MEDIA REACTION US SANCTION ON VENEZUELA

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001119

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION US SANCTION ON VENEZUELA
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT CHAVEZ US-CHINA-IRAN US TROOPS TO
US-MEXICAN BORDER US-LIBYA NOMINEE FOR US AMBASSADOR
TO ARGENTINA ANTHONY WAYNE 05/16/06


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Local papers lead with the US imposing a ban on arms
sales to Venezuela because of a lack of support by
President Chavez's government for counterterrorism
efforts; the USG decision to send troops to the US-
Mexican border; the alleged confrontation of the US
and China in Iran; similarities and differences
between President Chavez and Peruvian presidential
candidate Garcia; the resumption of diplomatic ties
between the US and Libya; and an Argentine
legislator's response to statements from nominee for
US Ambassador to Argentina, Anthony Wayne.

Business-financial, center-right "InfoBae" and daily-
of-record "La Nacion" carry placements of PAS press
release on the new Embassy Website, which provides
updated information on the US-Argentine bilateral
relationship as well as on the US foreign policy,
society and cultural values.

Business-financial "El Cronista" carries an opinion
piece by Chuck Hagel, Republican senator for Nebraska
and member of the US Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, which is headlined "The US should look to
Iran with a broader approach. The military option is
not a long-term solution aimed at preventing Tehran's
nuclear ambitions."


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "First US sanction on Venezuela: a ban on arms
sales"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," writes (05/16) "The US banned yesterday the
sale of arms to Venezuela because it believes the
Chavez administration 'does not fully cooperate' in
the global war on terrorism.

"According to US Assistant Secretary for Hemispheric
Affairs Thomas Shannon, the USG decision was made
'with reluctance.' And he explained that Venezuela has
close ties with Cuba and with Colombian guerrilla
groups, namely the FARC and the NLA. Both groups
appear in the US State Department's listing of
terrorist organizations. Shannon also referred to
Venezuela's ties with Iran, particularly due to
Venezuela's stance during the voting in which it was
decided to submit the Iranian case to the UN.

"The ban, the first sanction Washington imposes on the
Chavez administration, also includes every kind of US
arms and military technology on behalf of third
countries. This means that, from now on, no country
may sell to Venezuela not even spare parts for the US
weapons it already has in its arsenal.

"... Thomas Shannon noted that the USG already has
'decertified' Venezuela for lack of cooperation in
fighting drug trafficking."

- "Garcia vs. Chavez, in a round of populist leaders"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an opinion piece
by contributor Andres Oppenheimer, who writes (05/16)
"During an interview, Alan Garcia said 'I am against
imperialism because I do not like the US presence in
Iraq and because I do not like Chavez's oil and money
in Peru. This is what I call being anti-
imperialistic.'

"The bad news is that, in the first round of
elections, Peruvians decided that Garcia will be
Humala's rival. The good news is that if Garcia wins,
he will probably lead a Latin American movement
against Chavez's 'imperialism.' If there is a
political leader in the region that can reply to
Chavez using his same language, it is Garcia."

- "The balance of power is also at stake in Asia"

Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Sergio
Cesarin, political analyst and researcher, who writes
(05/16) "One needs to understand Iran's latest moves



in the internaional scenario as part of the world
scenario in which the US and China are competing. Iran
is another point of confrontation of the two
countries.

"China is perceived by Washington as a proliferating
country...

"What most disturbs Washington is that state companies
that are part of the Chinese military complex appear
among the main suppliers of nuclear capabilities
transfers to Iran.

"Iran can be compared with Cuba in this regard. In the
Cuban case, the Chinese technical, economic and
financial cooperation softens the negative
consequences of the US embargo.

"In the same way, the Sino-Iranian relationship proves
the limited effect of economic sanctions and how
counterproductive they may turn with time for US
interests."

- "Bush announced it will send 6,000 troops to the US-
Mexican border"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," comments (05/16) "... US President George W.
Bush announced it will send 6,000 troops to the US-
Mexican border in order to prevent illegal immigrants
from entering the US. While he insisted on his
proposal to give temporary work permits to
undocumented immigrants, the president emphasized the
importance of border security.

"The purpose of sending troops is political rather
than military. No one believes that the military will
be able to really stop the entry of immigrants along
the 3,200 kilometer-border. However, most analysts
believe the main purpose of the decision is to ease
tension among conservative Republicans, who believe
that Bush has mismanaged the problem of illegal
immigrants."

- "Between authoritarianism and extreme social
control"

Oscar Raul Cardoso, international analyst of leading
"Clarin," opines (05/16) "The imminent sending of US
troops to the long US-Mexican border may be understood
as the Bush administration's response to the
increasing concern of society about the pressure from
illegal immigrants.

"In a broader context, the decision may be interpreted
as part of the political architecture aimed at
relieving that pressure without committing the many
benefits businessmen obtain from the cheap labor of
desperate immigrants.

"And it can also be understood as another symptom of
the mutation neo-conservatives are imposing on the
G.O.P. - from a political force related to the idea of
individual freedoms to a very different one, whose
principles are based on the obscure territory of
authoritarianism and extreme social control."

- "Chavez unlimited"

James Scott, columnist of liberal, English-language
"Buenos Aires Herald," writes (05/16) "President Hugo
Chavez has a new idea for Venezuelan term limits: 25
years. At a recent event, the fiery Venezuelan
leader... announced that he wanted to put the question
of his political future in the hands of the people.

"... The USG - the magnet for much of Chavez's scorn -
has raised its concerns over his actions. Earlier this
year, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Chavez
was leading nations away from democracy...

"So how has Chavez been able to do it? Observers point
out that he is being aided by a weak and fragmented
opposition. Rather than rally support against him, the
opposition has chosen recently to boycott elections



rather than face public defeat. That move, for
example, helped Chavez-backed politicians in December
win a majority of 167 seats in the national assembly.

"... While the risk exists for Chavez to manipulate
his opposition and politics, Alejandro Velasco, a
professor at Duke University, said if he fails to
deliver on promises to the people then he runs the
risk of an uprising."

- "US-Libyan relationship will be reestablished"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (05/16)
"The US announced yesterday that it will resume its
full diplomatic relationship with Libya and will soon
open an embassy in Tripoli in what is seen as the
consequence of the North African country having
publicly renounced its purposes to obtain WMD.

"As a previous step, Libya was removed from the US
State Department's 'black list' of countries
sponsoring international terrorist groups."

- "Diaz Bancalari compared Ambassador Wayne with
Braden"

Conservative "La Prensa" reports (05/16) "Deputy Jose
Maria Diaz Bancalari '(We have) another (Spruille)
Braden,' in reference to the new US ambassador to
Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, who will succeed Lino
Gutierrez.

"The US diplomat has recently made some statements
that were badly received (by some local deputies),and
the US legislator replied that 'the opposition needed
a Braden... and now it has it. It seems the times of
the Union Democratica. Since this opposition, which is
made up by Sobisch, Macri and Carrio, only accounts
for 20%, it will need a Braden.'

"Some days ago, Wayne praised the 'reforms' performed
by Carlos Menem and explained that he would help
change Argentines' 'distorted' image of the IMF. He
added that 'it is important for Argentina to continue
creating a more positive investment environment.'"

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

GUTIERREZ