MEDIA REACTION REPORT - GWOT - Moussaoui Trial -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 001387 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 - GWOT - Moussaoui Trial - Attorney General Gonzales in Paris- Guantanamo Iran PARIS - Monday, March 06, 2006 (A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT: GWOT - Moussaoui Trial - Attorney General Gonzales in Paris Guantanamo Iran B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE: Liberation and La Croix devote their lead to Moussaoui's trial. While La Croix's headline is straightforward, "Moussaoui Could Get Capital Punishment," Liberation's headline stresses the mysterious behind the obvious: "The Moussaoui Enigma." In its editorial Liberation warns that "America itself will be on trial" depending on how the trial is conducted. Le Parisien in its report explains that Moussaoui's lawyers "may point an accusing finger at the American intelligence services in defending their client." (See Part C) Writing about the war on terror in La Croix, Gilles Biassette quotes AG Gonzales who was in Paris on Friday and who emphasized "the excellent cooperation" between France and the U.S. on fighting terrorism. Popular France Soir also reports on Attorney General Gonzales and his visit to Paris where he met with his French counterpart. France Soir devotes a two-page report to two Afghanistan brothers, Sadar and Abdur, who were released from the Guantanamo detention center after serving three years, and returned to Pakistan, which is headlined on the front page. (See Part C) Le Figaro carries an op-ed co-signed by the French and British Defense Ministers on a joint European defense to "promote peace and international security" while the lead story is devoted to President Chirac's visit to Saudi Arabia, and his promotion of better understanding through culture and trade. Iran and its "challenge" to the West is the basis for a report in Le Figaro, while La Croix reports that "Iran is not giving in to pressure." Le Journal du Dimanche devotes a full page to Al-Baradei, "The Justice of the Peace." (See Part C) Le Parisien reports that "Iran doesn't want to give in," noting that Teheran's determination on the nuclear issue remains "intact" three days after that last effort by the EU-3 to convince Iran to change its position. Foreign Minister Douste- Blazy, however, has said "the hand is still extended" to Iran, while Secretary Rice was quoted as saying on Saturday, "Nobody is saying we must rush to take sanctions, one way or the other." Saturday's front page of Le Figaro reports that the Council of State has made its decision in the case pitting the Interior Ministry - which wanted to send the work to a private company - and the National Printing Office. The Council upheld the court ruling that the monopoly over the manufacture of secure administrative documents reverts to the National Printing Office, which is now gearing up to start issuing the new passports in April. Inside articles note that French travelers wanting to go to the U.S. this summer can go without visas; some 24,000 French travelers have had to get visas at the U.S. Consulate since November 2005. A separate article says that tour operators are reassured by the decision. One tour company specializing in trips to the U.S. said its business had dropped 30%. Liberation devotes a major report in its employment section to the American practice of "whistleblowing" among workers to limit waste and fraud. One report shows how Shell France has adapted the system in France. (C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES: GWOT - Moussaoui Trial - Guantanmo "Antidote" Gerard Dupuy in left-of-center Liberation (03/06): "The ghost of the worst crime in history perpetrated by individuals is hovering over the Moussaoui trial. If a link between him and 9/11 is proven, there is a good chance he will be given the death penalty and executed. For abolitionists, especially in the U.S., the months ahead will be difficult ones. Moussaoui deserves the same commiseration than any other criminal wasting away in death row. But before that, it will be essential to prove he was instrumental, if only through his silence, in the deaths caused by 9/11. The conclusions of the trial cannot be determined ahead of time. During this trial of Moussaoui, America's justice system will also be on trial before the entire world. Let us hope all will be done according to the country's laws and strict rules, which are in themselves the best antidote to all forms of terrorism." "Lies and their Role in the Moussaoui Trial" Philippe Gelie in right-of-center Le Figaro (03/06): "Things are heating up for Moussaoui. The debate will assign a crucial place to the notion of `lies,' which is central in the American legal system. There is a delicate nuance between `not lying' and `telling the truth.' Herein stands the frail line of defense which his lawyers will try to use to save his life." "The Hour of Truth Is Near" Francois D'Alancon in Catholic La Croix (03/06): "For Moussaoui, the stakes are not about whether he is guilty or not, it is about the punishment he will get: capital punishment or life in prison. For the Bush administration the political and symbolic stakes are of great import. After the controversy about Guantanamo and alleged CIA secret prisons, the U.S. government wants to show that it can take a procedure against a member of Al-Qaeda to its completion and in according with the law." "The Priority Is Still the War Against Terrorism" Gilles Biassette in Catholic La Croix (03/06): "Four years after 9/11, the determination of the U.S. government has not faltered when it comes to fighting against terror: the Senate last week adopted a bill that will make certain measures of the Patriot Act permanent. The Patriot Act is only one of many means used by the Bush administration to fight the war on terror, including reducing civil liberties. A fact that Attorney General Gonzales has reiterated on various occasions. During a short visit to Paris, Alberto Gonzales took the opportunity to speak in favor of the `excellent cooperation' between the French and American police in the fight against terrorism. He also confirmed that in certain cases, the U.S. had committed to forsake the death penalty against foreigners, in exchange for information provided by foreign countries." "Two Brothers Safely Out of Guantanamo" Pauline Garaude in popular right-of-center France Soir (03/06): "Sadar and Abdur, the two Afghan brothers' hatred for Americans and for the Pakistani secret services was only reinforced by their trial. The brothers say they are innocent and victims of a plot. They were arrested in Afghanistan by a warlord who handed them over to the Americans, who transported them to Bagram and then Guantanamo, always yelling `Keep your f--- hands on your f---head.' At Guantanamo, `We were treated as dirty Muslims, as terrorists.' The interrogations went on for entire days and nights.' We were chained. and they hung porno images on the walls. Sometimes they had a nude woman come over and forced those who refused to speak to have sex with her.'" Iran "How to Make Iran Change Its Stance on the Nuclear Issue" Chris Patten of the International Crisis Group in right-of- center Le Figaro (03/06): "The stalemate with Iran is one of today's most crucial political and diplomatic crisis, despite various interventions, including Russia's. The failure to convince Iran through diplomacy leads the international community to considering other options. such as military options and economic sanctions. Neither one is easy to implement. Military strikes are risky because Iran's nuclear installations are spread out. It is much better to consider a diplomatic solution, the Russian one in particular. But this will not work out unless the U.S. changes its foreign policy towards Iran, including lifting the sanctions and granting Iran diplomatic status. A realistic compromise would be for Iran to accept a system of strict inspections. The three years of diplomatic action have ended in failure and the option of `zero enrichment' has few chances of succeeding. A diplomatic solution can only work if Iran clearly sees the risks of rejecting it. This is why the international community must convince Iran that serious sanctions will be imposed if Iran rejects the present offer, or if it accepts it in theory but rejects it in practice." "Al Baradei, Justice of the Peace" Gilles Delafon in right-of-center Le Journal du Dimanche (03/06): "The referee in Iran's atomic game, Al Baradei is convinced that Iran is hiding the truth of its nuclear program. but contends that the UNSC is not always able to play its role: a clear reference to the Iraqi crisis and that fateful other March 7, in 2003 when an obscure director of the IAEA asserted against Colin Powell that `there was no proof that Iraq was involved in forbidden nuclear activities.' Al Baradei and others wear the Iraqi wound as their own. It is a humiliation to their long years of experience and work in Iraq inflicted on them by the lies of the American administration, which needed to make the world believe in the existence of WMD. And Washington will never forgive Al Baradei for having been right." STAPLETON