MEDIA REACTION: MIDEAST: ISRAEL/HIZBULLAH COMBAT; WESTERN

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000859 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MIDEAST: ISRAEL/HIZBULLAH COMBAT; WESTERN HEMISPHERE: CUBA: CASTRO'S HEALTH; SAO PAULO ¶1. "Conflict Without An Arbiter" Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (8/5) editorialized: "Bush supports Israeli policy so strongly that the US can no longer act as an arbiter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.... Of course this is not a one-way relationship. Israel also serves the US's interests in the Middle East. By attacking Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Israelis are making a point to Iran, Washington's main enemy in the region today. The problem of the post-Sep. 11 guidelines in the State Department is that Manichaean positions and diplomacy do not match.... The current war is expected to result in a change in the regional status quo. For peace to have a chance, Washington must find a way to resume the role of mediator without yielding in the essential points. Reaching an agreement is already a difficult task. Without the mediation of the only superpower, it will be impossible." ¶2. "Already Died" Political columnist Clovis Rossi commented in liberal, largest national daily circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (8/6): "Fidel Castro had already died as a model to be followed much earlier than his biological decline, that is currently taking place. The 20th Century's last great political leader continues to be a myth, but the Cuban revolution is no longer an inspiration, except for a group of fanatics. The proof can be seen by the two presidents who consider Fidel both an idol and inspiration. Venezuelan Hugo Chvez did not call his revolution 'Castroist,' 'Fidelist' or 'Cuban.' It is 'Bolivarian,' of Simon Bolivar. Bolivian Evo Morales went back even further in time and his heroes are pre-Columbian.... Also contrary to Cuba, institutions have worked in Bolivia and Venezuela, where political parties and the media are free, and there are regular elections.... Experiencing decline, Fidel and 'Castroism' do not have any future, only past." ¶3. "Fidel And The Brazilian Left Wing" University Professor Carlos Mauricio Ardissone maintained in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (8/5): "It is worrisome to confirm the Brazilian left wing's (politicians, academia and artists) resistance in admitting the obvious: Fidel Castro is a dictator like many others. How to call a leader who has been in power for almost 50 years and needs to maintain imprisoned politicians whose only crime is that of diverging from the thought of the sole command of the Cuban Communist Party? How to refer in regards to a leader who smashed the opposition for years, does not allow freedom of the press and a multiparty system, and uses education as means of indoctrination? The goodwill of our supposed leftist politicians, academics and artists vis-`-vis Fidel Castro is intolerable and contradictory.... The Brazilian left wing cannot paralyze or impoverish the discussion on Cuba. The complexity of international relations allows for us to be equally tough and critical towards the US foreign policy for Cuba as well as in regards to Castro's regime." McMullen