MAJOR PLACEMENT OF POWELL BYLINER

UNCLAS HARARE 002493 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/PDPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO ZI SUBJECT: MAJOR PLACEMENT OF POWELL BYLINER ¶1. Harare is pleased to report that the November 14 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" carried the full text of Secretary Powell's byliner on Iraq (Washington File story AEF20012 of 11/12/2002). ¶2. The article got prominent play as the lead opinion piece on the op-ed page, published under the title "We do not seek war with Iraq - Powell." Photographs of President Bush, Secretary Powell and Saddam Hussein accompanied the article. ¶3. Comment: Given the current state of US-Zimbabwean relations, and the "Herald's" customary hostility to US policy, this placement is a significant one. We do not believe it signals a change in the "Herald's" editorial policy, but are nonetheless pleased that they chose to air our side of the story on Iraq. This placement also underscores the power of high-profile byliners. End comment. SULLIVAN