Sheikh Sabah.. Fahad Al-Yousef
When the terrorist bombing targeting the Imam Al-Sadiq Mosque occurred in Ramadan 2015, the scene was not merely a terrorist crime, but a deliberate sectarian fitna (sedition). The objective was clear at the time: to divide Kuwaitis, transform grief into anger, anger into internal strife, and ultimately allow the hand of terrorism to succeed in destruction where politics had failed. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, understood then that time in such moments is measured in minutes, not hours. By going personally to the site of the incident and standing among the people of Kuwait, he delivered his immortal words: “These are my children.” This statement was not merely an emotional expression, but a declaration that Kuwaiti society is greater than any attempt to tear it apart, and that all its sons are under one umbrella, sheltered by one nation.
Today, we recall another scene embodying the same philosophy and vision, when the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, traveled to Basra following the attack on the Abdali border crossing a few days ago. The current regional context and the highly sensitive timing meant that the attack on the Abdali crossing could easily have been viewed through the lens of anger, allowing rumors to spread, threats to escalate, and idle talk to proliferate, accompanied by heightened emotions, thereby turning the incident into a new crisis between two countries whose relations had recently returned to normal after a prolonged dispute. Iraq is our close neighbor—whether we like it or not—and the two countries are bound by ties of history, Arab identity, and religion. Neither side has any interest in stirring up problems or conflicts.
The rapid response, direct meetings, messages of de-escalation, and the emphasis that Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations are greater than a transient incident were steps that diffused the escalation before it could spiral into unforeseen consequences. Some may assume the visit was merely a diplomatic courtesy, but in reality, it was a successful practice of crisis management, particularly in a region still reeling from tensions and open-ended possibilities. Ultimately, politics is not about waiting for a fire to ignite, but preventing the initial spark from spreading into a highly flammable environment. Balanced states do not build their relations on reactions, but on initiatives. A successful official acts at the right time, not after the cost of resolution becomes greater and broader. Wisdom and initiative are governed by seconds and minutes, not hours. Rapid action is not a political luxury, but one of the most important tools for security and stability.
What unites the stance of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, and the initiative of Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef is that both understood that protecting the nation is not achieved through force alone, but through containment and swift decision-making. Iqbal Al-Ahmad
