born in 1928, Sheikh Jaber received his preliminary education in the Mubarakia, Ahmadia, and Sharqiah schools, as well as by private tutors for Arabic and English languages. His father, the late Amir Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, allowed him to visit many countries, and at the age of 21, Sheikh Jaber became directly involved in politics.

He was appointed Chief Director of Public Security in the Ahmadi area in 1949, when Kuwait moved from a country dependent on diving to an oil-nation.
In 1959, Sheikh Jaber became Head of the Finance Department, and on Jan 17, 1962, he became Kuwait's first Minister of Finance and Economy in the first Kuwaiti cabinet to be formed after independence.

Sheikh Jaber was appointed Minister of Finance and Industry on Jan 28, 1963. And on Jan 3, 1965, Sheikh Jaber became Minister of Finance and Minister of Trade and Industry, and remained in the post until Nov 27, 1965. Sheikh Jaber became Prime Minister on Nov 30, 1965, and an Amiri decree was issued on May 31, 1966 appointing him Crown Prince. The decree was unanimously approved by the country's first National Assembly.

He was appointed Crown Prince and Prime Minister on Feb 4, 1967, and again in 1971 and 1975. In the 28 years that he was ruler, Sheikh Jaber fostered a fatherly relationship with his people, and placed emphasis on equality between all citizens, whether young or old, men or women. An assassination attempt was staged against him on May 25, 1985, following which he said, addressing his people, "The life of Jaber Al-Ahmad, no matter how long it extends, is the life of a mortal. But what will remain is Kuwait,
and what is important is to preserve it and even greater is to maintain its security.
The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on Aug 2, 1990, was the beginning of the late Amir's efforts to regain sovereignty of the state and the rallying of the support of friends around the world for the liberation of Kuwait. He also played a role in uniting the people of Kuwait under their legitimate leadership. Following the liberation, the late Sheikh Jaber's policies quickly brought the country back to its feet and rebuilt what was destroyed by the occupying Iraqi troops. This came after the putting out of the
oil wells that were set on fire by the Iraqi troops before fleeing the country.

The late Amir was also keen on sponsoring and supporting education and scientific research, placed special emphasis on providing for those with special needs, and took it upon himself to care for the children of POWs held by the Baathist regime in Iraq and those martyred while resisting the invading forces.
He stressed at international conventions that the issue of Kuwaiti POWs and determining their fate would remain Kuwait's number one cause.

In 1995, Sheikh Jaber was elected the number one philanthropic personality of the year by a London-based media institution that included five million Arabs.
Furthermore, the idea for establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is attributed to the late Kuwaiti leader, who believed that this was the era of blocs. The GCC became the symbol of unity and joint fate.

Sheikh Jaber embarked on a number of tours throughout his reign to boost Kuwait's international relations. The first was in 1980 and took him to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. He visited Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia in 1980. And in 1988 he delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly as Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and also visited France. He visited a number of Asian, European and African countries in 1989.

Upon the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Sheikh Jaber visited the permanent members of the UN Security Council to rally support for the sovereignty of Kuwait. Between Feb 26, 1991 when Kuwait was liberated, and March 14, 1991 when the late ruler returned to his homeland, he made a series of visits and participated in regional and international conferences aimed at thanking countries of the coalition for their support in freeing the Gulf state from occupation. Again this year, Kuwait marks the second anniversar
y of the demise of a great ruler who was succeeded by a man no less worthy, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. -- KUNA


just thought it appropriate to remember this gr8 leader.....

[thrasher81]

Thank you Danny21. What a wonderful tribute. God rest his soul.

[margog]

رحمة الله عليك يا جابر الأحمد وأسكنك فسيح جنانك ...... اللهم آمين


الفاتحة على روح المغفور له باذن الله تعالى

[NEWUSER]

RIP Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah