Identifier
Created
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05PARIS7905
2005-11-21 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION REPORT - President Bush to Asia

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TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - President Bush to Asia
U.S. Debate - Congressional Vote - Allegations of Torture
PARIS - Monday, November 21, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

President Bush to Asia
U.S. Debate - Congressional Vote - Allegations of Torture

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

Domestic social issues dominate today's lead stories: the
threat of a national train strike tomorrow, the first stock
market quotation of EDF shares and the aftermath of the past
few weeks' suburban unrest. The conclusion of the Socialist
Party's national congress is featured on the front-page of Le
Figaro which concludes: "A Unity of Faade" but predicts that
the present leader, Francois Hollande, will retain his
leadership.

Le Journal du Dimanche carries the latest popularity poll
showing that President Chirac loses three percentage points
down to 35 percent, while PM Villepin gains five points up to
53 PERCENT.

In international news, President Bush's Chinese trip is
featured in Le Figaro in a report titled: "In China, Bush Hits
the Snag of Human Rights." Philippe Gelie comments: "The U.S.
President admonished Beijing about civil liberties and
democracy; in return he only got Boeing orders." Muriel
Lamotte analyzes the "economic inter-dependency of the two
nations," while Jean-Jacques Mevel writes: "The American
assaults on democracy worry Beijing. Bush's repeated sermons
are accentuating the besieged feeling of the Chinese
leadership." In La Croix, Francois d'Alancon comments: "China
Resists Bush's Pressures But Buys Boeings." (See Part C)

Le Monde carries on its front page: "Torture: American
Intelligence Accused in the U.S. and Around the World."
Inside, the article carries a photo of a kneeling and
blindfolded detainee. Corine Lesnes writes: "Condemnation of
the U.S. intervention in Iraq and what has ensued is spreading
in the U.S. and around the world." She comments on the results
of the Pew Research Center poll: "The military, with 49
percent of respondents against torture, is generally the most
hostile to such practices." In Le Parisien Thomas Cataloube
titles his report: "Bush More Unpopular Every Day" as he
reports on President Bush's falling popularity rates and the

Congressional battle. Another feature story looks at Senator
MacCain, "the man who triggered the debate on torture." Gilles
Delafon in Le Journal du Dimanche devotes his commentary to
last week's Senate vote: "Concretely, the Congressional
rebellion does not change much. But it is a source of concern
for the President. The present administration does seem to be
collapsing." (See Part C)

The Balkans and the negotiations on a final status for Kosovo
are reported in Liberation and Le Figaro which also interviews
the Romanian President, Traian Basecu, on the occasion of his
first official visit to Paris: "Europe cannot by itself
guarantee its own security. It is not in its interest to have
a contentious transatlantic relationship." Le Figaro devotes
several op-eds to Kosovo: for Isabelle Lasserre, Kosovo is on
the way to "an inevitable and dangerous independence," while
Monique Papon writes: "Europe cannot tolerate on its doorstep
a geographic entity dominated by organized crime and anarchy."

In Le Figaro Alexandrine Bouilhet writes about a "mini
revolution" in Europe's defense sector: EU Defense ministers
will be adopting an "Anglo-Saxon-style code of conduct" to
liberalize the "opaque" and "protected" weapons sector.

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

President Bush to Asia

"The Human Rights Snag in China"
Philippe Gelie in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/21): "On
several occasions yesterday President Bush had the opportunity
of looking his Chinese counterparts in the eye. Each time he
was confronted with the assertiveness of major powers and
which has usually been the stance adopted by the Americans.
The pickings in Beijing were slim, except for a contract for
Boeing. This was a political gesture from Beijing as the trade
deficit with Washington continues to grow. Little indeed was
achieved in terms of reforms for the Yuan. With so little
achieved, it was not surprising then, if as the day
progressed, the attacks on human rights became more violent."

"U.S. Assaults on Democracy Worry Beijing"
Jean-Jacques Mevel in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/21): "The
attacks on civil liberties launched twice by President Bush
are a great source of annoyance for Hu Jintao. As if he wanted
to make a point, and before the start of the official visit,
President Bush began his trip to China with a religious
service. The Chinese response was to say that China enjoyed
democracy but the message lacked conviction. In fact this is
an issue that has the Chinese particularly worried. Human
rights were significantly forgotten in the U.S. approach
immediately after 9/11, but seem to be back with a vengeance,
especially in Congress."

"Bush Torn Between Business Deals and Politics"
Pierre Haski in left-of-center Liberation (11/21): "The trade
deficit, the Yuan, religious freedom, Tibet and political
dissidents: President Bush enumerated all of these questions
during the most hectic day of his China trip. He managed
results in economic trade but received a firm and definitive
`no' on political issues. The most notable result involved
Boeing: Beijing's needs in commercial aviation are huge and
China is maneuvering knowingly between the Europeans and the
Americans. But on all political issues the polite dialogue was
closer to a deaf-mute conversation. On the one hand the U.S.
President was playing his habitual role when he attended a
religious service. while the Chinese officials listened
politely to the U.S. admonitions but without reacting. Hu
Jinato's comments about a democratic system `with Chinese
characteristics' was a polite way of telling President Bush to
mind his own business."

"China Resists Bush's Pressures But Buys Boeings."
Francois D'Alancon in Catholic La Croix (11/21): "Despite the
tension between China and the U.S., both nations seem decided
to manage their differences pragmatically while developing
their partnership: in a gesture aimed at toning down America's
concerns on the trade deficit, eight Chinese airlines will be
buying 70 Boeing 737s for a total value of 4 billion dollars."

U.S. Debate - Congressional Vote - Allegations of Torture

"Bush Drops, McCain Rises"
Gilles Delafon in right-of-center Le Journal du Dimanche
(11/20): "Last week in Washington politics seemed to take
over. After four years of playing follow the leader, Senators
and Congressmen criticized the war on Iraq and more generally
the post 9/11 stance as never before. Between the President's
falling popularity and the Senate vote, it appears clear that
the Americans no longer have faith in their leader. More
symbolically, the adoption of the McCain amendment in a nation
where 44 percent of the population supports torture is very
telling. Congress has chosen to follow McCain rather than the
Vice President, contending that the use of torture debases
America to the level of its worst enemies. Concretely, this
Congressional rebellion does not change much. But for the
President it is a serious matter for concern because it
signals a change of attitude. While it is usually the midterm
election that signals the presidential race, this time it
appears that the present administration's collapse has sounded
the start of the campaign."

"Bush Increasingly Unpopular"
Thomas Cantaloube in right-of-center Le Parisien (11/21):
"During his Asian tour, President Bush spent more time
defending his position in Iraq than promoting economic
cooperation and human rights. With falling popularity ratings,
Bush has become a tempting prey for his Democratic
adversaries, but also his Republican friends. The war in Iraq
and allegations of torture are darkening the President's
horizon. The man who has triggered the debate is Senator
McCain: after four years of a `war against terror,' the
Americans themselves are questioning their own darkest
practices." STAPLETON