MEDIA REACTION - IRAQ AND THE ROLE OF IRAN

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000199 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM STATE FOR INL, INR/R/MR, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PTER IR CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - IRAQ AND THE ROLE OF IRAN ¶1. On February 3, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (Sat. circ. 195,626) carried an editorial entitled "The Strategy that the Conflict in Iraq Calls For." Quote: ¶2. "It is clear that the original U.S. goal to make post-Hussein Iraq the center from which to expand democratic values is not possible today. The goal now is to ensure that Iraq becomes a viable state and does not turn into a chaotic vacuum of power when U.S. troops eventually withdraw.... But there are key elements that threaten to distract the United States from its long-term goal.... ¶3. "The ENI report, put together by 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, states that the primary cause of violence in Iraq is... the battle between the Shiite majority and the Sunnite minority. However, the way to fight this insurgency... differs significantly from the way to fight the Islamic Jihad.... Another element that could 'contaminate' U.S. policy in Iraq is the growing importance and leverage of Iran in the region. The issue here is not to mix the real challenges that Iran represents for the international community -- such as its nuclear program or its support for the Hezbollah in Lebanon -- with its desire to play a role with the outcome of its neighbor. ¶4. "Iran is a natural actor in the region with a legitimate interest in Iraq, but the United States must have a policy toward Tehran that...does not get mixed with its strategy for Baghdad. The third element is the presidential campaign.... The White House...must not allow the immediacy of the presidential campaign to influence the handling of a conflict that has marked the beginning of the century." KELLY