SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002902

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2015
TAGS: KISL KPAO PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES

REF: STATE 14238


1. (C) Embassy Madrid plans to deploy reftel points on GITMO
and detainees as appropriate in several sets of outreach
programs led by the Ambassador which we are planning for the
coming months. This will be addition to our on-going
engagement on the subject with the Spanish press and
political elite, which is limited during the slow summer
period when most/all Spanish leaders are out of town. Two of
our planned outreach programs, which will include a series of
events tied to each subject, center on Muslim
outreach/religious tolerance and promoting a more favorable
image of the United States in Spain. Both will offer
opportunities to deal with GITMO and related issues. We
would welcome a DVC with Ambassador Prosper (we have had at
least two successful DVCs with him on this issue) or other
appropriate senior department officials as part of our
efforts.


2. (C) Spanish opposition to US policies regarding GITMO
and detainees is widespread, and is shared across the
political spectrum, including by the previous staunchly
pro-American government. We will need to tailor our efforts
appropriately to avoid provoking counterproductive coverage
of the issue. Our aim in deploying our message will be to
mitigate misconceptions about US activities in the war on
terrorism, underline the need for new approaches in dealing
with the terrorist threat, and promote a more educated view
of the challenges to traditional laws of war that global
terrorism poses to democratic societies.
AGUIRRE