MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, JULY 11, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001652

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PDA (BUCKLEY),WHA/CEN, PD TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, JULY 11, 2003



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on
7/11 entitled "The situation in Iraq and our soldiers". "The
death of three American soldiers yesterday confirms that the
Iraqi resistance against the invasion is getting stronger,
increasing the insecurity for foreign troops and the concern for
Washington and London. This concern should also be shared by the
Third World countries sending troops to Iraq, like Honduras."

"Beyond the moral and legal implications of contributing to the
occupation of a sovereign territory after a war that wasn't
approved by the U.N., sending our soldiers to Iraq considering
the current circumstances is exposing those fellow countrymen to
an unnecessary risk, backing a cause that it is far from being
fair or humanitarian."

"Even accepting that we obviously depend on the world's
superpower and that our governments are extremely willing to
fulfill the wishes of Uncle Sam, even those that go against
international law, this time we should wait that a civil
government takes over in Iraq and the U.N. organizes a real
pacification force before sending our troops. This will calm down
the Iraqi resistance and provide the moral and legal
justification to send our soldiers. Meanwhile, let the British
and Americans pay the price of the invasion."


Palmer