MEDIA REACTION; VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE; 04/20/07; BUENOS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000772 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; VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE; 04/20/07; BUENOS AIRES ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT The massacre at Virginia Tech remains the most important international story. Leading "Clarin" carries an opinion piece on the political implications of the massacre. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "The dark side" Claudio Mario Aliscioni, international analyst of leading "Clarin," penned (04/20) "The Virginia nightmare not only reveals the deeply rooted attachment to weapons of millions of inhabitants of the 'deep America,' but also reveals the impotence of the country's leadership, which is increasingly tied by its financial needs for political campaigns and its not always clear commitments with institutions that are an essential part of the problem, like conservative National Rifle Association. "As long as this organization, which is opposed to arms control policies, is the 'wallet' of Republicans and Democrats, revisiting any policy will be unlikely. This is another dark side of an empire that no longer is what it used to be." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires WAYNE