MEDIA REACTION ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S INAUGURATION, JANUARY

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000154 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PDA (OHILTON),WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV KDEM HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S INAUGURATION, JANUARY 24, 2005 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 1/22, entitled "Bush: Part II." "Last Thursday, on the second inauguration of President George W. Bush, amidst the applause of his followers and the distant protests of his repressed opponents, we saw another manifestation of the division of American society. Meanwhile, Bush's inauguration address generated some concern around the world." "Despite his evident failure in Iraq, Bush presented himself as some kind of prophet of freedom and a fighter against tyranny, who will use American military power to impose his view of democracy on the world." "Now, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Myanmar, Belarus and Zimbabwe have been targeted by the neo-conservatives who rule in the U.S., not because their leaders are dictators or tyrants, but because they don't observe the guidelines from Washington, as can be proved by Muammar Khadafi, who has been dropped from the blacklist where we can't find other worse dictators, such as those who rule in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt, and even Russia." "We hope that, in practice, the second part of the Bush administration doesn't incite so much violence in the world as it did in his first tenure." ¶2. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" on 1/22, titled "Freedom According to Bush." "President Bush's second term comes at a difficult time, especially in the international arena, where Washington's optimism collides with the deteriorated image of the U.S. abroad, particularly in Europe, its traditional ally. For that reason, some believe that U.S. policies could change in this term, not in the war against terrorism, but to prepare the historical legacy Bush will leave behind." "Analyzing his address, it's impossible to disregard the value of freedom for humanity, but the U.S. primary goal shouldn't be to impose it, for good or bad, in the whole world. Obviously, this is a praiseworthy and ambitious objective, but who has given the U.S. the right to change, for instance, the ancient culture and traditions of Islam people in Asia and other parts of the world for the sake of a democratic system they hardly understand?" "In addition, Latin America expects a change in attitude by this administration toward the solution of its critical economic problems and social inequalities. The political future of several South American countries, that in free elections have chosen leaders and have positioned themselves away from neoliberalism and globalization, depend on that change." Pierce