MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, FEBRUARY 2, 2004

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000251

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/PDA, IIP/G/WHA, IIP/T/ES, NEA/NGA, WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, FEBRUARY 2, 2004



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" on 1/31 entitled "The big lie". "At this point in
time, it's just intolerable the attempt to justify the
invasion and aggression to Iraq under the false pretense of
the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Besides, the theory of Saddam Hussein's participation in the
attacks of 9/11, in an alliance with Al Qaeda, has also
proven to be false."

"Bush lied and keeps lying to the American public and the
international community. However, the truth is gradually
emerging, and the American electorate will come to the
realization that it's been a victim of a colossal lie that
has provoked the destruction of Iraq, and the death and
mutilation of thousands of people, including its own troops,
while the transnational corporations tied to the highest
imperial bureaucratic elites are collecting the profits of
huge contracts in Iraq."

"Under the notion of pre-emptive war, Bush has allowed
himself to intervene anywhere in the world, whenever the
fundamentalist right-wing politicians who are now part of
the American political elite feel that their country's
national security is being threatened."

"There's no doubt that truth and honesty have also been
victims of this terrible and dramatic expansionist
adventure."

Palmer