MEDIA REACTION; US IMMIGRATION REFORM; US FOREIGN RELATIONS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001200 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; US IMMIGRATION REFORM; US FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION ON US-LATIN AMERICAN TIES; 06/20/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Key international topics today include the US immigration reform; and the US House Foreign Relations Committee discussion about the status of the US-South American relationship. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "Immigration on the arena" Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (06/20) carries an op-ed piece by Alberto Benegas Lynch, Jr., a member of the Advisory Council to the London Institute for Economic Affairs, who writes "Nationalistic xenophobia is always a serious obstacle to understanding the problems affecting people who move to another country. First and foremost, they do not seem to be aware of the fact that borders and territorial venues are explained by the huge risk posed by the concentration of power that one universal government could imply... "... Now, I am writing a book on the US, basically to demonstrate how it has recently gone against the fundamental principles that made that nation the most civilized and progressive on earth. One of the chapters is related to the war against immigration. The wall that was recently built on the US border with Mexico is shameful and has nothing to do with safety. The terrorist criminals who launched the September 11 attacks entered the US with tourist and student visas. "It has been said that immigrants spark the phenomena of over-population. Nevertheless, in 1983, Thomas Sowell demonstrated in a book that, by then, the State of Texas could well harbor the entire population of the world. The then 4.4 billion inhabitants of the world could receive 6,800 square feet of Texan territory per each four-member family, which was enough to sustain an average family in the US. "... It is sad to re-read Emma Lazarus' poem ('Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free'),which were engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty because, in spite of multiple and justified complaints, those domineering in Washington, self-considered indispensable and illuminated, have reversed those ideas." - "The loss of US influence in Latin America" Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," writes (06/20) "The Venezuelan concern in Washington is not new, but what captured the attention yesterday was the fact that members of the House Foreign Relations Committee (both Republicans and Democrats) focused on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's ties to his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the way Iran is reportedly using Venezuela as a platform to approach other countries of the region. Some spoke about the 'Islamic threat,' others about 'the Iranian danger,' as though Latin America could be a fertile land for the expansion of Islamism and the Middle East theocratic regimes. "During yesterday's hearing on Capitol Hill, which was held to analyze the 'US-South American broken relationship,' the way the head of that powerful committee, Democratic deputy Tom Lantos criticized Argentine President Nestor Kirchner due to 'his close and regular contacts' with Chavez was also striking. In Lantos' view, there are strongly democratic countries like Brazil and Chile that should fill the gap left by the US and 'recover the regional leading role' that is now being played by the Venezuelan president. "Three experts in the Southern Cone were called as witnesses of the hearing. Consulted about the Iranian danger, Michael Shifter, VP of the Inter-American Dialogue, said that the US had to be very careful not to exaggerate its reaction because it could 'turn a prophecy into a reality.' In Shifter's view, Latin America is not a fertile land for the expansion of Iran. Peter Smith, professor at the University of California, agreed with him. "For his part, Jaime Daremblum, head of the Center for Latin American Studies, Hudson Institute, said 'The concern over Iran is exaggerated. I do not see it as a problem looming on the horizon.' "... By the end of the meeting, Shifter and Smith agreed that the Venezuelan rearmament particularly poses a threat to its neighbors and not to the US." - "In the US view, the (Argentine) President is still a riddle" Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (06/20) "Four years after having taken office, President Nestor Kirchner is still a riddle for the US, which does not know where to place him when evaluating the governments of the region. As a matter of fact, the US defines him as a 'sui generis' leader. "The 'Kirchner riddle' was tackled yesterday at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, which discussed 'South America and the US - how to repair a broken relationship.' During the hearing, the legislators and academics placed Kirchner far from his most praised counterparts from Brazil, Uruguay or Chile, and closer to the most criticized ones, like the leaders of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia or Ecuador, although not completely with either. "Tom Lantos, the head of the Committee, said... 'The Kirchner administration has led a significant economic recovery..., but Kirchner seems to listen to Chavez's advice with alarming regularity.' "Additionally, he contrasted Kirchner with other governments of the region that are 'strongly democratic,' which 'should fill the gap and claim the regional leading role played by Chavez.' Lantos praised Brazil and Uruguay and underscored that 'Peru and Uruguay imply a considerable promise.' "On the other extreme, Chavez epitomizes a concern that is shared by both Republicans and Democrats. "... However, Michael Shifter, VP, Inter American Dialogue, noted a difference. Caracas' allies in Latin America are Fidel Castro, Evo Morales, Rafael -Correa and Daniel Ortega. 'Chavez has limited followers in countries like Brazil and Argentina. Most of the countries are uncomfortable with his confrontational political style.'" To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE