MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq Alleged CIA Prisons

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq Alleged CIA Prisons
Israel - Shimon Peres Leaves His Party
PARIS - Thursday, December 01, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

Iraq
Alleged CIA Prisons
Israel - Shimon Peres Leaves His Party

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

The reversal of a controversial decision in a pedophile trial
and the unprecedented 'mea culpa' from the Prosecutor to the
falsely accused are today's lead stories in practically every
outlet, except for the economic and financial press which
devotes its lead to a decision by the government that will
allow the national Post Office to compete with commercial
banks in providing banking services.

Iraq and the President's latest speech where he "rejected the
idea of a troop withdrawal calendar" is reported in
Liberation and Le Figaro which also carries an op-ed titled
"Iraq: A Turning Point in the Fight Against Terrorism." For
Jacques Amalric in Liberation, "President Bush is a
revisionist." (See Part C)

Le Figaro carries an interview of Iraqi Foreign Affairs
Minister Hoshyar Zebari: "The withdrawal of American troops
is tied to the country's stability. They cannot leave before
the country is stabilized. And stabilization will depend on
the training of the Iraqi security forces. I know this is a
controversial issue. But we need to remain firm and
determined. The coming months will be critical for Iraq." Le
Monde also reports Zebari's remarks from his press
conference: "Because of persisting border crossings from
Syria, establishing a schedule for the withdrawal of troops
from Iraq is not pertinent at this time."

Allegations about CIA "secret prisons" lead Le Monde to
report: "Washington is expected to give explanations." (See
Part C) France Soir, which uses the same headline,
"Washington Will Give Explanations," interviews former CIA
chief in Paris, Charles Cogan: "I know the Washington Post
journalist who broke the story. She has assured me that
everything was indeed true. Physical abuse of prisoners has
taken place in Guantanamo and Abu Gharaib. We were all
convinced that there were WMD in Iraq. Including the French.
But we had no proof. Both these incidents have tarnished our
reputation. In addition, the invasion of Iraq has triggered
the fury of the Arab world and is damaging the image of the
United States."

The televised interview of Interior Minister Villepin on CNN
Tuesday is the subject of several commentaries. For Le Monde
Villepin is "explaining France to the Americans." The article
concludes: "On Iraq, as on the rest, Villepin was not ready
to tone down his differences of opinion with the Americans,
which he defended at the UN in February 2003." In La Croix,
Pierre-Yves Le Priol writes: "This was a delicate exercise,
in English, one France will have to submit to more and more.
Behind Amanpour's questions, one could detect to what extent
France's image was affected by television shots that have
left a caricature as vision of our country."

Shimon Peres's departure from the Labor Party to join Ariel
Sharon's new centrist party is widely reported. For
Liberation "Sharon is made of stainless steel." (See Part C)

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

Iraq

"Revisionism According to Bush"
Jacques Amalric in left-of-center Liberation (12/01):
"Revisionism is in. But no one expected Bush to be among the
revisionists. In his speech on November 11 he said it as
'irresponsible to rewrite history about the start of the war
in Iraq.' A few days later Vice President Cheney also accused
the Democrats of revisionism. In trying to submit proof to
support his position, President Bush, like Dick Cheney, is
exposing himself to the same accusations he is making of
others: it is somewhat revisionist to claim that the
Senatorial commission found no proof, when in fact it did not
have access to the necessary archives. and because it is a
lie to claim that 'more than a hundred Senators and
Democrats' had access to the same documents as the President.
With Congress back in session this week, we can expect new
revisionists attempts from the President. The U.S. President
is losing his credibility."

"Bush Defends his 'Strategy for Victory.'"
Philippe Gelie in right-of-center Le Figaro (12/01): "Just
like Lyndon Johnson during the darkest hours of the war in
Vietnam, George Bush now only speaks to the military or to
his supporters. Yesterday the President, overwhelmed by
criticism, again chose to speak to a uniformed audience to
launch his new campaign to explain the war in Iraq to the
American public. This speech, the first in a series that will
be given until the elections in Iraq on December 15, did not
provide new information but marks a turning point in the
White House's approach. For the first time since the invasion
of Iraq 32 months ago, Bush is attempting to present a
coherent strategy, a certain degree of transparency and even
a measure of modesty to persuade his fellow citizens to be
patient."

"Iraq: A Turning Point In the Fight Against Terrorism."
Alexander Adler in right-of-center Le Figaro (12/01): "The
military operations in Afghanistan and in Iraq do not
constitute victories for the Americans. they were more
political than military. In spite of the blows that the
American army has been able to inflict on the Iraqi jihad
along the Syrian border, it is in the purely political arena
that the war against terrorism has taken a turn. The question
is will Bush be able to come to an understanding with the
Iranian elite in time to create a favorable political climate
in Iraq before Congress and the pacifist American
intelligentsia succeed in completely paralyzing America's
capacity to carry on the war?"

Alleged CIA Prisons

"Washington Will Give Explanations on CIA Activities in
Europe."
Corine Lesnes in left-of-center Le Monde (12/01): "Jack Straw
wrote to Secretary Rice on Tuesday to ask for clarification
concerning the 'allegations that the CIA set up terrorist
camps in Eastern Europe.' The Europeans are waiting for a
reaction from the American authorities. These have not yet
formally denied the accusations. The existence of 'black
sites' where 'phantom' detainees might be incarcerated has
not been proven to date. But Human Rights Watch has proof of
the CIA using several European airports for transit of
aircraft going or coming from Guantanamo. The Europeans
consider that the stopovers, if they are confirmed, are a
violation of the EU's founding values."

Israel - Shimon Peres Leaves His Party

"A Stainless Steel Politician"
Didier Francois in left-of-center Liberation (12/01): "The
political earthquake triggered by Sharon's departure from the
Likud has just triggered a mirror reaction in Israel's left
with Shimon Peres's decision to join Sharon. After much
hesitation, and seeing that Amir Peretz was not making any
overtures, Peres has decided to reclaim his freedom of
action. While he has not formally joined Sharon's new party,
he has given him his support and signaled his intention of
'supporting the coalition' for peace. This pacifist support
for Sharon, coming from an emblematic figure, who has openly
been supportive of a territorial compromise with the
Palestinians, will undoubtedly complicate the task of the new
leader of the Israeli left. while helping Sharon who has
openly been courting Peres." STAPLETON