Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS8022
2005-11-25 11:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq Iran CIA - Alleged
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 008022
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA;
EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA
FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR
AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA;
ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq Iran CIA - Alleged
Overseas Prisons
PARIS - Friday, November 25, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
Iraq
Iran
CIA - Alleged Overseas Prisons
B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
Domestic stories dominate with a government bill in the works
to ensure `equality of chances' for all after France's recent
suburban violence. International news is dominated by
Secretary Rice's CNN interview during which she indicated
SIPDIS
"U.S. forces in Iraq would not to be maintained at the present
level very much longer." (Le Figaro) Le Figaro and Le Monde
also devote wide coverage to the alleged CIA transportation of
detainees through European airports. The Strasbourg Council of
Europe is to investigate. (See Part C)
On Thursday, Le Figaro led with "Iran Taunts Europe" and its
editorial, titled "Europe Disarmed In Dealing With Iran,"
stresses that "Europe's role remains humble, while Washington
is Tehran's principal interlocutor. The Russian proposal gains
credibility because it has Washington's support." (See Part C)
Weekly Paris Match carries an article titled: "Bush: Four
Women to His Rescue." Barbara, Laura, Condi and Karen are the
foursome he counts on, according to the story, which reports
that "Karen Hughes has replaced `the brain,' Karl Rove,. and
that Condoleezza Rice exemplifies faithfulness as a cardinal
virtue." Hughes is said to be the most "influential in terms
of image building, particularly in the Muslim world. Once
again the President has confused faithfulness and
capabilities: Hughes has no experience whatsoever of the
Middle East, as proven by her blunders during her recent tour.
Hughes is working blind."
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
Iraq
"Towards a Pullout From Iraq"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "The
Americans are preparing their pullout from Iraq much better
than they prepared their invasion. Everyday U.S. diplomats and
generals give indications as to the numbers of soldiers that
can be pulled out, and when. As if they could predict how the
insurrection was evolving. This is because the front has moved
from Baghdad to the Washington microcosm. where Bush's ratings
are dropping. After the December elections Washington can
begin to plan for a real pullout, having finally accepted the
idea that the outcome will be more political than military.
The softening of the U.S. policy is being carefully
negotiated. General Lynch indicated that the rebels should
take part in the political negotiations, as long they are
Sunnis, and not Al-Qaeda Jihaddists. If the U.S. is showing so
many signs of being ready to negotiate, it must mean that the
end of the war is near. Bush needs to satisfy his opinion,
while not giving the Arab world the impression America is
abandoning Iraq. This will require more nuance than the
President is used to."
"Washington Thinking About Disengagement"
Jean-Louis Turlin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "After
having fought hard against the increasingly pressing calls for
a pure and simple military retreat, the Bush administration
has slightly changed its tone and called for a gradual
withdrawal of troops from Iraq. After the anonymous Pentagon
sources mentioned in the Washington Post, it was Secretary
Rice's turn to confirm on CNN and Fox News that `U.S. forces
in Iraq would not have to be maintained at the present level
for very much longer.' While everything will depend on what
happens on the ground, time is what the Bush administration
does not have much of."
Iran
"Europe Disarmed in Dealing with Iran"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/24): "All of
last summer the European-3 tried to negotiate with Tehran. Yet
nothing has changed in Iran's attitude. If the Europeans have
been forced to swallow so many bitter pills when it comes to
their diplomatic forays with Iran, it is essentially because
they do not have the necessary political means to support
their ambitions. Their interlocutors in Tehran are well aware
that what counts are the decisions made in Washington. The
latest proposal by Moscow is a case in point: it has a chance
of being successful because it has Washington's support.
Considering the shared interests of Moscow and Tehran, there
is a good chance that the Russian proposal will succeed:
Russian diplomacy will have achieved what European diplomacy
could not. This latest slap in the face for Europe must not
affect its efforts. The EU-3 did trigger the negotiations. But
paradoxically, things became more difficult for them when
Washington started to support the EU-3 initiative. It is as if
the real negotiations began then, between Washington and
Tehran, and involved Iraq's future, of great interest to Iran.
But Europe must continue with its humble role."
CIA - Alleged Overseas Prisons
"European Council to Investigate Accusations of CIA Dealings"
Thierry Oberle in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "The
Strasbourg based European institution will have its say about
the U.S. outsourcing its war against terror. The European
Council has just opened the first European-wide investigation
into CIA-led transit, detention and interrogation of presumed
Islamic terrorists, in Europe. Dick Marty, the Council's
rapporteur, who acknowledges that he may face `difficulties in
his investigation' insists that he will exercise the necessary
`pressure.'"
"Europe Is Asking Questions About Secret CIA Flights"
Natalie Nougayrede in left-of-center Le Monde (11/25): "The
European Council is investigating. The Rapporteur, Dick Marty
says most of the information is coming from the Human Rights
Watch, but says he has `other sources' he did not want to
comment on. He did not want to say whether he had proof about
countries other than Romania and Poland having been involved.
He does insist this is a question of principles and democratic
norms. He says it is `a moral issue.' Marty has also asked for
verifications concerning Russian detention practices in
Chechnya, where Moscow claims to be fighting Al-Qaeda. The
Council of Europe has shown extreme leniency in the past on
proven torture cases in Chechnya, which contrasts greatly with
the rigorous approach used in the alleged CIA cases. One of
the questions raised by Marty is the cooperation between the
CIA and the Russians in the transfer of prisoners." STAPLETON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA;
EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA
FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR
AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA;
ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq Iran CIA - Alleged
Overseas Prisons
PARIS - Friday, November 25, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
Iraq
Iran
CIA - Alleged Overseas Prisons
B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
Domestic stories dominate with a government bill in the works
to ensure `equality of chances' for all after France's recent
suburban violence. International news is dominated by
Secretary Rice's CNN interview during which she indicated
SIPDIS
"U.S. forces in Iraq would not to be maintained at the present
level very much longer." (Le Figaro) Le Figaro and Le Monde
also devote wide coverage to the alleged CIA transportation of
detainees through European airports. The Strasbourg Council of
Europe is to investigate. (See Part C)
On Thursday, Le Figaro led with "Iran Taunts Europe" and its
editorial, titled "Europe Disarmed In Dealing With Iran,"
stresses that "Europe's role remains humble, while Washington
is Tehran's principal interlocutor. The Russian proposal gains
credibility because it has Washington's support." (See Part C)
Weekly Paris Match carries an article titled: "Bush: Four
Women to His Rescue." Barbara, Laura, Condi and Karen are the
foursome he counts on, according to the story, which reports
that "Karen Hughes has replaced `the brain,' Karl Rove,. and
that Condoleezza Rice exemplifies faithfulness as a cardinal
virtue." Hughes is said to be the most "influential in terms
of image building, particularly in the Muslim world. Once
again the President has confused faithfulness and
capabilities: Hughes has no experience whatsoever of the
Middle East, as proven by her blunders during her recent tour.
Hughes is working blind."
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
Iraq
"Towards a Pullout From Iraq"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "The
Americans are preparing their pullout from Iraq much better
than they prepared their invasion. Everyday U.S. diplomats and
generals give indications as to the numbers of soldiers that
can be pulled out, and when. As if they could predict how the
insurrection was evolving. This is because the front has moved
from Baghdad to the Washington microcosm. where Bush's ratings
are dropping. After the December elections Washington can
begin to plan for a real pullout, having finally accepted the
idea that the outcome will be more political than military.
The softening of the U.S. policy is being carefully
negotiated. General Lynch indicated that the rebels should
take part in the political negotiations, as long they are
Sunnis, and not Al-Qaeda Jihaddists. If the U.S. is showing so
many signs of being ready to negotiate, it must mean that the
end of the war is near. Bush needs to satisfy his opinion,
while not giving the Arab world the impression America is
abandoning Iraq. This will require more nuance than the
President is used to."
"Washington Thinking About Disengagement"
Jean-Louis Turlin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "After
having fought hard against the increasingly pressing calls for
a pure and simple military retreat, the Bush administration
has slightly changed its tone and called for a gradual
withdrawal of troops from Iraq. After the anonymous Pentagon
sources mentioned in the Washington Post, it was Secretary
Rice's turn to confirm on CNN and Fox News that `U.S. forces
in Iraq would not have to be maintained at the present level
for very much longer.' While everything will depend on what
happens on the ground, time is what the Bush administration
does not have much of."
Iran
"Europe Disarmed in Dealing with Iran"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/24): "All of
last summer the European-3 tried to negotiate with Tehran. Yet
nothing has changed in Iran's attitude. If the Europeans have
been forced to swallow so many bitter pills when it comes to
their diplomatic forays with Iran, it is essentially because
they do not have the necessary political means to support
their ambitions. Their interlocutors in Tehran are well aware
that what counts are the decisions made in Washington. The
latest proposal by Moscow is a case in point: it has a chance
of being successful because it has Washington's support.
Considering the shared interests of Moscow and Tehran, there
is a good chance that the Russian proposal will succeed:
Russian diplomacy will have achieved what European diplomacy
could not. This latest slap in the face for Europe must not
affect its efforts. The EU-3 did trigger the negotiations. But
paradoxically, things became more difficult for them when
Washington started to support the EU-3 initiative. It is as if
the real negotiations began then, between Washington and
Tehran, and involved Iraq's future, of great interest to Iran.
But Europe must continue with its humble role."
CIA - Alleged Overseas Prisons
"European Council to Investigate Accusations of CIA Dealings"
Thierry Oberle in right-of-center Le Figaro (11/25): "The
Strasbourg based European institution will have its say about
the U.S. outsourcing its war against terror. The European
Council has just opened the first European-wide investigation
into CIA-led transit, detention and interrogation of presumed
Islamic terrorists, in Europe. Dick Marty, the Council's
rapporteur, who acknowledges that he may face `difficulties in
his investigation' insists that he will exercise the necessary
`pressure.'"
"Europe Is Asking Questions About Secret CIA Flights"
Natalie Nougayrede in left-of-center Le Monde (11/25): "The
European Council is investigating. The Rapporteur, Dick Marty
says most of the information is coming from the Human Rights
Watch, but says he has `other sources' he did not want to
comment on. He did not want to say whether he had proof about
countries other than Romania and Poland having been involved.
He does insist this is a question of principles and democratic
norms. He says it is `a moral issue.' Marty has also asked for
verifications concerning Russian detention practices in
Chechnya, where Moscow claims to be fighting Al-Qaeda. The
Council of Europe has shown extreme leniency in the past on
proven torture cases in Chechnya, which contrasts greatly with
the rigorous approach used in the alleged CIA cases. One of
the questions raised by Marty is the cooperation between the
CIA and the Russians in the transfer of prisoners." STAPLETON