Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUENOSAIRES467
2007-03-12 11:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION; PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA,
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #0467/01 0711126 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 121126Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7492 INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2// RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000467
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA,
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, 03/08/07; BUENOS AIRES
UNCLEARED BY AN AMERICAN OFFICER
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000467
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA,
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, 03/08/07; BUENOS AIRES
UNCLEARED BY AN AMERICAN OFFICER
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
World news pages today lead with President Bush's trip to Latin
American. There also continues to be reactions to the State
Department's annual human rights report.
2. OPINION PIECES
"A short-lived priority"
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington correspondent with the daily-of-record
"La Nacion", writes (03/08) "George W. Bush set off yesterday for
his eighth and so far longest tour of Latin America with domestic
rather than regional interests in mind. His goal is to improve his
image in the eyes of the American people, hoping to be able to leave
the White House in better standing and, if possible, hand over power
to another Republican in 2009.
"On each one of his stops, he will hand out smiles, praise and some
benefits and promises, and he will in exchange hope for good photos,
reciprocal good vibes and, once back home, hopefully a slight
improvement in his public image.
"The ghost of Hugo Chavez will of course haunt him every step of the
way. But it is a mistake to believe that the tour aims at countering
Chavez's influence in the region.
"... Once back in Washington, with many a promise made in the region
in the fields of immigration, trade, ethanol or counter-narcotics,
(Bush) will stick Latin America, again, in some remote place of his
list of priorities."
"Old proposals presented as new"
Ana Baron, Washington correspondent for the leading daily "Clarin",
writes 03-08),"In an attempt to recover initiative in the region,
President George W. Bush starts today his Latin American trip with a
new pro social justice discourse and a commitment to avoid any
direct confrontation with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
"As soon as he lands in Brazil, Bush will realize, however, that his
credibility ratings in the region are as low as his approval ratings
in the US, and that words are not enough anymore to turn that
around.
"The decision to shift to topics such as education, health and
housing has been welcome by all observers. The change is no doubt
related to the new pragmatism introduced by the State Department
since Tom Shannon took charge of the Western Hemisphere affairs.
"Set to examine the ideas Bush presented to implement the new
agenda, it is easy to discover, however, that old programs are being
presented as new. There is no real original vision.
"Bush's trip, unless there happens to be a surprise, runs the risk
of turning into a mere exercise of public relations."
"Angry at human rights report, Brazil receives Bush today"
Eleonora Gosman, correspondent in Sao Paulo for the leading daily
"Clarin", reports "President George W. Bush arrives in Latin America
today with little chances of offering much more than speeches,
greetings and some pats on the back. But the trip also starts with a
visible diplomatic slip. A human rights report released on Tuesday
by the State Department sparked some wrath both at Itamary and at
the Planalto presidential palace.
"The report says lawless executions by military and police
authorities are widespread in the country...
"Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorin was quick to react and
issue an official statement describing the US human rights report as
'unacceptable'... But the State Department faced Brazilian anger by
announcing that the state of human rights in Brazil would be up for
discussion between Lula and Bush.
"This 'slip' could be interpreted as an attempt by the US to regain
the initiative after President Lula cut off a substantial part of
the bilateral agenda by announcing Chavez and Venezuela would not be
discussed.
"As Brazilian newspapers pointed out yesterday, the US does not have
much to offer to win the support of Latin Americans in general or
Brazilians in particular.
"Bush's visit is not expected to go down well with the embattled
residents of Sao Paulo either. The daily hassles of its 11 million
people will be incremented by a massive security operation that will
plague the city with roadblocks."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE
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; PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA,
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, 03/08/07; BUENOS AIRES
UNCLEARED BY AN AMERICAN OFFICER
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
World news pages today lead with President Bush's trip to Latin
American. There also continues to be reactions to the State
Department's annual human rights report.
2. OPINION PIECES
"A short-lived priority"
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington correspondent with the daily-of-record
"La Nacion", writes (03/08) "George W. Bush set off yesterday for
his eighth and so far longest tour of Latin America with domestic
rather than regional interests in mind. His goal is to improve his
image in the eyes of the American people, hoping to be able to leave
the White House in better standing and, if possible, hand over power
to another Republican in 2009.
"On each one of his stops, he will hand out smiles, praise and some
benefits and promises, and he will in exchange hope for good photos,
reciprocal good vibes and, once back home, hopefully a slight
improvement in his public image.
"The ghost of Hugo Chavez will of course haunt him every step of the
way. But it is a mistake to believe that the tour aims at countering
Chavez's influence in the region.
"... Once back in Washington, with many a promise made in the region
in the fields of immigration, trade, ethanol or counter-narcotics,
(Bush) will stick Latin America, again, in some remote place of his
list of priorities."
"Old proposals presented as new"
Ana Baron, Washington correspondent for the leading daily "Clarin",
writes 03-08),"In an attempt to recover initiative in the region,
President George W. Bush starts today his Latin American trip with a
new pro social justice discourse and a commitment to avoid any
direct confrontation with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
"As soon as he lands in Brazil, Bush will realize, however, that his
credibility ratings in the region are as low as his approval ratings
in the US, and that words are not enough anymore to turn that
around.
"The decision to shift to topics such as education, health and
housing has been welcome by all observers. The change is no doubt
related to the new pragmatism introduced by the State Department
since Tom Shannon took charge of the Western Hemisphere affairs.
"Set to examine the ideas Bush presented to implement the new
agenda, it is easy to discover, however, that old programs are being
presented as new. There is no real original vision.
"Bush's trip, unless there happens to be a surprise, runs the risk
of turning into a mere exercise of public relations."
"Angry at human rights report, Brazil receives Bush today"
Eleonora Gosman, correspondent in Sao Paulo for the leading daily
"Clarin", reports "President George W. Bush arrives in Latin America
today with little chances of offering much more than speeches,
greetings and some pats on the back. But the trip also starts with a
visible diplomatic slip. A human rights report released on Tuesday
by the State Department sparked some wrath both at Itamary and at
the Planalto presidential palace.
"The report says lawless executions by military and police
authorities are widespread in the country...
"Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorin was quick to react and
issue an official statement describing the US human rights report as
'unacceptable'... But the State Department faced Brazilian anger by
announcing that the state of human rights in Brazil would be up for
discussion between Lula and Bush.
"This 'slip' could be interpreted as an attempt by the US to regain
the initiative after President Lula cut off a substantial part of
the bilateral agenda by announcing Chavez and Venezuela would not be
discussed.
"As Brazilian newspapers pointed out yesterday, the US does not have
much to offer to win the support of Latin Americans in general or
Brazilians in particular.
"Bush's visit is not expected to go down well with the embattled
residents of Sao Paulo either. The daily hassles of its 11 million
people will be incremented by a massive security operation that will
plague the city with roadblocks."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE