USG FOREIGN POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST; US PRESIDENT BUSH

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001766

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: USG FOREIGN POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST; US PRESIDENT BUSH
URGING FOR A DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN CUBA; FOREIGN JOURNALISTS TO CUBA;
FRICTION BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND THE IMF; AMBASSADOR WAYNE; 08/04/06



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's key international stories include the USG's policy towards
the Middle East; US President Bush urging Cubans to undertake
democratic change on the island; the trouble met by foreign
journalists in reaching Cuba; friction between the Argentine
Government and the IMF; and the Trade Transparency Unit Program
between the US and Argentine Custom Houses.

Daily-of-record "La Nacion," leading "Clarin," left-of-center
"Pagina 12," business-financial "El Cronista" and wire service
"Infosic" carry the PAS press release about Ambassador Wayne's
announcement that he will arrive in the country in approximately
three months.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "A return to the past"

Claudio Mario Aliscioni, international columnist of leading
"Clarin," writes (08/04) "'Constructive case' is the concept used
now in US academic centers when trying to explain US strategy in the
Middle East, which is certainly agreed upon by the current Israeli
administration.

"The theory is based on some view of USG's neo-conservatives... By
misusing some concepts from renowned philosophers like German Leo
Strauss, this school defends the military solution for problems and
it despises the complex meanders of political discussion.

"However, 'constructive chaos' has proved to be an illusion rather
than an example of effectiveness - some examples are the Iraqi
'quagmire,' the unsolved situation in Afghanistan, the ongoing clash
with Iran. The security fringe in Lebanon is another thread of the
same weave.

"The current situation revisits the moment when Israel invaded
Lebanon two decades ago, just as though experience were useless."

- "Bush urges Cubans to undertake 'democratic change' on the
island"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (08/04) "US President George W.
Bush urged Cubans to 'undertake democratic change on the island,'
while Miami exiles called for a civil-military uprising in the
Caribbean country...

"... Bush's statements went beyond a previous statement by the US
Department of Sate asking Cuban exiles to stay in the country and
work for a 'positive change' on the island. This comment hinted that
Washington fears an exodus of exiles from the Caribbean island."

- "The trouble faced by foreign media in reaching Cuba"

Leading "Clarin" carries an opinion piece by Oscar Raul Cardoso,
international analyst, who writes (08/04) "The term 'normality' has
become the favorite word in Cuba. With Fidel Castro sick and
distanced from the handling of State affairs for the first time in
almost 50 years, the Cuban government faces a huge challenge -
trying to continue working with or without Castro.

"... There is a conflict between two antagonistic views about the
institutional situation on the island - the 'normality,' which is
being promoted by Havana's official voices and that of the
international media, according to which there is a booming crisis
which the government is badly trying to disguise.

"Yesterday, it was made public that six journalists who had just
arrived in Havana were compelled to return home...

"The International Media Center in Cuba denied that this could be
part of an 'informational siege' on the island, but it is known that
journalistic visas are today delayed, according to repeated reports
from embassies and consulates in Cuba."

- "The new US ambassador will arrive in the country in three
months"

Leading "Clarin" reports (08/04) "The new US Ambassador to
Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, said he is 'delighted' by his
nomination for this position, and he announced he will arrive in the
country within three months.

"The US embassy released a communiqu signed by (Ambassador) Wayne
following the confirmation of his nomination as US Ambassador to
Argentina. 'I am delighted that the US Senate has confirmed my


nomination as the next US Ambassador to Argentina. I am deeply
honored that US President George W. Bush has nominated me for this
position as per the Secretary of State's recommendation.'

"Wayne added that he wishes to 'closely work with the Argentine
government and people to strengthen ties between our two great
nations.'"

- "US Ambassador will arrive in November"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (08/04) reports "According to the US
Department of State, US Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony Wayne
will arrive in Buenos Aires in November... Wayne expressed his
satisfaction at his nomination after having overcome the hurdles
placed by exiled Cuban lobbyists at the US Senate."

- "Wayne's satisfaction"

Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (08/04) "The new US
Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, who will arrive in
November, expressed his satisfaction that the US Senate confirmed
his nomination.

- "The new US Ambassador to Argentina maintains he wishes to
'closely work with the Argentine Government"

Wire service "Infosic" reports (08/04) "Earl Anthony Wayne, who was
nominated as US Ambassador to Argentina, will arrive in the country
during the first days of November, and he maintained that he wishes
'to closely work with the Government,' with the purpose 'of
strengthening ties between our two great nations.'"

- "'I am delighted'"

Left-of-center "Pagina 12" reports (08/04) "The US Senate confirmed
the nomination of Earl Anthony Wayne as the new US Ambassador to
Argentina. In a press communiqu, Lino Gutierrez's successor said 'I
am deeply honored that the President has nominated me for this
position.' Wayne and his wife will arrive in Buenos Aires no later
than the first days of November...

"Wayne will arrive in the country to 'normalize' ties between
Washington and Buenos Aires, which were impaired at the Mar del
Plata Summit of the Americas.

"... The Argentine Foreign Ministry positively assessed Wayne's
nomination because they see him as a 'serious' and 'good
interlocutor.' However, some in the diplomatic circle believe that
his nomination reflects some distancing in the White House's
consideration because Wayne does not have ties with George Bush's
team like Gutierrez did."

- "Bush could enlarge Guantnamo"

Left-of-center "Pagina 12" (08/04) "Far from closing Guantnamo
detention center, the Bush administration will enlarge it. In
addition to building a new prison in Guantanamo, the White House
submitted a new plan to judge terrorist suspects outside of usual
legal proceedings.


"The proposal, which is being analyzed by the US Senate, was
criticized by different experts for leaving indicted criminals
unprotected.

"Bush needs to pass this draft bill in order to replace the ad hoc
military courts system, which was considered illegal by the US
Supreme Court of Justice last June."

- "Friction with the IMF continues"

Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by economic columnist
Marcelo Bonelli, who writes (08/04) "The international business
community criticized and questioned Argentina's economic program
during two top-level meetings that were held in Washington - the
IMF Board meeting, in which a work by Anoop Singh, the head of the
IMF Western Department, was discussed, and a parallel meeting of the
IDB Board. During the two meetings, G7 leaders objected to the gist
of the country's economic strategy - the monetary expansion, the
fiscal policy and the anti-inflation control.

"They also questioned the lack of structural reforms - tax reform,
public rates reform and a definitive solution for the still
defaulting debt.

"Washington officials expressed the opinion of international


bankers, the headquarters of companies controlling privatized
services and food multinational corporations. They all agree on this
point but do not make it public due to fears of the liberal sector
of the local establishment."


3. EDITORIALS

- "Custom houses and trade transparency"

An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (08/04) "The
Argentine Tax Board and the US Embassy implemented an interesting
trade transparency program through a special software and
technology, which will allow for the exchange of information between
the Argentine and US Customs Houses.

"The Trade Transparency Unit Program (TTUP) will allow the Argentine
Tax Board to monitor some seven million dollars in transactions
between the US and Argentina.

"... The challenges posed by the struggle against transnational
organized crime call for human and technological efforts as well as
the political decision to fight it...

"... The TTU adopted by the US and Argentine Custom houses is a
significant milestone in the fight on organized crime."

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

MATERA