MEDIA REACTION US ANTI-CRIME TECHNOLOGY IRAQ

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001297 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 ANTI-CRIME TECHNOLOGY IRAQ US-VENEZUELAN TIES PRESIDENT ALAN GARCIA AND HUMALA 06/08/06 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Today's key international stories include the US new anti-crime "technological arsenal;" the war in Iraq; the current status of the US-Venezuelan relationship; and post-election Ollanta Humala's statements. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES - "The US prepares anti-crime technological arsenal against crime" Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (06/08) "The USG will attempt to use new technologies against crime. "Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (small, remote- controlled aircrafts) will be used in Los Angeles to reinforce air surveillance. Those convicted for sexual crimes in Wisconsin will wear electronic bracelets (for identification purposes). Sensors and last- generation cameras will be deployed along the 3,200- kilometer border with Mexico in another attempt to put an obstacle on the trafficking of drugs and people. "Those are the most recent examples of the new procedures made by the Bush administration and some of US States - they will invest more money in state-of- the-art technology in order to reduce human resources, which can fail. "However, some believe it is a mistaken strategy and, in some cases, an unconstitutional one." - "Exceptional apples" Left-of-center "Pagina 12" carries an opinion piece by writer Juan Gelman, who writes (06/08) "US President (George) W. Bush, termed the Yankee soldiers who torture and kill civilians in Iraq 'rotten apples.' There can not be just a few - the list of Iraqi killings by occupying forces is long, and only hidden by a heavy carpet of impunity... "... Sunnis are killed and Shiite sanctuaries are blown up only to fuel a civil war that 'would, reportedly, justify' the permanent occupation of Iraq. According to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 'US troops are here the solution, not the problem.' Unbelievable." - "Bush lashes out at Chavez and says Chavez is harmful for Venezuela" Leading "Clarin" reports (06/08) "US President George ¶W. Bush accused his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, of inflicting 'serious damage to Venezuelan traditions and people,' and he lashed out at Chavez more fervently than he did three weeks ago by indicating he is 'concerned' about what he believes is the erosion of democracy in Venezuela. In Chicago, Bush had included Bolivia among his list of concerns. "While the Bush administration has had quarrels with Chavez many times..., now the US President seems to have undertaken his own personal escalation... "Yesterday, Sean McCormack, spokesperson of the US Department of State, said that 'Chavez's problem' is not with the US but 'with other center-to-left Latin American governments,' reminding the spat with Peru in its recent election campaign. "In spite of all the disagreements between Chavez and Bush, and Chavez's charges that the USG encouraged the attempt of a coup d'etat in 2002, the US-Venezuelan bilateral ties remain strong." - "Humala warns he will not give a truce to Alan Garcia" Dolores Tereso, on special assignment in Lima for daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (06/08) "Defeated in elections, Ollanta Humala does not seem beaten. With his power reinforced (he leads the largest opposition political party),the nationalistic leader refused to give a truce to the winner of the runoff presidential elections, Alan Garcia; Humala even threatened to go out to the streets to oppose his future government. "... While he tried to appear optimistic and said he felt like a 'winner,' the retired military personnel, who looked tired was not able to hide his bad humor, which was obvious when he rejected several questions (particularly those linking him with Venezuelan Hugo Chavez),and denounced an alleged Peruvian media campaign as 'all against Ollanta.'" To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires GUTIERREZ