Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2100
2006-09-15 11:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11; NON ALIGNED COUNTRIES'

Tags:  KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ1524
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2100/01 2581125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151125Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5909
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002100 

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: FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11; NON ALIGNED COUNTRIES'
SUMMIT; IRAN; US-SYRIA; BOLIVIA; 09/14/06; BUENOS AIRES


UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002100

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: FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11; NON ALIGNED COUNTRIES'
SUMMIT; IRAN; US-SYRIA; BOLIVIA; 09/14/06; BUENOS AIRES



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's most important international stories include the world's
view of the USG on the fifth anniversary of the September 11
attacks; the upcoming Non Aligned Countries' summit; the allegedly
increasing disagreement between the US and the EU vis-`-vis the
Iranian case; and the situation in Bolivia.


2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Only the weak are loved"

James Neilson, contributor to liberal, English-language "Buenos
Aires Herald," writes (09/14) "As is now customary when another
anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington
flits by, many people made the most of the opportunity September 11
gave them to remind us that the US lost no time in the allegedly
limitless goodwill outsiders felt just after the Twin Towers came
crashing down killing almost three thousand people. That is true
enough... (However,) almost immediately voices could be heard saying
that the US had had it coming because of its obnoxious behavior,
that though Osama bin Laden men may have gone a bit too far they had
plenty of legitimate grievances and, in any case, the CIA had funded
them when they were fighting the Russians in Afghanistan.

"Even so, the US might have clung to its status as a victim had it
not gone and ruined everything by hitting back, first against Al
Qaeda and its Taliban friends in Afghanistan and then against the
ferocious dictatorship of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in an effort to
implant a functioning democracy in a key part of the Middle East."

- "Bush's 'enemies' gather at the US gates"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (09/14) "The Non Aligned
Movement Summit will become an opportunity for several tough critics
of Washington (among them, some members of the so-called 'axis of
evil') to meet face to face in Havana, just a few kilometers off the
US coast.

"The presidents of Iran, Venezuela, Bolivia and high-level
delegations from North Korea and Belarus will gather tomorrow and on
Saturday in the summit. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is also
expected, although he could cancel his trip due to the terrorist

attack against the US Embassy in Damascus.

"The big question is whether Fidel Castro will show up at the
meeting or his brother Raul will do so...

"... The summit has at least a certain anti-US atmosphere, which is
disguised as a call to defend 'multilateralism.'

"As a matter of fact, the draft final statement of the summit
strongly criticizes US foreign policy although attendance of
Washington's allies at the meeting could downplay the tone of the
document.

"... On the contrary, the document shows clear support for some of
Washington's main enemies, such as Iran, Venezuela and, of course,
Cuba...

"For his part, Chavez will use the summit to gather support for
Venezuela's candidacy for a non permanent seat at the UN Security
Council... The summit will be an excellent opportunity for Chavez
because members of the NAM represent nearly two-thirds of the votes
at the UN General Assembly."

- "Increasing disagreement between the US and the EU over the
Iranian case"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (09/14) "At a moment of strong
international tension over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, disagreement
increased between the US (which supports the implementation of
sanctions on the Islamic regime),and the EU (which proposes to
continue talks). And, for the first time since the beginning of
negotiations, Washington and the EU countries made public their
disagreement.

"During a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in
Vienna, US Representative Gregory Schulte warned Iran to 'make the
correct choice' regarding its nuclear program and 'avoid the
consequences' of eventual sanctions from the UN Security Council.

"... Washington believes that Tehran should opt for the full and
immediate abandonment of its enriched uranium-related program... On
the contrary, the White House believes the UN should impose economic
sanctions on it and, in the worst of cases, it should consider a
military intervention.


"For their part, France, the UK and Germany... have said in the name
of the EU that there is still time to reach an agreement through
talks with the Islamic regime and that the time for sanctions has
not come yet.

"... Diplomatic sources said that the disagreement between the US
and EU has deepened after last weekend's proposal from Iran to
freeze its enriched uranium-related activities for 'one or two more
months.' While this offer could be interesting for the EU,
Washington has already expressed its mistrust of the Iranian
proposal."

- "More and more fronts for Bush"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (09/14) "The Bush administration
faces multiple international crises at the moment. Some of them are
unexpected - the bloody wave of violence in Afghanistan, a terrorist
attack on Syria and even further deterioration of the situation in
Iraq.

"These crises led the White House again to defend its antiterrorist
policy, which Democrats criticized once again.

"In a conflict termed by Bush as a 'fight for civilization,' the US
also found itself in the unusual position of having to praise one of
the governments which it usually refers to as a villain in the war
on terrorism - that of Damascus.

"Tony Snow, White House spokesperson, said 'Syrian government
officials helped Americans' to frustrate an attack on the US Embassy
in Damascus. He also proposed that Damascus 'become an ally' in the
war on terrorism. The Bush administration has strongly criticized
the tough control wielded by the Syrian regime on its people and the
support it has granted to Hezbollah and the Palestinians, and it
included Syria in the so-called 'axis of evil.'"


3. EDITORIALS

- "Tensions met by Bolivia"

An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (09/14) "Bolivian President
Evo Morales has had the most conflictive weeks of his administration
since he took over...

"One of the main points of the political conflict is the
interpretation on what majority is required to approve decisions by
the Assembly. However, behind that conflict, between the official
party and the opposition, there are also social and territorial
divisions reflecting the tension between the Eastern provinces,
which generate 44% of GDP, and the rest of the country.

"Bolivia is going through a transformational stage in which it
should define a new Constitution. It will succeed in this task as
long as it reaches a national unity agreement among its political
and social sectors and consensus among its leaders. Political
instability and social polarization have been endemic evils in
Bolivia and their recurrence also negatively impacts on the
region."

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

MATERA