Kuwait Embassy Continues to Challenge Gallup Poll's Methodology; Pollsters Measuring Kuwaiti Opinions Mix In Non-Kuwaitis' Views

2/28/2002

From: Tareq Al-Mezrem of the Kuwait Information Office, 202-338-0211, ext. 30 or ext. 19

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Kuwait Embassy continues to steadfastly dispute the Gallup Poll's recent findings regarding Kuwaitis' post-September 11 attitudes toward the United States.

The Embassy today cited Andrea Stone's February 28 USA Today story where Gallup's Director of International Research Dr. Richard Burkholder was quoted as acknowledging "that half of those polled in Kuwait were non-citizens who 'are more anti-West.'" ("We've Got Work To Do" on Image With Muslims, Bush Says", USAT, A4)

Kuwait's Ambassador to Washington Shaikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jabr Al-Sabah responded to this quotation by saying, "Given the acknowledgement of Dr. Burkholder that half of those polled in Kuwait were non-Kuwaitis, this reaffirms our grave concerns about Gallup's methodology. This fact alone skews Gallup's findings."

The Ambassador continued by saying, "Kuwait is a strong friend and partner of the U.S., and it is cooperating fully in the war on terror. Kuwait and its citizens have been done a tremendous disservice by the Gallup Organization."

The Ambassador also said, "Kuwait is an open country with a free press, and if these numbers were representative of reality, Kuwait's leadership would be getting feedback from the public, which is not the case."

He added, "The Gallup Organization has regrettably published an inaccurate study about the sentiments of Kuwait's citizens toward the U.S. and the events of September 11."