MEDIA REACTION ON 9/11, SEPTEMBER 13, 2004

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002052

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PDA (OHILTON),IIP/G/WHA, IIP/T/ES
FOR S/CT AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PTER HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON 9/11, SEPTEMBER 13, 2004



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" on 9/11, entitled "Three years later." "Three
years after the devastating attacks against the Twin Towers
and the Pentagon, symbols of the U.S. economic and military
power, Islamic and other anti-Western extremists have caused
chaos around the world, where terrorism grows while freedom
decreases."

"If Osama bin Laden and the leaders of Al Qaeda wanted to
unleash the irrational anger of the sole global superpower
to get more followers out of the bloody remains of the war
against terrorism, it appears that they've accomplished that
goal, perhaps beyond their own expectations."

"The U.S. failure in the `war' against terrorism is evident.
Neither the Americans nor any other person in the world is
safe anymore. Meanwhile, the main leaders of Al Qaeda
haven't been defeated yet: they keep planning other
terrorist acts, threatening the world, and laughing at the
Americans' `intelligence' and their technology. There's no
doubt that 9/11 still has repercussions everywhere."


2. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La
Prensa" on 9/11, entitled "Three years after." "Thirty-six
months after the most serious attacks on American soil, the
balance still is unclear, while the risks and fear still
remain because the structures of terrorism have become
stronger and more diversified. Now, terrorism may strike
any place, any time, and we have to deal with it with
determination because no one can feel totally safe, not even
the children at their schools or the workers going to their
jobs."

"A terrorist is a terrorist, with no distinction. To yield
to their demands isn't only a matter of weakness, but above
all, an insult to the justice owed to the victims of evil
and fanaticism."

Palmer