MEDIA REACTION; THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION; 05/09/07; BUENOS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000899

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; THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION; 05/09/07; BUENOS
AIRES



1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an opinion piece on an
alleged 'exodus' in the Bush administration, with some members
moving to the private sector.


2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "Some members of the Bush administration start to flee"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," penned (05/09) "At least six months
before what is usual, key high-ranking members of the Bush
administration have started to give hurrahs. They will be moving to
the private sector, or even more drastic, to ostracism, which has
seriously affected the US national security staff.

"Additionally, the premature wave of withdrawals, only 20 months
away from George W. Bush's departure from the White House, was also
combined with another antique tradition all over the world - when
something is wrong, blame it on someone else, and even more if it
comes down to Iraq.

"... According to Paul Light, professor of Public Service at the
University of New York, 'whenever a president comes close to his
end, emigration of members is usual, but in this case, we are
talking about 'a high number (of government officials)'. 'It is too
soon to see this kind of mass exodus.'

"Bush's weakness speeds up the exodus - according to an Ipsos
opinion survey, 6 out of every 10 Americans believe Iraq is a lost
cause. The occupation of Iraq is 'radioactive' in the US, and this
encourages a 'blaming game.'"

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

MATERA