Metro aims to Guardiola fights break new ground on after Man in car-mad Qatar City gamble fails 37 45 See Pages 46 & 47 Min 13º Max 29º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 17163- Friday, MARCH 10, 2017 Hands of an artisan SEE PAGE 3 1,000 US troops to Kuwait to fight against Islamic State KUWAIT/WASHINGTON: Washington is preparing to send Military commanders frustrated by what they consid- at least 1,000 US troops to Kuwait to bolster a reserve force ered micromanagement under the previous administra- in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. US tion have argued for greater freedom to make daily deci- officials quoted by wire agencies said that the Trump sions on how best to fight the enemy. The Marines mov- administration is weighing the deployment in the attempt ing into Syria are pre-positioning howitzers to be ready to to speed up the ongoing US-led offensive against IS. assist local Syrian forces, said the official, who was not Yesterday, the US deployed Marines into Syria with authorized to discuss the deployment publicly so spoke heavy artillery as part of an offensive to oust IS from its on condition of anonymity. Under the existing limits put in self-proclaimed headquarters in Raqqa. The deploy- place by the Obama administration, the military can have up ment is temporary. But it is likely an early indication that to 503 US forces in Syria. But temporary personnel do not the White House is leaning toward giving the Pentagon count against the cap. The movement of the Marines to greater flexibility to make routine combat decisions in Syria was first reported by The Washington Post. In this Feb 27, 2017 file photo, US President Donald Trump speaks in the the IS fight. Continued on Page 9 Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. — AP Local FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017 PHOTO OF THE DAY Local Spotlight Happy Women’s Day! By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] very little thing done by any woman matters to a lot of people. This is a fact of life, and for Ethis I say ‘thank you!’ Well, men, you have to deal with this day, because no matter how impor- tant you think you are, women carry out lots of dif- ferent tasks at any time every single day of the year, so please let her make this day her own. She deserves it. Women’s Day is not another Valentine’s Day. It is a day to recall, renew and revamp our thinking and appreciation for all women for what they do so life can go on. International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. It commemorates the strug- gle for women’s rights. Many countries celebrate International Women’s Day to remember the achievements of all women irrespective of their reli- gion, language, culture and economic, social or political status. The United Nations charter in 1945 was the first international convention that affirmed the princi- ples of equality between men and women. Through time, the United Nations has tried to set up plans and programs to support and empower women to enable them to improve their conditions. I cannot say that the programs have benefited all women, but it is an attempt, and perhaps the most promi- nent and best attempt was the call to respect Fog shrouds Souq Sharq and its popular fishing pier in this early morning image by Kuna photographer Mustafa Albader. human rights and equality in rights for all humans. I believe in the empowerment of women by the United Nations to address political, economic and social challenges all over the world. IMPRINT Women’s rights are not a gift from any man or await his approval. It is well known that many con- Self-help movement in Kuwait needs help servatives reject any kind of celebration on this day because of their backwardness, which led women to struggle and fight to get their rights. Unfortunately, women’s rights today are still fragile and prone to shattering. There are voices By Jeri Al-Jeri within the community claiming that we honor women throughout the year as mothers, etc., but [email protected] the truth is that men also issue laws against women without showing respect to their rights to defend their own issues. The most prominent example is the women’s right to attend college and attain niversally, people seek infinite happiness - a nat- a more Asian religiosity base orientation to it, or as a higher education. Does the man or the family have ural desire that nobody would want to debate Canadian psychology professor labeled it - a kind of any right to prevent a girl from getting a university whether or not it is a worthy goal. However, cul- “self-deification”. “Change your life, fate and casualties education? Arab reality confirms that there are still U tures have always had their special “sketch” on what is with your positivity by simply paying this fee for that families that hold the upper hand in determining the perfect definition of a happy individual. China, sta- seminar or this book” is simply based on the grandiose the fate of a girl. tistically, houses the least happy demography. It has a assumption that all is acceptable for the sake of peak Yesterday, I read a sad story about an Arab girl complex concept of happiness that demands the loss of self-confidence. who killed herself because her family prevented her one’s self in the service of his or her society. Denmark The decline of religiosity in the West made the mean- from completing her university education and forced her to marry someone they chose. This led has the highest rates of happiness and the most simple ing of life an enigma and the way of life to be simply her to depression and suicide, and the community standard of who or what a happy person might be, measured by “how efficient I can be to reach my goal lost a young woman. No one speaks about honor summed up in the word “lykke” (being joyful), by simple that only my likeness led me to seek”. This attitude gen- crimes or the fact that some girls are still forced to treats of the likes of a chocolate bar or an appealing erates a readiness to be beguiled by seductive exagger- marry their relatives, whether they approve it or scent. It used to be that way on the other side of the ations. This self-help movement has been packed and not. That fact is that until today, there are many new world - “happiness” is enshrined in the American sold to Kuwaitis along with the rest of what logistics has challenges that confront women around the globe. constitution as a human right. And the UN considers it brought to us to Kuwaiti shores. Sad to say, women are still resisting the macho to be a “fundamental human goal”. Fortunately, the same movement of professional culture that prevents them from being recognized Things have changed, and globalization has made psychologists in the West and other academics, who are and labeled as second-class citizens. Women’s suc- this earth of bustling continents into a small village fighting the self-help movement, have found Kuwaiti cess stories are few and limited due to the problems with “copy-paste” education. So has this inestimable and Saudi colleagues who keep explaining to the mass- they face on a universal level. The UN’s call to human value of happiness changed the way it used to es how damaging these self-help “products”, as they are empower women still hasn’t found its way to many effect economies. trademarked, can be for our cognitions and psyche. countries and people, and this program needs a lot Keeping in mind the rule of thumb that dictates that Tagging along the “soda-pop culture”, the self-help of work. Maybe the UN needs to rephrase its agen- the more rare the concept of happiness is in a given cul- seminars have tagged themselves to the level of energy da and action plan on this issue. ture, the more costly it gets. For example in America, drinks that disregard how insanely hazardous they can Still, March 8 is a good day to remind the people the Merriam Webster definition of happiness is facing be for the heart and the nervous system. Its marketing how valuable you are. Ladies, enjoy the day and changes. The classical definition of happiness used to slogans can be summed up in this statement - “be infi- remember that you are fabulous and wonderful and be “the state of being happy”. But is predicted by nitely happy now”. It is impossible to debunk such a a day without you in the life of your beloved ones is researchers to be radically changed to “the act of pre- quote because of its failure to conform to universal nothing. serving a goal”, all due to the over whelming flow of grammar and logic. In the end, “Money makes the Happy Women’s Day! books and seminars of the self-help movement that has world go...crazy”. FRIDAY 10 MARCH 2017 Local Artisan hands A series by photographer Huda Al-Abdulmughni Al-Hayak Bo Salem is a bisht maker Al-Shnbak Ali Al-Roumi sews ropes. Ropes are used to encapsulate and strength- en the caskets made of teakwood. — All photos by Huda Al-Abdulmughni Al-Gallaf Ibrahim Al-Ashwak is a dhow builder. n this series of photographs, I focused on the ingly beautiful traditional garb by a new genera- hands of artisans - the hands that once created tion of young Kuwaitis.