MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, SUPREME COURT, MIDEAST,

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, SUPREME COURT, MIDEAST,
CLIMATE, FRANCE


1. Lead Stories Summary

2. North Korean Nuclear Threat

3. Supreme Court Nomination

4. Israeli Settlements

5. Climate Protection

6. New French Base in UAE



1. Lead Stories Summary

Early evening newscasts ZDF-TV's Heute and ARD-TV's Tagesschau
opened with stories on the German government's upcoming decision on
carmaker Opel. Newspapers led with diverse stories, including the
government's further economic plans (Sueddeutsche),the "severe
dispute about living wills" (FAZ),and the latest PISA study (Die
Welt). Editorials focused on the authority that deals with the
former East German intelligence service and the debate about living
wills.


2. North Korean Nuclear Threat

Norddeutscher Rundfunk radio of Hamburg commented: "Once again a
small country was not taken seriously and was only pushed back and
forth on the chessboard of the geo-political interests of the major
powers. Moscow and Beijing have been easy on Pyongyang in order to
prevent the reunification of the two Koreas and have slowed down UN
attempts to achieve this goal. At the same time, the world can't
make the U.S. position out. The non-members of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty, India and Israel, both of which have
hundreds of nuclear warheads, are even supported in their efforts.
They have not ratified the comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons
tests from the 1990s and this does not jibe with condemnation of
North Korea. The fiasco in the Far East could offer an opportunity
for Barack Obama's plan of a nuclear-free world to take shape.
Let's now start with the preparatory work. By the way, Germany and
other non-owners of nuclear weapons are not falling by the wayside.
Especially as signatories of the NPT, they are the guarantors for
credibility and could pursue a course counter [to other country's
interests] and could use this opportunity to convince Tehran, too,
[to give up its nuclear program]."

Under the headline: "The Desperate Dictator," Sueddeutsche Zeitung
judged: "No one should be afraid of North Korea. Irrespective of
the justified outrage in South Korea and Japan, it is highly likely
that the regime will not use its weapons against its neighbors,
because this would be suicidal. North Korea is not striving for
regional hegemony either. The regime concentrates on itself and
will not get in China's way. Why then these bomb tests? The
detonation on Monday reflects the hobby of a dictator who suffers
from a lack of attention. His logic works the other way round.
North Korea is so weak that it stabilizes itself with its saber
rattling. Kim Jong-il uses the bomb as his life insurance. And
since his political life has obviously passed is zenith he needs the
detonation all the more to safeguard his power and to control the
change to a successor."

Frankfurter Allgemeine judged: "North Korea has nothing that could
give it international significance, apart from its nuclear
threatening potential towards neighboring states such as South Korea
or Japan and the export of missile technology to regimes which we
would not like to see to have such weapons. That is why we cannot
expect Kim Jong-il to listen to the UN Security Council, or to take
U.S. admonitions and threats more seriously than before. President
Obama will have to make up his mind whether he should again get
involved in a game which embarrassed his predecessors Bush and
Clinton before. The whole world agrees that the key to the North
Korea problem lies in China because Beijing keeps Kim's regime
economically alive."

Regional daily Frdnkischer Tag of Bamberg argued: "The problem for
the rest of the world always comes up when the isolated regime in
Pyongyang bares its teeth. What to do with a regime that does not
show any consideration for anything? What should be done if all
diplomatic means fail? For instance, what effect do economic
sanctions have on a regime that keeps its own people in a state of
permanent captivity? And what can be done against a man who could
run amok with nuclear weapons and who could open hell shortly before
his own fall?"

Lausitzer Rundschau of Cottbus has this to say: "Thus far, Kim
Jong-il has relied primarily on the Chinese leadership, which has
considered Kim the lesser evil and had little interest in a
development that could end with a reunification of the country. But
even Beijing is slowly realizing that the North Korean regime is
turning into an increasing risk.... North Korea's plutonium can
become a fatal danger for anyone and any time. That is why fears
from Washington are justified."

Regional daily Der Neue Tag noted: "Even Russia and China, which
support the Stalinist leadership in Pyongyang in order to preserve
an alleged balance with the South on the Korean peninsula, must now
realize what kind of unpredictable partner they have nurtured?. It
is heavily armed with conventional weapons and has one million
people under weapons and is now planning a missile and nuclear
weapons technology. Kim Jong-il's clan is investing all its means
into the military, while it is harassing its own people."


3. Supreme Court Nomination

Sueddeutsche Zeitung headlined: "Obama Nominates Supreme Court
Justice - First Woman with Latin American Background on Supreme
Court," and reported: "On Tuesday, President Obama nominated Sonia
Sotomayor as a justice for the Supreme Court. The woman, who is
considered a moderate left-winger, would be the first justice with a
Latin American background if confirmed by the Senate. Sotomayor's
nomination is no surprise. Currently a judge on the Appeals Court
in New York, she was considered to be one of the favorites among the
four remaining candidates. As far as politics is concerned, Obama's
decision is primarily seen as a bow to the growing influence of the
Hispanic minority in the United States. They had massively voted
for the Democrats during the past presidential elections."

Under the headline: "Obama Wants to Set the Tone of Supreme Court,"
Handelsblatt reported: "The two camps in the Supreme Court were
almost equally strong, because outgoing Justice David Souter
frequently voted for the positions of the Democrats [on the court]
With Sotomayor, the Democrats now have for the first time in 15
years the chance of setting the tone and strengthening their
privilege of interpretation. In the coming years, the Supreme Court
is likely to deal with economic questions in addition to
controversial issues such as Guantnamo. Against the background of
her previous rulings, economic circles have a skeptical view of
Sotomayor. In view of her biography and her young age, she
personifies the change that has been demanded for the court, which
has long been derided as the 'club of white men.'"

Tagesspiegel profiled Sotomayor and wrote: "President Obama's
nomination of Sonia Sotomayor is a decision that is typical of
Obama. She looks progressive; he nominates a woman, the third in
the history of the Supreme Court; it is also historic that Sotomayor
would be the first Latino representative on the Supreme Court. His
proposal is also conventional enough to gain the necessary approval
in the Senate."

Berliner Zeitung headlined on its front page: "Hispanic American to
become Supreme Court Judge" and notes that "the lawyer would be the
first member of Hispanic origin on the U.S. Supreme Court... Since
the Democrats have the majority in Congress, her approval seems to
be clear. Apart from Ruth Ginsburg, she would be the second woman
among the nine judges. The 54-year-old is believed to be relatively
liberal." A longer report inside the paper states: "Obama is aware
of her appointment's historic dimension.... Obama is getting the
opportunity to strengthen the liberal wing of the Supreme Court."


4. Israeli Settlements

S|ddeutsche headlined "Israel seeks U.S. approval of settlement
buildings" and said in its intro: "The new Israeli government under
Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to reach a compromise with the U.S.
government in the dispute over the 120 Jewish settlements in the
West Bank and the 100 illegal outposts.... To persuade the U.S. to
take a tougher approach on Tehran, Netanyahu seems to believe that
it is necessary to reach a compromise on the outposts." The paper
concludes: "The Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories
are seen as key obstacles to progress in the Mideast peace process."

Tagesspiegel headlined: "Israel: Fewer Settlements if U.S. Takes
Action against Iran" and added: "Israel wants to offer the U.S. a
deal on the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The government
will remove dozens of illegal outposts if Washington allows Israel
in return to extend its settlements in the West Bank. Defense
Minister Barak wants to formally make this proposal during his visit
to the U.S. next week.... Netanyahu hopes that Israel's concessions
on the settlement issue will lead to a tougher American policy on
Tehran."

Frankfurter Allgemeine carried a short report under the headline
"Lieberman Praises the Roadmap," noting that "Israeli Foreign
Minister Lieberman committed himself to the international Mideast
peace plan, while Prime Minister Netanyahu still refused to approve
the two-state solution described in the roadmap."


5. Climate Protection

Two German papers carry short reports on the "unsuccessful" climate
change meeting in Paris.

Sueddeutsche headlined "Unsuccessful Climate Meeting" and reported
that "the preparations for a new global climate agreement are not
making any progress. The 16 largest greenhouse gas emitters could
not reach an agreement during their meeting in Paris... Germany's
representative, Environment Minister Gabriel expressed
dissatisfaction, saying that the Europeans are still going it
alone."

FT Deutschland headlined: "Climate divides industrial and threshold
countries," adding: "There has been no rapprochement between the
most important participants in the UN climate summit at the end of
the year in Copenhagen. The 16 largest industrial and threshold
countries could not agree on a common line during their preparatory
talks yesterday. German Environment Minister Gabriel said: 'No
real progress has been made between developing and industrial
countries.'"


6. New French Base in UAE

According to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, "the French engagement with a
base on the Persian Gulf is not without risk and it is no
coincidence that it was Nicolas Sarkozy who convinced the sheikhs to
allow French soldiers to enter their country. For the monsieur from
the Elyse Palace, the new base in Abu Dhabi means an important
extension of the French sphere of influence for the first time into
an area that was not part of the former French colonies. In view of
the French reintegration into NATO, it was only logical that the
president added his own forces to the presence of the Anglo Saxons.
As far as strategy is concerned, the base in Abu Dhabi is optimal.
From here, the French are close enough to the potential and real
trouble spots in the world. But the most important aspect is the
proximity to Iran. Iran is not only threatening Israel, but the
emirs are careful not even to mention this. For them, Iran with its
hegemonic claims is a threat. That is why the French are welcome
for a variety of reasons. Sarkozy will save the costs for the
deployment in the UAE in Africa, where he cannot gain too much
anyway."

die tageszeitung commented: "If military bases made the world safer,
peace would exist everywhere in the world. Instead, the experience
with the U.S., Soviet, French, and other bases abroad made clear
that the main issue is the defense of national interests. The new
French base in the UAE is no exception to the rule.... With his
base, Nicolas Sarkozy also wants to demonstrate that he is
considering remaining a medium power as far as military and
political aspects are concerned: at eye level with the U.S. and
China, the essential military powers in the future. For this
positioning, Sarkozy has returned to NATO. Ex-President Chirac said
'non' to the Iraq war, thus creating new diplomatic credibility for
France in the world. But a comparable signal cannot be expected
from a future conflict constellation. Sarkozy is pinning his hope
on military strength. He has now brought France to the front line
in one of the most unstable regions in the world."

KOENIG