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