Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM653
2008-10-01 10:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
Media Reaction - Financial Crisis
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSM #0653 2751013 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011013Z OCT 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3769
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000653
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Financial Crisis
I. On October 1, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska
Dagbladet" opined,
"The financial crisis is caused by shameless misers. There is
widespread agreement about this undeniable part of the reality. Too
much credit has been granted haphazardly. The bonus culture also is
one of the villains in the drama. But the fact that there are bad
habits among those that caused the crisis does not mean that all
those who now tackling the crisis now are paragons of virtue. This
was evident last Monday when the House of Representatives said no to
the crisis plan....
"Many voters do not want to agree to a proposal they consider is a
gift to Wall Street bankers, which made the popularly elected
representatives back off from something that is hard to digest
despite the fact that it will be beneficial as a whole...Washington
DC has had finer moments."
II. On October 1, the independent, liberal Stockholm morning daily
"Dagens Nyheter" ran a signed editorial by editorial writer Ragnar
Roos headlined "A Black Farce"
"This is becoming more and more like a black farce. A President on
his way out of the White House who has no clout among his own fellow
party members, a U.S. Congress where too many members shortsightedly
only have their re-election in mind, a financial world where greed
and over-smart solutions have caused an almost non-regulated market
to collapse....
"But now there is no time for holy principles and fundamentalism.
What is most tragic is that many of the Republicans who passed the
laws that have contributed to this gigantic market failure now are
unwilling to pick up the cleaning bill....
"The U.S. reputation is hurt not only financially but also
politically, which can have far-reaching consequences. One can now
only hope that the U.S. Congress listens to reason and takes a new
vote on a renegotiated finance bill. And that it will be a 'yes.'"
III. The apolitical Stockholm business daily "Dagens Industri"
commented,
"The proposal that was rejected last Monday took as its starting
point the risk that the bankers may get off too easy...However, the
heavy market reactions may be enough to make a revised packet pass.
The reason is that many of the angry voters who scared the House
Representatives also hold saving bonds. But the mix of recession,
financial crisis, and U.S. elections has proved to be a dangerous
cocktail."
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Financial Crisis
I. On October 1, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska
Dagbladet" opined,
"The financial crisis is caused by shameless misers. There is
widespread agreement about this undeniable part of the reality. Too
much credit has been granted haphazardly. The bonus culture also is
one of the villains in the drama. But the fact that there are bad
habits among those that caused the crisis does not mean that all
those who now tackling the crisis now are paragons of virtue. This
was evident last Monday when the House of Representatives said no to
the crisis plan....
"Many voters do not want to agree to a proposal they consider is a
gift to Wall Street bankers, which made the popularly elected
representatives back off from something that is hard to digest
despite the fact that it will be beneficial as a whole...Washington
DC has had finer moments."
II. On October 1, the independent, liberal Stockholm morning daily
"Dagens Nyheter" ran a signed editorial by editorial writer Ragnar
Roos headlined "A Black Farce"
"This is becoming more and more like a black farce. A President on
his way out of the White House who has no clout among his own fellow
party members, a U.S. Congress where too many members shortsightedly
only have their re-election in mind, a financial world where greed
and over-smart solutions have caused an almost non-regulated market
to collapse....
"But now there is no time for holy principles and fundamentalism.
What is most tragic is that many of the Republicans who passed the
laws that have contributed to this gigantic market failure now are
unwilling to pick up the cleaning bill....
"The U.S. reputation is hurt not only financially but also
politically, which can have far-reaching consequences. One can now
only hope that the U.S. Congress listens to reason and takes a new
vote on a renegotiated finance bill. And that it will be a 'yes.'"
III. The apolitical Stockholm business daily "Dagens Industri"
commented,
"The proposal that was rejected last Monday took as its starting
point the risk that the bankers may get off too easy...However, the
heavy market reactions may be enough to make a revised packet pass.
The reason is that many of the angry voters who scared the House
Representatives also hold saving bonds. But the mix of recession,
financial crisis, and U.S. elections has proved to be a dangerous
cocktail."
SILVERMAN