MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM:

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001543 SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA STATE FOR INR/IAA, L/WHA, DRL, S/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PHUM CI TERRORISM SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: LONDON BOMBING ¶1. On July 18, business and financial daily "Diario Financiero" (circ. 20,000) carried a signed article by international analyst Libardo Buitrago entitled, "Chronogram of Terror." Quote: "New York; Bali, Indonesia; Casablanca; Istanbul; Madrid; Baghdad; and London are part of the chronogram of terror.... We have had too many attacks one after the other, yet we are still unable to act together to contain terrorist organizations.... The United States, Spain, Great Britain, Indonesia, and the Philippines have polices that facilitate immigration, turning them into examples of multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and--until now-tolerant nations toward foreigners.... Terrorists want to topple the pillar of social understanding that is the key to the political process and the foundation of democracy: consensus. Terrorists want to create dissent in our societies in order to pave the road to anarchy and chaos... Therefore, the global strength of consensus is the best mechanism to bring to an end the lethal rhythm imposed by the terrorist chronogram. Consensus strengthens development, gives us a vision of each society's role and is the cornerstone of economic, material, social and cultural affairs. It is the concept on which we build our future. That is why they want to destroy it with bombs." ¶2. Center-left "Diario Siete" (circ. 23,000) carried an editorial entitled, "Intolerance Helps Terrorism." Quote: "There are those who believe that one cannot fight terrorism without fighting Islam...and that the global threat of Islam to Europe and the West must be answered globally.... This view seems to represent a strong stand against terrorism, but actually supports the logic of terrorism.... Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to define a policy to strike the intellectual and material authors of the attacks...and stressed that this is not a clash of civilizations because all peoples are civilized regardless of their beliefs.... He has insisted that the fight against terrorism is global, because it is a battle of hearts and minds that demands winning support in the Islamic world. Blair has correctly drawn a dividing line on this matter but has not done too well in denying the connection between the Iraq war...and the London attacks.... To present a solid front against the terrorist threat, Great Britain must show it upholds individual freedom and opposes indiscriminate violence in Baghdad just as in London; that it rejects all forms of terrorism--not just those that affect Britain. It is becoming increasingly evident that the fanatics behind the London bombings cannot be confronted with other types of fanatism. They must be faced with a strong commitment to human rights, freedom, and pluralism." YAMAUCHI