FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE US; CHAVEZ; US AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002692 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: FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE US; CHAVEZ; US AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S RESIGNATION; WTO RULING ON TECHINT; CLIMATE CHANGE; 12/05/06 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Key international stories today include the implications of Venezuelan President Chavez' re-election; the resignation of US Ambassador Bolton; freedom of speech in the US; the WTO's ruling on Techint; and climate change. ¶2. OPINION PIECES - "Freedom without taboos" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed story by Enrique Tomas Bianchi, secretary to the Supreme Court of Justice, who writes (12/05) "The publication of a work by University Professors John J. Mearsheimer (Chicago) and Stephen M. Walt (Harvard) has shocked the US. In their work, they wonder about the alleged power of pro-Israel lobbying interests on US policy. "... This reveals that traditional US respect for freedom of expression still prevails and allows for the discussion of key points of the country's foreign policy. "Now that the so-called global war on terrorism has impaired some constitutional rights and guarantees, Freedom of Speech should continue being protected because, according to the beautiful words from Judge Learned Hand in an old ruling, the First Amendment supposes that 'the right conclusions are probably better reached through a crowd of voices that by means of any kind of selection made by an authority. For many, this is and will always be nonsensical but all of us have embarked on it.'" - "The US seeks to deepen the dialogue (with Caracas)" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," comments (12/05) "The White House managed to prevent Venezuela from gaining a seat at the UN Security Council, but it totally failed in its silent support for the Venezuelan opposition and it will now have to live six more years with the man who labeled US President George W. Bush as the 'Devil' - Hugo Chavez. "... A high-ranking OAS official said 'At least, we have Tom Shannon in charge of US diplomacy for Latin America.' 'He is a man who seeks dialogue, not confrontation, as happened during the time of Roger Noriega and Otto Reich.' "Yesterday, Shannon said he expected Chavez to show more interest from now on in deepening the dialogue with the US. 'We do not want a confrontational relationship. We have always sought a way to deepen the dialogue with the Chavez administration and we hope that he shows more interest in this.' According to Shannon, elections (in Venezuela) were 'a democratic expression of the Venezuelan people,' and the US is committed to 'democracy' in the region." - "The year in which Latin America confirmed its 'tilt' to the left" Pilar Conci, international columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (12/05) "Latin America has confirmed its 'tilt' to the left in 2006. "... The boom of left-wing leaders had different causes in each country, depending on the national frameworks... Leftist leaders are far from making up a homogeneous bloc and instead, they represent two trends - a more radical trend, which is led by Chavez, and the moderate trend, which is represented by Lula and Bachelet. "The progress made by the left wing in the region can be understood as a consequence of an overall feeling of distrust toward traditional political parties, inequality in income distribution, and an increasing poverty rate, which affects 40 percent of Latin Americans. "... A crucial issue will be US-Latin American ties. Washington's only allies are Mexico, Colombia and most of Central American countries... The victories of Correa in Ecuador and Ortega in Nicaragua were the two latest setbacks in the US's attempt to recover its clout in the region. "For his part, Chavez will attempt to expand his Bolivarian revolution and will continue his crusade to keep US influence in Latin America at bay. However, analysts agree that the Venezuelan will hardly obtain more power than what he has obtained so far or that he will be able to expand his Bolivarian revolution. For instance, Correa and Ortega are not likely to implement structural changes (like those implemented by Morales) or cut their ties with Washington." - "Chavez's purpose is unlimited re-election" Jorge Elias, on special assignment in Caracas for daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (12/05) "As soon as he knew of his landslide victory in the elections, Hugo Chavez promised to deepen the socialism of the 21st century, his Bolivarian revolution and the 'red' motto of his campaign... "Chavez's project of establishing a 'life presidency' disturbs the opposition, particularly because he did not speak of a six-year period, like the current one, but of seven years... And because he did not mention the possibility of calling the opposition or moving forward elections for the Constituent Assembly, which is also dominated by the official party." - "US Ambassador to the UN resigns" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," comments (12/05) "The resignation of US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, again posed a major question - will Bush change his policy in Iraq? "Bolton is one of the few remaining neo-conservative members who pressured US President George W. Bush to invade Iraq, following the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld... "... Obviously enough, Bush could have insisted but in the end he decided to accept Bolton's resignation, a gesture that some interpreted as a preference for implementing changes in Washington's policy on Iraq. "An acid test will take place this week. The bipartisan committee created to analyze alternatives in Iraq... will present its report... the committee will advise that troop withdrawal not only be subject to Iraqis assuming responsibility for their safety but also to political deals to be reached with the opposition. The committee is also expected to advise to hold negotiations with Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria. As a matter of fact, no one knows for sure what the report will say." - "The WTO makes a new decision in favor of Techint in its dispute with the US" Business-financial "El Cronista" (12/05) reports "According to a FM communiqu, the WTO issued a decision including harsh criticism of the US and favoring Argentina in its dispute on antidumping rights on exports of seamless tubes for the oil industry. "The decision favors Tenaris-Siderca, a company of the Techint Group. "The dispute between Techint and the US started in 1995 when the US banned the import of tubes, Siderca's specialty. "... The WTO's decision inflicted a blow to the commercial legislation of one of the allegedly most liberal countries of the world - it not only argues that the dumping charge against Siderca is invalid but also that 'certain aspects of the US antidumping legislation... are not compatible with the WTO's set of rules' (according to the Foreign Ministry)." ¶3. EDITORIALS - "Chavez and here" An editorial in liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" reads (12/05) "The re-election of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez with an increased majority... also has its importance and its lessons for Argentina. "The Chavez landslide comes just when relations between the two nations have entered a delicate stage, largely because of a country distant to them both: Iran. Venezuela's hyperactive ambassador to this country Roger Capella has been recalled to Caracas because of his work in stirring up pickets who have not only become suddenly more hostile to President Kirchner but also increasingly lend themselves to pro-Iran demonstrations. This was on a direct collision course with the receptive attitudes shown by Kirchner towards the calls of the US in general and the New York Jewish community in particular for a clarification of Iran's role in the 1994 terrorist bomb destruction of the AMIA. And yet Kirchner was positive enough about the Chavez re-election, Argentina is in hock to Venezuela for its bond purchases and fuel supplies and Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido, Kirchner's right-hand man within the Cabinet, works relentlessly to advance the interaction between Argentina and Venezuela." - "Climate change calls for action" An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (12/05) "The recent information issued in different parts of the world on climate change is in line with the worst predictions about the subject. In this regard, a UK-sponsored work presents a catastrophic view of the future of the world in only fifty years unless substantial measures are quickly taken all over the world. "... The consequences of 'green gashouse emissions' can already be perceived but they will be worse... "It is necessary to make investments to produce new technologies, promote international cooperation and implement actions to gradually lower gas emissions that raise the world temperature. "World public opinion calls for actions from leaders to foster the reduction of green gashouse emissions, particularly those of industries and cars, and the promotion of more efficient energy. There is no higher interest than preserving life in the world and the future of new generations. Nothing less than this is at stake." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE