MEDIA REACTION STATE OF THE UNION, IRAN-IAEA,

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000250 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 STATE OF THE UNION, IRAN-IAEA, HAMAS; BUENOS AIRES 02/01/06 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Papers lead with the State of the Union message, in which President Bush defends his foreign policy, warns Iran and Hamas that the U.S. will fight tyranny in the world, urges them to set aside terrorism; refers to Iraq saying that if the U.S. leaves, 'then Bin Laden will remain' and, on the domestic front, criticizes the American people for being 'oil-dependent', urging to break this dependence through technology and new energy resources. The other key story is China and Russia's decision to join the U.S., Great Britain and France to pressure Tehran by supporting a UNSC discussion of Iran's controversial nuclear plan. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES - "Bush: 'U.S. Seeks to End Tyranny in the World'" Ana Baron, leading, centrist "Clarin" Washington-based correspondent, writes (02/01) "After a year of blows, both from the international and the domestic fronts, and with his popularity plummeting, President Bush tried yesterday to recover the initiative with a double message. "For one part, he promised the U.S. will maintain its commitment to end tyranny in the world... For the other, aware of the general discontent sparked by the rise in gasoline prices and the economic problems this has generated, Bush decided to take the offensive and said the U.S. is addicted to oil. He spoke of the need to end the dependence on foreign oil supply and to opt for alternative energy sources. "Undoubtedly, highly influenced by opinion polls which indicate that the major concern of the American people is Iraq, Bush dedicated a large portion of his speech to defending his foreign policy. ".... In response to those who believe that Hamas' victory in the Palestinian elections proved his policy of exporting democracy doesn't work, Bush reassured that democracy is not just about elections, and, reconfirming his commitment to the democracy agenda, referred to the need to bring democracy to the political regimes of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. "During his speech, Bush explained that it was important for the fight against terrorism to go hand- in-hand with the dissemination of Western democratic values. Nevertheless, he strongly defended the need to implement a controversial system to monitor phone calls, which the Democrats precisely criticize because they believe it's against the essence of U.S. democracy. Without feeling intimidated by this criticism, Bush also insisted on the need for Congress to pass the Patriot Act again...." - "Bush Warns Hamas and Iran" Hugo Alconada Mon, center-right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" Washington-based correspondent, says (02/01) "Decided to invest his entire political capital in a crucial year for his administration, President Bush last night urged the fundamentalist leaders of Hamas and Iran to set aside terrorism and ambitions of war or risk isolating themselves from the international community. ".... Bush also defended his offensive in Iraq and then addressed Iran and the 'small clerical elite that's isolating and repressing its people,' demanding it to modify the direction of its domestic and foreign policies if it wants to avoid multilateral retaliation. ".... During an hour, Bush outlined the key aspects of his agenda for his year, which he referred to as 'decisive for the future and character' of the U.S. ".... Bush also urged the American people to eradicate the country's oil dependence... (and) to rely on themselves. ".... On several occasions, Bush underscored that the U.S. economy is the most powerful in the world, even vis--vis the challenges of globalization, the shortage of oil and terrorism. ".... In sync with his post 9/11 policy... Bush reiterated that the U.S. must continue the so-called 'war on terrorism'. But, unlike his first SOTU message in 2002, in which he referred to the axis of evil (Iran, Iraq and North Korea),last night the President said that terrorism isn't only fought via the military option, but 'offering a hopeful alternative of political freedom and peaceful change.' ".... After more than 30 drafts of the speech, Latin America was only indirectly mentioned when he referred to immigration, border security and free trade...." - "'If We Left, Bin Laden Would Remain'" Mercedes Lopez San Miguel, leftist "Pagina 12" international columnist, opines (02/01) "President Bush's State of the Union message in Congress was a sweetened and single chord version of his recurrent calls to 'democratize the world.' The leader dedicated most of his speech to the foreign agenda: defending the offensive against terrorism, fulfilling the mission in Iraq, viewing 'a democratic Iran in the future and trying to be its friend.' But he was clear: 'in retreating, there's no peace or honor.' Without changing a single letter of the text... he didn't convey any optimism, something analysts expected, given the drop in his popularity, during his second tenure. ".... The most 'touching' moment of the speech - or rather, the 'blow below the belt' - took place when Bush mentioned the letter written by a military officer that died in Iraq and the cameras showed his mourning family in tears, sitting among Congressmen. ".... The short-term renovation of the Patriot Act is in the works, as part of the 'anti-terrorist' war of an all-knowing administration... He added that an eventual withdrawal from Iraq would mean that terrorism 'will move its battlefield to U.S. territory', and 'if we left, then Bin Laden and Zarqawi would remain in Iraq.'..." - "Old Arguments" Pablo Ceron, leading, centrist "Clarin" international columnist, opines (02/01) "Bush clung to old arguments in his attempt to respond to those who criticize his administration. The disastrous adventure of war in Iraq, the indolence following the catastrophe of hurricane Katrina, the corruption in Congress and the slow-down of the economy (in the last quarter of 2005 it grew less than half of what specialists estimated), undermined the support obtained, basically, after 9/11. There will be legislative elections in November. This is why, among the Republicans, there were some alarm signals in view of recent surveys which place the chief of the White House below 40% of approval: one of the lowest levels for a president since WWII." - "China and Russia Concede that UN Discuss Iran's Controversial Nuclear Plan" Maria Luisa Avignolo, centrist, leading "Clarin" Paris- based correspondent writes (02/01) "The crisis of the 'European troika' with Iran on the nuclear issue turned into an escalation of unpredictable consequences. Yesterday, in London, the five permanent members at the UNSC decided to send the case to the top UN organization. "Great Britain, the U.S., France, China and Russia decided that the IAEA report the Iran case to the UNSC - which is authorized to impose UN sanctions that wouldn't be imminent. ".... The decision 'is a powerful signal (of the five big ones) to Iran', after months of diplomatic seduction from Great Britain, France and Germany, which ended in a fiasco when Iran decided to resume its nuclear production and re-open the banned installations. ".... Russia and China are opposed to sanctions against the Iranian people and the Iran administration wants to force their position. According to diplomatic sources, Iran is trying to deepen the rift that the invasion of Iraq produced in Europe, by dividing opinions - at least in France and Great Britain, and, if possible, in Germany - while seeking support from China and Russia, which have veto rights at the UNSC. "The decision of the five global powers to take the Iran case to the Council took place two days before the meeting in Vienna, in which they will discuss the suspension of the ban on the enrichment of uranium. "In U.S. opinion, this result is the most decisive action obtained by its allies on a sensitive issue since the Iran nuclear crisis cropped up in 2002...." ¶3. 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