MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Syria Iraq - Bush Presidency

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Syria Iraq - Bush Presidency
Germany - Political Crisis
PARIS - Wednesday, November 02, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

Syria
Iraq - Bush Presidency
Germany - Political Crisis

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

Suburban violence and the government's internal tension
between PM Villepin and Interior Minister Sarkozy about the
means to deal with delinquents is today's major front-page
story. But Germany's political stalemate is the lead story for
Le Figaro: "Germany Sinks Deeper Into a Political Crisis." The
editorial emphasizes the risks for Germany's economy, but also
beyond for Europe. (See Part C)

The suicide attack committed by a ten year old in Iraq serves
as background in France Soir for an article devoted to the
children of the world "who are the first `collateral' victims
of conflicts" from Burma to Congo to Iraq. "If these types of
attacks were to become the standard in Iraq, they would signal
a new radicalization in the rebellion's strategy." Le Figaro
in its report contends that "Iraq is dependent on the GIs for
its democratization." (See Part C)

The stance adopted at the UNSC on Syria elicits two
commentaries which emphasize France's lead on this issue and
Franco-American cooperation. (See Part C)

Concerns about an avian flu epidemic, how to prepare for it
and President Bush's NIH speech on America's preparedness to
deal with the threat are a major story. While Le Figaro
carries an op-ed by former Socialist Minister Bernard Kouchner
calling on the need for a "global approach rather than a
national one, and the need to create a special worldwide fund
to be managed through the WHO," Liberation titles its report:
"President Bush's Lessons in Prevention at a Cost of 7
Billion." Liberation also interviews Jean-Marie Le Guen, a
medical doctor and National Assembly Representative: "The U.S.
is well-prepared in that it has a high level of scientific
know-how. What is striking is the good dissemination of
information at all levels. On the down side there is the
administration's tardiness in preparing for such an epidemic
and the lack of a national health system. If a pandemic breaks
out, vaccination will not be the answer. The answer will
depend on the preparedness of society to deal with it."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

Syria

"Tact With Syria"
Jean-Christophe Ploquin in Catholic La Croix (11/02): "Who
wants Syria to break down? Apparently no one. At the UNSC it
was obvious that everyone was taking care not to go too far
too quickly. Under the impetus of China, Russia and Algeria,
the explicit threat of sanctions was avoided. Al-Assad is
still considered Syria's legitimate leader and Syria has not
been branded a pariah. The UNSC is looking to marry two goals
which could in the end turn out to be contradictory. First, to
destroy Syria's capabilities to do harm, in Lebanon but also
in Iraq. Second, to keep Syria from falling into chaos: no one
wants a second Iraq. This strategy is essentially the work of
France, whose interest in Lebanon is primordial, and who seems
to have elicited the understanding of Secretary Rice. For the
past year, Paris has with a certain degree of success taken
the leadership in the West's policy on Lebanon, with a
forceful resolution which has also managed to avoid
extremism."

"Asking Syria To Turn Itself In"
Gerard Dupuy in left-of-center Liberation (11/01): "The
summons was unanimous but polite. The Bush-Blair-Chirac trio
accepted to trim down the UN draft resolution so that it could
be adopted. Threats against Syria have gone from explicit to
implicit. And Assad has earned himself a reprieve. But if a
stalemate develops, the case of Syria will go back to the
UNSC. The Franco-American mano en la mano is developing as an
antithesis of past tensions over Iraq. If this cooperation
continues, it will open up vistas which seemed previously
obstructed."

Iraq - Bush Presidency

"Iraq Dependent on GIs for Democratization"
Adrien Jaulmes in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/02):
"Guerrilla attacks continue to spill bloodshed in Iraq.
Meanwhile the democratic process continues: these are two
strategies which are in direct conflict one with the other. On
the one hand the Americans and the local government want to
stick to the political process calendar no matter what. On the
other, insurgents are determined to create chaos. In order to
save the political process, the Americans continue to pressure
the guerrilla fighters but without success. While some
isolated victories have been registered, the American strategy
has not managed to durably disarm the guerrilla factions. The
American Army has somewhat managed to contain the guerrilla
warfare. But we are not far from a vicious circle where the
real successes of the democratic process remain tied to a
foreign military presence."

"A Stainless Steel Presidency?"
Philippe Gelie in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/01): "Much
conjecture is going on about the consequences of the Lewis
Libby affair on President Bush. It is undeniable that this
legal reversal is one more embarrassing incident in a long
list which includes Katrina and the nomination of Harriet
Miers. If facts alone served to qualify an administration, the
Bush administration would indeed be in trouble. But President
Bush seems only tangentially concerned. It is as if the
President were impermeable to these facts. Presidencies which
take their stock in ideology are impervious to reality, which
counts for very little in their scheme of things. Is George
Bush a stainless steel President? The Libby trial will put his
presidency to the test."

Germany - Political Crisis

"Germany at a Standstill"
Philippe Reclus in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/02): "Many
ingredients are mixing in to undermine the plan for a
coalition government. The negotiations underway may or may not
succeed in creating a new government. But there is no
guarantee that the government will be in a position to give
the necessary impetus. The risk of paralysis is real. just
when the Germans are calling for determination and something
to boost their lost confidence. If the oil crisis slows down
the world economy in general, Europe's economic engine could
be affected. A Germany without a pilot and an economy at a
standstill would be terrible news for all of Europe. The
recent tension observed over the WTO and the CAP, the joint EU
budget and the lack of a real industrial policy raises the
specter of a European explosion. If the German crisis lasts
the consequences may be too much to handle."

"Europe Awaiting a New Impetus from the Franco-German Engine"
Jacques Hubert-Rodier in right-of-center Les Echos (11/02):
"The limitations of the Franco-German engine have become
apparent in Europe's failure to construct a political Europe.
The continuity of the Franco-German couple, if it is indeed
confirmed, may not be enough to give a new impetus to Europe's
construction. And no one really believes in a Franco-British
engine, even if Paris and London were instrumental in building
Europe's defense initiative." STAPLETON