MEDIA REACTION A/S SHANNON STATEMENTS ON

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000159

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 A/S SHANNON STATEMENTS ON
POPULIST GOVERNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT IRAN
CHILEAN ELECTIONS MISSION IN HAITI 01/19/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's most important international stories include
A/S Shannon's statements on populist governments; the
Human Rights Watch annual report; the Brazilian and
Argentine presidents' pledge to discuss issues raised
by Uruguay and Paraguay; and Uruguayan President
Tabare Vazquez's warning that his administration
"won't be bullied," in his first public reaction to
protests against two Uruguayan pulp mills that have
sparked a dispute with Argentina. Leading "Clarin"
carries an editorial on the UN peace mission in Haiti,
and daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries another
editorial on the exemplary Chilean elections.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Now, populism 'is not necessarily bad' for the US"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," comments (01/19) "Vis--vis the fear
expressed by many in Washington of a 'populist wave'
in Latin America, US Assistant Secretary for
Hemispheric Affairs Tom Shannon said yesterday that
'populism is not necessarily bad.'

"In Washington, where Republican experts in Latin
American issues tend to ideologize whatever happens in
the region, Shannon decided that the only valid tool
is reality. This is why, whether he is asked about
Bolivia or Argentina, his statements tend to
contradict what is being said around him.

"Not long ago, shortly after US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice took over, the US Department of State
warned about 'the threat posed by populism' in the
region, mainly referring to Hugo Chavez. Now,
according to Shannon, what populism shows in Latin
America 'is the incorporation' of new popular sectors
to politics. And this is partly an outcome of 'a
successful democratization in Latin America.'

"... Regarding Morales' victory, Shannon has a
positive assessment of it, '(Morales) obtained 54% of
votes. This is an extraordinary event. It is a fact
that we should admit and respect, and I expect that we
can find some common interests.'"

- "Similar although different"

Ricardo Kirschbaum, general editor of leading
"Clarin," writes (01/19) "The US diplomacy decided to
take down the changes that occurred in the region. A/S
Shannon's statements... are an example of an updated
Washington discourse regarding some Latin American
governments.

"What is really new is Shannon's acknowledgment that
populism is not necessarily bad but that it helps
incorporate social sectors to democracy...


"The USG official referred in this way to Evo Morales'
landslide victory in Bolivian presidential elections.
The US diplomacy will have to work based on this
reality."

- "Washington is denounced for use of torture"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (01/19) "The
government accused of the toughest charges from Human
Rights Watch was not any one of the Third World but
the US due to its double status as superpower and
world parameter.

"Furthermore, according to Kenneth Roth, executive
director of Human Rights Watch, new evidence obtained
in 2005 showed that torture and several illegal
practices are the focus of the strategy adopted by the
Bush administration ever since 2001 in order to
struggle against terrorism, which undermines the
global defense of human rights."

- "Human Rights Watch criticizes the (Argentine)
Government"


Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading
"Clarin," comments (01/19) "Yesterday, Human Rights
Watch urged President Nestor Kirchner to abandon his
judicial reform draft bill. Also, it criticized the
way the Government is distributing official publicity
among the media.

"In its annual report, the organization also lashed
out against the alleged intimidation phone calls made
by the Argentine Government officials to journalists."

- "It depends on Mahmoud"

Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald"
carries an opinion piece by contributor James Neilson,
who comments (01/19) "... Iran's rulers are not the
kind of people you would like to see near a loaded
pistol, let alone a nuclear bomb...

"... It is at least feasible that some among Iran's
current leaders may prefer divine glory to peaceful
coexistence with the godless infidels.

"In that case, the worst will happen, as it has so
often in the past... Even a small nuclear war in the
Middle East would be disastrous for just about
everybody. Among other things, it would bring an
abrupt end to the great economic boom the world has
been enjoying for the last few years... And because it
would involve the US, which has many troops in the
area, it could easily spread to other parts of the
planet."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Chile and a lesson for democracy"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an editorial
(01/19) "Chile has just given a lesson for democracy
not only to the other Latin American countries but to
quite a few developed countries... This election has
confirmed the good health of Chilean Concertacion...

"The consolidation of Chilean democracy reinforces a
seemingly increasing trend in the Southern Cone
(Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) of betting on reforms
that are aimed at recovering sustainable economic
growth while taking into account social exclusion and
marginality of large sectors of the people. Everything
leads one to think that our neighboring country will
pioneer this change in Latin America."

- "The luck of the mission in Haiti"

Leading "Clarin" editorializes (01/19) "Latin American
countries are taking part in a rescue operation in
Haiti.

"... Latin American countries participating in this
mission should not let it fail, because this would set
a very bad precedent on the actual multilateral
capabilities to guarantee peace and respect for human
rights in a country in which they are really
threatened."

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

The Media Reaction Report reflects articles and
opinions by the cited news media and do not
necessarily reflect U.S. Embassy policy or views. The
Public Affairs Section does not independently verify
information. The report is intended for internal U.S.
Government use only.

GUTIERREZ