August 1990 and the Mecca Agreement *

We grew up hearing this question in one of Kuwait’s most famous national operettas, and the answer seemed simple and confident, coming from the mouths of children before they knew anything about power balances and alliances: we are the ones who protect it.

Then came August 1990, and the question we once sang became more complex. We learned that the homeland needs its sons, but it also needs a secure neighborhood, allies, and a network of relationships that activates when the threat exceeds the borders of a single state. …