MEDIA REACTION TIES BETWEEN TRI-BORDER AND

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000785 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 TIES BETWEEN TRI-BORDER AND TERRORIST GROUPS US IMMIGRATION POLICY BUSH-TABARE SUMMIT NOMINATION OF EARL ANTHONY WAYNE AS NEW US AMBASSADOR TO BUENOS AIRES 04/06/06 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Key international stories today include the alleged ties between the Tri-Border and terrorist organizations through a New York bank account; US President Bush favoring a US law including temporary work permits; and the nomination of Earl Anthony Wayne as new US Ambassador to Buenos Aires. Leading "Clarin" carries a reprint of a La Repubblica article by Anthony Giddens, English sociologist, creator of the 'The Third Way,' who wrote "As a result of Sunday's elections, Italy is expected to leave behind a political leader, who, like George Bush, will have finished an administration in which he piled up imprudence, errors and disappointment." Leading "Clarin" carries an editorial on Iran's nuclear challenge. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES - "Ties revealed between Al Qaeda and the Tri-border" Alberto Armendariz, New York-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (04/06) "As part of an investigation that could reveal for the first time financial ties between the Triple Border and terrorist organizations, the Manhattan District Attorney ordered the closure of a New York bank account alleged to have served to 'launder' Uruguayan funds and send them to groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah. "According to unidentified judicial sources..., during the last two years, some 3 billion dollars obtained from illegal businesses carried out in the Tri-Border are reported to have been transferred to a New York Bank of America account through drafts involving Gales/Lespan Exchange financial company, headquartered in Montevideo. "Reportedly, suspected funds must have been sent from New York to accounts in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia; Beirut, Lebanon; and Ramallah, in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories." - "Bush pressures US Senate to pass immigration law" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," writes (04/06) "Fully aware that the issue is turning into a snowball, US President George W. Bush urged the US Senate to put an end to a debate on what to do with the 12 million undocumented immigrants living today in the US... "... Bush again said he favors legislation including temporary work permits..., and he acknowledged that there are people in the US who work hard in positions US citizens do not want to take." - "Tabare-Bush summit is a topic of concern for Argentina" Carlos Burgueo, columnist of business-financial "Ambito Financiero," writes (04/06) "A piece of disconcerting news, which could worsen the Argentine- Uruguayan ties, was confirmed yesterday morning by the Argentine Foreign Ministry - On May 4, George W. Bush will receive Tabare Vazquez in New York, and could offer him to reenter bilateral negotiations for an FTA outside of Mercosur... "The announced meeting between Bush and Vazquez added itself to the US President's statements that the US Congress should ratify the US-Uruguayan Bilateral Investment Treaty." - "Nationalism on the surge" Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed page by prestigious political analyst Rosendo Fraga, who opines (04/06) "By the mid-90s, globalization was assumed to be a central phenomenon in international relations, which influenced countries by limiting and even eliminating national sovereignties. However, ten years later, we find the reverse phenomenon - the possible revitalization of nationalism. "The US is today more nationalistic than in the '90s. its unilateral foreign policy is an expression of a sort of revitalization of US nationalism. "In China, India and Pakistan, Europe, the Middle East there is also a surge of nationalism... The turn to the left in Latin America could be a regional version of nationalistic resurgence. "To all this, we should add that both political international institutions, like the UN, and economic international institutions, like the IMF, are today much more under debate than one decade ago." - "Commercial rather than political topics in the new US Ambassador's agenda" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," comments (04/06) "The White House has announced the nomination of Earl Anthony Wayne as the new US ambassador to Argentina... "... While his road to Buenos Aires seems clear of obstacles, Wayne is obviously aware that his work will not be easy. While on the surface, bilateral ties between the US and Argentina are seemingly very calm, there are some topics that raise concern. It is enough to read the latest USTR report on Argentina about the trade barriers the US faces in the world to understand why the thorniest issues in Wayne's agenda will be commercial and economic rather than political. The report talks about 'lack of adequate protection for patents in Argentina;' tariffs imposed by the Kirchner administration on 'the import of toys and textiles,' which are affecting several US companies; US companies' lawsuits against Argentina at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)... "Everything indicates that while the US will continue insisting on issues like ties with Cuba, Venezuela, or diplomatic immunities for US troops performing exercises in Argentina, commercial issues are at the core of the US interests in our country, for which purpose the US is ready to wage battle." ¶3. EDITORIALS - "Nuclear challenge and global threats" An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (04/06) "Iran has become the main concern regarding its armament challenge and nuclear development with uncertain purposes... "... Iran has defended its right to develop nuclear energy with peaceful purposes but has not dismissed its use with defensive or offensive purposes, and it has not allowed the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s inspectors. "The strengthening of collective security is crucial to preventing escalations of violence like that in Iran from becoming larger confrontations. "The international community should avoid both Iran's nuclear development for non peaceful purposes and the implementation in Iran of the same 'pre-emptive war' strategy carried out in Iraq three years ago." 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