MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq: Liberation of French

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000121 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA; EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA; ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraq: Liberation of French Hostage Bernard Planche Conjecture About Post-Sharon Israel Bush - Eavesdropping Controversy - Economic Boom PARIS - PARIS - Monday, January 09, 2006 (A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT: Iraq: Liberation of French Hostage Bernard Planche Conjecture About Post-Sharon Israel Bush - Eavesdropping Controversy - Economic Boom B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE: The liberation in Iraq of the French hostage Bernard Planche is reported on most front pages. Le Figaro headlines: "Paris's Thanks to Washington Illustrate a Close Collaboration." Inside, Alain Barluet entitles his report: "Paris and Washington on the same wavelength." But popular France Soir is still convinced that "the Mystery Surrounding Planche" has not been cleared up and headlines: "Questions on a Liberation." Jean-Marc Tanguy writes: "The circumstances of Planche's liberation remain confusing. While French intelligence does not appear to have been involved, it has begun to debrief the former hostage. Planche's personality remains somewhat of a mystery, and it may be that this time the press will not be invited to greet him when he arrives in France." For La Croix, "each hostage situation is unique." "Discretion or publicity?" asks Dominique Gerbaud. "We must respect the family's preference." Liberation agrees in an editorial entitled: "Silence" but it also emphasizes "the mysterious conditions surrounding Planche's liberation." (See Part C) The second most widely reported story revolves around Sharon's legacy and how Israel is preparing for the post-Sharon era, now that everyone appears convinced he will not be able to return to politics. Le Figaro's editorial explains: "Emotions are running too high to be able to predict anything or give much credence to polls." but praises Olmert "for taking over Sharon's legacy." (See Part C) Le Journal du Dimanche devotes its foreign column to President Bush's precarious situation in the eavesdropping controversy. Gille Delafon predicts 2006 "may be fatal" for Bush in terms of scandals, (See Part C) while Le Figaro devotes a major report to the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court: "For Bush, this is an opportunity to make people forget his recent missteps, and to leave his imprint on American society for a long time." Financial La Tribune devotes its editorial to "The Alan and George Show" or "Greenspan's economic success versus Bush's political failures." (See Part C) The latest cases of Avian flu in Turkey are also prominently reported in the electronic media, while Le Figaro headlines: "Avian Flu Progresses Towards Europe." Domestic reports concentrate on the 10th anniversary of President Mitterand's death, and his political legacy, symbolized for Liberation by Segolene Royal who appears to be heading many polls as the lead figure for the next presidential elections. (C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES: Iraq: Liberation of French Hostage Bernard Planche "Paris and Washington on the Same Wavelength" Alain Barluet in right-of-center Le Figaro (01/09): "France, which now approves of the American role in Iraq, has thanked them for the part they played in Planche's liberation. This illustrates the rapprochement of the two countries over Iraq, but also on other dossiers on the Middle East. Chirac, PM De Villepin and FM Douste-Blazy expressed their thanks. These expressions of gratitude, rather rare in the recent past when it comes to Iraq, are a logical consequence Planche's release. Since American soldiers were the first ones to get hold of him, it would have been difficult to avoid saluting them. But the incident proves that even if France is not part of the coalition, France still needs the coalition's help. There may be other motivations behind France's diplomatic courtesy: a source intimates that the American surveillance system can obtain information, which could turn out to be embarrassing. Nevertheless France's gratitude fits with a new convergence of views between Paris and Washington on Iraq and the region. Paris is eager not to `upset' the Americans in their stabilization efforts. France's caution is also encouraged by the results of the December elections in Iraq. Paris has no alternative but to approve America's efforts to integrate the Sunnis in Iraq's political process. Both Paris and Washington are concerned about the region's stability: Paris wants to work with Washington on Syria and Iran, two crises which the French, and the Europeans in general, know they cannot hope to resolve without the Americans." "Publicity or Discretion for the Hostages?" Dominique Gerbaud in Catholic La Croix (01/09): "This time it was neither excessive publicity nor the payment of a ransom that led to the liberation of a hostage. It was coincidence, and the amateurism of the hostage takers. But mostly it was the result of the perfect perimeter of security set up by the American and Iraqi forces. Chirac congratulated the coalition forces for the release. A release that is going to launch once more the controversy about the attitude one must adopt in a hostage situation: over-publicize or remain discrete? In the case of Planche it seems that discretion, as requested by his family, led to success. The same attitude has been adopted by the Christian Science Monitor with regard to its kidnapped journalist in Baghdad. This is the first time a hostage's family and her newspaper have opted for discretion, just when Florence Aubenas has been campaigning for the opposite. Proof that each situation is unique and that the media must go along with the family's wishes. All the while recalling that some forty foreigners are still being held hostage in Iraq." "Silence" Antoine de Gaudemar in left-of-center Liberation (01/09): "We must rejoice in the liberation of Planche, just as an American journalist is reported kidnapped in Baghdad: both families have asked for discretion, in fact they have asked for total silence. We must respect their wishes. at the risk of appearing unfeeling. But we will respect the wishes of the American journalist's family: the rule indeed is to follow each hostage family's individual preference." Conjecture About Post-Sharon Israel "A Fateful Time for Olmert" Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (01/09): "For Israel and the world, the post-Sharon era is a fateful time. Ehud Olmert has taken over the reins and will hold on to them until after the March elections. These elections, which were a simple formality for Sharon, will be a battle for his successor. Olmert has a little under two months to prove he can take over Sharon's complex legacy. A legacy that needs to be defined, because Sharon did reveal all his plans. His unpredictability was part of his strength. Olmert was Sharon's closest advisor: he shared Sharon's ideas on the pullout and on Jerusalem. But without Sharon's military glamour, he does not elicit the same trust. He will need to make his intentions more explicit. The first test will be the Palestinian elections: Olmert will need to define his relationship with the Palestinian Authority, remain firm on terrorism and inspire confidence in the West Bank settlers, all the while being criticized by his former Likud associates. Peres's support is good for Olmert and the new Kadima party. This may lead to the peaceful coexistence of two people and two nations." "Reinventing Peace After Sharon" Francoise Crouigneau in right-of-center Les Echos (01/09): "Geo-strategic tension in Iraq, Syria, Iran and now Israel undeniably put added pressure on today's markets. But paradoxically, critical periods such as the one Israel is facing, can also open new vistas, as long as all players avoid a policy of the worse. And as long as the international sponsors of the peace process are committed to a common initiative, beginning with the Bush administration." Bush - Eavesdropping Controversy - Economic Boom "Bush's Eavesdropping" Gilles Delafon in right-of-center Le Journal du Dimanche (01/09): "President Bush is facing one more scandal: on Saturday, Congress rejected the White House defense counsel's arguments regarding eavesdropping on Americans without a legal mandate. The White House stance that the country is at war and that the President has extended powers was not accepted. For Bush this last controversy is developing in an atmosphere already marked by mistrust. Watergate and the Clinton scandal are not far in people's minds; the word impeachment is already making the rounds in Washington . An impeachment procedure against Bush is highly unlikely at this time. But the way things are going in terms of scandal, 2006 may well turn out to be fatal for Bush." "The Alan and George Show" Pascal Aubert in centrist La Tribune (01/09): "Once upon a time there were two leaders with infinite power. The first managed to be successful in almost everything he did but remained modest. The second has practically failed at everything, but has a keen talent for claiming other people's successes as his own. The former, Alan Greenspan, already has his place in history reserved for his role in America's economy. No mean feat when one knows he lived through four Presidents. Conversely, the current President of the U.S. has no real successes to his name, except for a war that has brought America's unpopularity to a peak. His tendency to abuse his power is beginning to worry Americans. With so many failures to his name, maybe it is best that President Bush not get involved in America's economy and continue to claim other people's successes as his own." HOFMANN