"GO TO HELL" VENEZUELAN MINISTER OF INFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000603

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2014
TAGS: KPAO OPRC PGOV PREL PROP
SUBJECT: "GO TO HELL" VENEZUELAN MINISTER OF INFORMATION
SAYS TO U.S. AND VENEZUELAN PRESS

REF: CARACAS 598

Classified By: CDA STEPHEN G. MCFARLAND FOR 1.4 (D)


1. Summary: (U) Venezuelan Minister of Communication and
Information Andres Izarra followed up on President Hugo
Chavez's February 20 claim that the U.S. was trying to kill
him by launching his own attack on the U.S. and Venezuelan
media, starting with a February 21 press conference. He
claimed that the U.S. had organized a media campaign Chavez's
government. He charged that journalists from both nations
were in the pay of the U.S. Government. He specifically
named five journalists for U.S. publications as being part of
the plot. Though he tacked back and forth through the week,
he continued to single-out for attack Caracas-based British
journalist Phil Gunston, who strings for the Miami Herald.
It is uncertain why he singled out Gunston for special
attention. On February 24 Izarra told "the poison press" to
"go to hell." End Summary


2. (U) Minister of Communication and Information Andres
Izarra began on Monday, February 21 with a press conference
highlighted by a strident attack on the press in general and
specifically the U.S. press. he charged that the U.S.
Government has organized a media campaign against the Chavez
government, with the active participation of the U.S. press,
and support from the opposition press. He named five
journalists and commentators and their U.S. news
organizations: Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Wall Street Journal;
Phil Gunston (British citizen),Miami Herald; Steve Harrigan,
Fox News; Jackson Diehl, Washington Post; and academic
Michael Schifter, Inter-American Dialogue. (The last is not
a journalist but was named on the basis of op-eds he has
written.) He opined that he "would not be surprised" if
these journalists and others were being paid by Washington.
He cited as evidence examples of both alleged previous
propaganda skullduggery led by Otto Reich in the 80s, and the
current cases of U.S. journalists Armstrong Williams and
Maggie Gallagher reportedly receiving money from the U.S.
government to support official policies. The opposition
press was also accused of supporting this campaign.
According to Izarra, the objective of this media campaign is
to isolate Venezuela in international opinion, thus preparing
the way for U.S. intervention. In a response to a question
he denied he was threatening any journalist.


3. (U) The reaction in the Venezuelan opposition press the
next day (Feb. 22) was to deride the idea that they or the
U.S. press were being paid to oppose Chavez. Gunston spoke
to the press and denied the charges against him, calling them
"funny and ridiculous." This did not deter Minister Izarra,
who continued to make the same charges in different forums
for the rest of the week. Izarra did some tacking when asked
for specifics. He denied that he had made direct charges
against any journalists, noting that he had used the
conditional case when discussing journalists being paid by
the U.S. Government. By Thursday, February 24, Izarra was
telling the "poison" press "to go to hell." He claimed to
have sent letters to media companies complaining of their
lies and distortions when writing about Chavez. he again
specifically referred to the Miami Herald and Phil Gunston,
who on this occasion he called "Mr. Gringo." He pointed to
Iraq as an example of poisoning public opinion to justify an
invasion. Telesur, the planned Venezuela-Brazil-Argentina
satellite television network would bring the truth to Latin
America, he declared. When asked in a local radio interview
about Izarra's charges against the U.S. press, the Charge
denied any U.S. media campaign and noted that the same
American media that crticized Chavez also frequently
criticized President Bush

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Why Gunston?
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4. (C) In a meeting with Vice President Rangel's Chief of
Staff, Rene Arreaza, the Charge was told that Gunston has
(unpublished) innuendoes that 'outed' Izarra. In a later
discussion with a PAS officer Gunston denied any special
knowledge of Izarra's personal life. Gunston speculated that
there could be several reasons why he had become a center of
attention for Izarra. Of all the journalists named in the
Feb. 21 press conference, Gunston is the only one based in


Caracas. The Miami Herald is a special target for the
Chavistas. The Chavez government was especially angered by a
Miami Herald article headline on February 12, "Chavez Arming
to Fight U.S.," which was co-written by Gunston and Stephen
Dudley. Gunston also believes that his position as head of
the local foreign press association makes him a more visible
target. Gunston says the Chavistas have formed a rival press
organization, the Independent Venezuelan Press Association,
headed by a Syrian national, intended to bring together
foreign and Venezuelan journalists. He said he had not had
any personal contact with Izarra for months. Having defended
himself he intends to lie low for a while. Gunston is
certain that this was a planned provocation and that "Izarra
is out of control."

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What's up with Izarra?
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5. (C) Comment: Gunston and other observers believe that
Izarra is feeling considerable pressure from Chavez over the
bad international press that the Chavez government has
received recently. As someone with a professional journalism
background, Izarra was supposed to have the ability to
control the foreign press. This tension combined with the
vitriolic attacks made by President Chavez against the U.S.
in the February 20 "Alo Presidente" program, pushed Izarra to
try for a new level of invective against the U.S. and
Venezuelan press. End Comment

McFarland

McFarland


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2005CARACA00603 - CONFIDENTIAL