MEDIA REACTION ON MAR DE PLATA AND PRESIDENT BUSH,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002285 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES DEPT. FOR EB/TPP DCLUNE, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/CEN DEPT. PASS USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO PREL ETRD HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MAR DE PLATA AND PRESIDENT BUSH, NOVEMBER 03, 2005 ¶1. On 11/03 the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" ran an op-ed by Billy Pena entitled "Condemned." "We have realized that the President of the United Stated is being universally condemned and we wonder how must he feel when he is rejected in his own country and in the rest of the world. We were amazed that on his trip to Mar de Plata, Argentina he will be escorted by two thousand men. We think that it is humiliating that the Argentineans condemn his presence in their country. It is considered that the U.S President is responsible for the genocide in Iraq and responsible also for FTAA, the payment of the external debt, militarization and poverty." "Another situation that is causing great controversy is the meeting between Bush and his adversary Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela. The ultra-conservative North Americans wish to see Chavez' head on a silver platter because they can't forgive the fact that, under Fidel Castro's warmth, he has directly confronted the North American government." "The environment in Mar de Plata is tense due to the presence of the North American president. We would like to know who does the world prefer: George W. Bush or Hugo Chavez? A survey could reveal the data and the results could surprise us all." "It must be difficult to feel rejected by the entire world. It must be hard to watch the U.S. Government's credibility crumbling with the scandals that exploded in Washington. Vice President Cheney walks a thin line since Libby resigned due to the delicate leak of information that endangered the national security of the U.S. I imagine that the U.S. Congress will investigate Cheney and President Bush also. Was the invasion in Iraq justified? That was President Bush's biggest mistake to invade Iraq alleging that Saddam had weapons of massive destruction that were never found. Was Bush lied to or was he the one who lied to justify the invasion? We imagine that this entire situation will have to be investigated by Congress. Meanwhile George W. Bush has become the most condemned man in the world. Our own politicians should take notes." Williard