MEDIA REACTION; THE CIA; ARGENTINE PARIS CLUB DEBT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002081 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 SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; THE CIA; ARGENTINE PARIS CLUB DEBT NEGOTIATIONS; ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; 10/22/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Weekend international stories include remarks on Tim Weiner's book on the CIA; Argentine Paris Club debt negotiations and the need for IMF reform; and implications of the US Congressional statement acknowledging the Armenian genocide. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The CIA ashes" Daily-of-record "La Nacisn" carries an op-ed story by prestigious writer Toms Eloy Martnez, who opines (10/20) "No one knows how much damage CIA agents and directors have done to world peace... That damage is obviously more than what we know but less than what we'll get to know when its omnipotence fades away with which it decided on human lives and accomplice governments in every continent since Harry Truman founded it in 1947... "... All its secrets, which were kept under lock for more than six decades, have just been published in an overwhelming and shivering investigative book - "Legacy of Ashes; The History of the CIA," from Tim Weiner, one of The New York Times' correspondents in Washington and perhaps the best talented US journalist on intelligence issues. "... Out of every sprout of fear, the CIA obtained benefits that allowed it to purchase more consciences. "... One of the CIA's most disastrous fiascos was having convinced the Bush administration that the Hussein regime was manufacturing chemical weapons and WMD. While all evidence indicated otherwise, Bush's aides did not need arguments. They were already sure that things were like that. The president disliked Hussein ever since the CIA blamed him for a conspiracy to murder his family in 1993. "... If the CIA is defeated by omnipresent computing systems that have an unparalleled efficacy on conspiracy and espionage matters, just a few will be sorry for it." - "Negotiating with the IMF in the framework of the institution's weakness" Ana Barsn, leading "Clarn's" Washington-based correspondent, writes (10/21) "New IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn's willingness to find a formula that will allow Argentina to start negotiating its Paris Club debt without a formal IMF arrangement is taking place in the context of the IMF's current feeble condition. "With its legitimacy and funds jeopardized, the IMF is today very weakened. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson acknowledged the seriousness of the situation when he said that profound reforms are indispensable to 'prevent its members from distancing themselves from this key global institution.' 'The IMF financial situation has become unsustainable.' 'A lot of attention is paid to the IMF new income,' although 'an equally important part of the solution would consist of sharply reducing expenditures.' "Last week, developing countries launched a real offensive to have more say at the IMF. Lula accused the IMF of being an institution for the wealthy. Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega blamed it for not having done enough to prevent the US real estate crisis. Argentine Economy Minister Miguel Peirano followed suit. "As soon as Dominique Strauss-Kahn takes over, his big challenge will be implementing IMF reform. However, the turbulence will not disappear overnight. Brazil, India, China and South Africa have already started to coordinate the next steps of the rebellion, which could favor Argentina... " - "The IMF wink to Argentina's Paris Club debt negotiations" Jorge Velzquez, on special assignment in Washington DC for leading "Clarn," writes (10/22) "Argentina received a new IMF signal of progress towards its Paris Club debt re-negotiation. The next IMF managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, confirmed he is willing to 'cooperate' in seeking a more flexible mechanism than traditional deals to overcome the Paris Club's demands for (debt) renegotiation. "... Strauss Kahn exchanged the promise to help Argentina for the vote at the IMF Board to get elected. Now that he obtained it, Argentines are going to his office to remind him his commitment. "... IMF support for Argentina is not an isolated event. It would be some reflection of the change in mentality that Strauss Kahn wants to implement at the IMF. This could include providing developing countries with more representation, increasing their quota percentages at the IMF Board... Strauss Kahn publicly expressed his interest in granting Latin America greater 'weight' at the IMF." - "The US, Turkey and the Armenian genocide" Leading "Clarn" editorializes (10/20) "A statement passed by the influential US Congress Foreign Relations Committee against the genocide of the Armenian people, which committed between 1915 and 1923, has unleashed the most serious crisis in the US-Turkish relationship. "While President George W. Bush rejected the congressional statement..., this was not enough - the Turkish government took offense, withdrew its ambassador to Washington and threatened to take retaliation, which could also include its intervention in Northern Iraq. "The denial of such abominable and internationally acknowledged historic fact still generates tension... "The issue harasses the US foreign policy, which used reasons of principles to justify its military interventions. It had international support and legality in the case of the Balkan war but it did not in the case of Iraq. "It is worthwhile to recall that no military force was able to prevent the killings and genocides occurred during the 20th century. The acknowledgement, condemnation and punishment of crimes against humanity are a necessary road towards preventing new genocides." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE