Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES1825
2006-08-14 15:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

US-ARGENTINE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP; TERRORISM; WAR IN THE

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0049
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1825/01 2261529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141529Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5550
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001825 

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: US-ARGENTINE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP; TERRORISM; WAR IN THE
MIDDLE EAST; US-URUGUAYAN FTA; GSP; IMF AND ARGENTINA; 08/11/06

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001825

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: US-ARGENTINE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP; TERRORISM; WAR IN THE
MIDDLE EAST; US-URUGUAYAN FTA; GSP; IMF AND ARGENTINA; 08/11/06


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's international stories include the status of the US-Argentine
bilateral relationship; the failed terrorist plot to blow up a
number of civilian airplanes heading for the US; the war in the
Middle East; the US-Uruguayan FTA; the implications of the GSP
review in Argentina; and international organizations' criticism of
Argentine economic policy.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Suggestive - no USG officials (at the Council of the Americas
meeting)"

Pablo Wende, columnist of business-financial "Ambito Financiero,"
writes (08/11) "No USG official attended the Council of the
Americas' meeting, which was held yesterday in Buenos Aries. It was
a sign of the cold ties between the US and Argentina.

"In spite of previous speculation, the US Commercial representative
for Latin America, Everett Eissenstat, who had been present in a
similar encounter in Uruguay, did not attend either.

"... As a matter of fact, no one expected USG officials to attend
the encounter. The White House's Assistant Secretary for Latin
American Affairs, Tom Shannon, had already regretted two weeks ago,
although he had initially been included as a lecturer.

"Only some members of the US Embassy were seen, among them Michael
Matera, who will fill a high-ranking position along with new US
Ambassador Anthony Wayne.

"Argentine Government officials tried not to make comments on the
bilateral relationship between the US and Argentina. The only one
who slightly referred to the White House's decision to eliminate
preferential tariff rates for Argentine imports was Cabinet Chief
Alberto Fernandez. He said 'We have the right to continue defending
our interests at international fora,' in reference to Argentina's
claim for developed countries to lower their farm subsidies.

"... Argentine businessmen who are members of the Council sought to
downplay disagreement over ties between the US and Argentina. 'The
two countries are strongly willing to hold talks, regardless of some
statements that were made.'"

- "The US-Argentine relationship cools down"


Mariano Obarrio, columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion's" "Economy
and Business" supplement, writes (08/11) "The Kirchner
administration ministers' attendance at the Council of the Americas
forum resulted in formal and mutually praising statements, but it
also made clear that US-Argentine bilateral ties have cooled down -
there were no signs of mutual confidence.

"Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez did not avoid criticizing the USG's
decision to limit preferential tariff rates for Argentine exports.

"... Businessmen acknowledged that Kirchner attained economic growth
through unorthodox measures, but they also maintained that Argentina
still has a long road ahead to have clear rules and judicial
security for investment.

"They also said that US prioritizes other countries, like Chile,
Peru, Colombia or Uruguay, where FTAs are already in force or are
being negotiated.

"Regarding the political factor, businessmen believe that Kirchner's
closeness to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President
Evo Morales has impaired the US-Argentine relationship, and they
think it is possible that the relationship will cool down even
further."

- "Maximum alert in the US on flights to the UK"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
writes (08/11) "The US Homeland Security Department decreed the
maximum state of alert for commercial flights with the UK, following
the discovery of a massive terrorist plot to blow up ten airplanes
heading for the US...

"... For his part, US President George W. Bush said 'The recent
arrests in the UK are a reminder that the nation is at war against
Islamic fascists who want to use any means to destroy those who love
freedom and hit our country.'

"The head of the White House has managed to politically capitalize
on this kind of information...


"However, with opinion surveys indicating that only 31% of Americans
believe that the US is winning the war on terrorism, even a failed
plot like yesterday's may reinforce the opinion of those who believe
that the Bush administration is losing the battle."

- "Bush declares state of alert and lashes out at Al Qaeda"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (08/11) "Yesterday morning, only
one month away from the fifth anniversary of the September 11
attacks, all US airports were declared on maximum state of alert and
the USG again charged Al Qaeda as the main suspect in a new and
failed terrorist plot.

"US President George W. Bush accused 'Islamic fascists' of the
failed plot to blow up nine or ten airplanes of three main US air
companies over the Atlantic Ocean."

"Only five years after the largest attack against the US, the White
House continues without defeating Al Qaeda or capturing Osama bin
Laden while its two front battle, in Iraq and Afghanistan, are
absorbing its military power."

- "A Lebanese woman's testimony"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed page by writer Marcos
Aguinis, who writes (08/11) "Brigitte Gabriel is a risky Lebanese
journalist...

"... Against my expectations, Brigitte Gabriel mentioned in detail
something that happened before Israeli independence, February 22,
1948 - three trucks loaded with explosives exploded on the busy Ben
Yehuda street in Jerusalem killing 54 and injuring hundreds of
civilians. She said, with a severe tone, that they were not
'desperate due to the occupation.'

"Then, she sadly evoked the Lebanon of her childhood before the
civil war, which claimed to also clean the country of Christians...


"Brigitte Gabriel's words again injected hope that the Arab world
has brave personalities... There are in Lebanon hundreds of
thousands that hope that Hezbollah's criminals, who attacked Israel
without the justification of any 'occupation,' will be defeated for
the sake of the region and the world."

- "'This war serves the US interests'"

Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin,"
interviews Muhammad Barrake, Israeli Arab deputy, who says (80/11)
"Asked about the war, Barrake says 'This is a war of the US and
Israel, it is part of their policies for the entire region. Both the
war in Iraq and Lebanon express an imperialistic view that they
attempt to impose. And in this way, Israel ends up acting not in
defense of its own interests but those of the US.'"

- "Mercosur is reported to allow a limited FTA between the US and
Uruguay"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (08/11) "In a little
more time, the Vazquez administration will have to decide whether it
will stay in Mercosur as one more partner or whether it will become
an associate country, just like Chile, Peru or Bolivia.

"Reportedly, the two largest members of the bloc would let Uruguay
sign an FTA with the US as long as it only includes three products -
meat, dairy products and software - but leaving aside any reference
to governmental purchases, services, communication and IPR. In the
event the Vazquez administration makes progress on those fields,
which would imply the signature of an FTA, the deal will not be
supported by Argentina and Brazil.

"Nonetheless, according to US case law, the Bush administration only
has two kinds of trade opening proposals for Latin American
countries - entering the GSP or an FTA including all sectors of the
economy and not just only some goods.

"As we all know, the first program is being dismantled by the USG
leaving aside the three South American beneficiaries - Argentina,
Brazil and Venezuela.

"The US strategy in the region is reaching FTAs, as those
implemented with Chile and Colombia, and those that are being
reached with Peru and Ecuador."

- "The opposition will support Tabare's attempt to reach an FTA with

the US"

Patricia Valli, columnist of business-financial, center-right
"InfoBae," comments (08/11) "Former President Luis Maria Sanguinetti
pointed out that Tabare Vazquez's announcement that he will seek 'a
broad FTA' with the US was a 'historic milestone' that will bury the
Frente Amplio's biases.

"For his part, former Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle said that the
only way to achieve a real insertion is through an FTA. In this way,
the Vazquez administration confirmed that it has no obstacles among
opponents, although historic opponents to the FTA are within the
same government. They argue that it could impair Uruguay's ties with
Mercosur, in addition to 'anti-imperialistic' reasons.

"According to Pablo Rosselli, economist from Deloitte, it is 'quite
logical' for Uruguay to seek some opening because 'Mercosur is not
working well, and its trade suffers frequent interruptions."

- "Reaction to US blockade"

Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" (08/11) "The possibility that
the US could leave Argentina outside of its GSP... turned on alarm
bells among farmers and the governments of at least 15 provinces,
which could be seriously affected by the blockade.

"Yesterday, the Tucuman government said that it will ask the Foreign
Ministry to intervene based on the fact that the end of exports of
strawberries could damage some 5,000 families who live on said
production in the province.

"... There are some 5,000 farmers in Tucuman, who account for some
50% of Argentine strawberry exports, mainly to the US, for some 8
million dollars per year."

- "Hostile gestures from financial hubs"

Marcelo Bonelli, economic columnist of leading "Clarin," writes an
op-ed page (08/11) "The (Argentine) Government perceived clear signs
that the G7 and political and financial hubs have started to put
limits on Argentina. This is why, Nestor Kirchner again confronted
the greatest public representative of this power - the IMF...

"The country is questioned for not following what is interpreted as
international rules.

"Local financial sectors sustain that claims could be deepened with
the arrival of the new US Ambassador, Earl Wayne, although this
version was totally dismissed by spokespersons of the US diplomacy
in Buenos Aires.

"... Another sign was the last IMF board meeting - a total change in
the Argentine economic policy.

"Another sign was Washington's decision to impose commercial
sanctions."


3. EDITORIALS

- "The time of the terrorists"

An editorial in liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald"
reads (08/11) "The British government's announcement of the
discovery, following months of international surveillance, of a
massive terrorist plot to blow up an unknown number of civilian
airplanes, is a frightening prospect and an extremely disturbing
revelation, even while there is still much missing in the way of
information about the investigation...

"... For some the adjectival outbursts of President Bush, in his
reference yesterday to 'Islamic fascists,' might have its reasons,
but in real terms that is a language aimed at simpletons and not of
any use to society at large, least of all to its educated
components...

"We may be in a new season of terrorism, which can be attributed in
part to the growing warfare in the Middle East. The important angle
of approach to the worldwide threat to human life is that no person
is left out, everybody becomes a suspect, nobody is completely safe.
This is what makes terrorism, from whatever political side it is
generated, so damaging to society, because it is an element of
division. And that is what an open society has to guard against."

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

MATERA