MEDIA REACTION:

UNCLAS BERLIN 000784 STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PAPD, EUR/PPA, EUR/AGS, INR/EUC, INR/P, SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/DSAA, DIA FOR DC-4A VIENNA FOR CSBM, CSCE, PAA "PERISHABLE INFORMATION -- DO NOT SERVICE" E.0. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO GM US IZ IR HO AR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ¶1. Lead Stories Summary ¶2. Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraqi Cities ¶3. Partial Recount of Iranian Votes ¶4. Honduras Coup ¶5. Outcome of Argentinean Elections ¶6. IRENA ¶7. Madoff Trial ¶1. Lead Stories Summary ZDF-TV's and ARD-TV's early evening newscast opened with stories on the presentation of the CDU/CSU election platform. Most newspapers led with stories saying that swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison. Frankfurter Allgemeine led with a report on the tentative identification of the remains of St. Paul the Apostle, Frankfurter Rundschau opened with a story on carmaker Porsche, and Tageszeitung focused on the U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi towns and cities. Broadcast and online media led this morning with the crash of a Yemenia airplane with 150 passengers in the Indian Ocean. Editorials focused on various topics. ¶2. Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraqi Cities Many German media reported that "the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi is getting real as the U.S. army now begins pulling out of Iraqi towns and cities" (ARD-TV's primetime Tagesschau). Mass tabloid Bild's intro declared: "This is the beginning of the end of the Iraq war! U.S. troops began to withdraw from Baghdad and Mosul yesterday." Many media cast doubt over whether Iraqi forces would be capable of bearing responsibility for the country's security. "The views on whether the 262,000 Iraqi soldiers are equal to the task differ," Die Welt remarked in a lengthy feature. Frankfurter Allgemeine commented: "Experts are divided over the question of whether Iraqi security forces will get the conflict under control without foreign help... At the end of the day, it will depend on the policies of the Iraqi government. The new spate of violence spreading throughout the country in recent weeks cannot be seen as evidence that Iraq will plunge into civil war after the withdrawal of the Americans. This will primarily depend on political developments in Iraq-whether it will be possible to find an acceptable compromise to share power between the Shiites majority and the Sunnis, who were the ruling elite under Saddam, and whether a solution can be found for the dispute over oil fields of Kirkuk between the Kurdish authorities in the north and the central government.... Now, the question will be answered of whether the war, which ousted a tyrant and cost the lives of many people, also laid the foundation for a better society and a democratic country. Those who were against the war must also hope the best for Iraq." Under the headline "Occupiers go, protectors stay," FT Deutschland reported: "When Prime Minister Maliki celebrates the end of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, he is exaggerating because 133,000 U.S. soldiers will remain in the country-although they won't be visible... The real triumph of the Baghdad government is that it will determine the U.S. operation in the future-this was the other way around for six years.... The recent bomb attacks demonstrate how precarious the security situation still is." Tageszeitung remarked in a front-page editorial: "This is an orderly withdrawal that leaves behind anything else but an orderly situation. No security, hardly any reconstruction or government services, no real reconciliation and a dozen of unresolved political conflicts. The occupiers leave behind a legacy hardly any Iraqi wants to accept-although they are happy that the foreign troops will finally disappear from their doorsteps. The withdrawal desired by the majority of Iraqis cannot be celebrated. The bitter taste of what might come is too great.... The bloody attacks in recent weeks show that there are militant groups who want to fill the emerging vacuum." ¶3. Partial Recount of Iranian Votes Many papers carried reports on Iran. Sueddeutsche Zeitung carried an article under the headline: "Ahmadinejad's Victory is Validated," noting that the Guardian Council confirmed the election results. Under the headline: "Ahmadinejad Wants to Examine Neda's Death," Die Welt reported on the president's order that the killing of student Neda Agha-Soltani be investigated. But the daily also reported on new demonstrations against the regime. "According to eye witnesses, clashes between 3,000 protesters and police forces happened in Tehran on Sunday." Der Tagesspiegel reported on new repression in Tehran under the headline "Imprisoned in Iran," and wrote that "Iran's regime wants to force opposition politicians to make confessions. We can only imagine what is currently happening behind prison walls in Iran. According to the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, the regime has arrested more than 2,000 people." Sueddeutsche Zeitung dealt with President Ahmadinejad's order to investigate the death of Neda Agha Soltani and opined: "The justice authorities are under firm control of the conservatives. For Iranian media loyal to the regime, it has been clear for a long time that foreign media instigated the killers. A partisan examination fits the anti-western invective of religious leader Ali Khamenei and the president. But for Ahmadinejad, a second goal is even more important. For Iranians who did not take to the streets to protest but who only stood on the sidewalk, the pictures of the dying woman were horrifying and disgusting. The majority of Iranians distrust the brutality of the suppressors. If the president wants to continue to govern as before, he can not live with this truth for another four years. What the Iranians think is more important for him than the opinion of foreign countries." According to Frankfurter Allgemeine, "the two defeated presidential candidates Moussavi and Mehdi-Karrubi do not want to accept the recount of ten percent of the votes. But the partial recount shows that the critical words of Ayatollah Montazeri and the statements of other leaders have had an effect...and even President Ahmadinejad has now ordered an investigation of the death of student Neda. The view that the Iranian leadership team is a monolithic block has always been wrong. Behind the scenes, the leaders are likely to have discussed many things that were supposed to be kept secret but have to do with questions of power." ¶4. Honduras Coup Under the subtitle: "The Military ousts a Left-Wing President - and not Even America Likes This," Sueddeutsche Zeitung argued: "The ousting of elected President Zelaya reminds us of the darkest hours and has nothing to do with the principles of the rule of law. There is no civilized government or organization that accepts this... No one has the right ... to throw the legitimate president out of the country and to determine overnight who is to succeed him. Under Barack Obama, even the United States has understood this and in the White House such activities do not find any support. It is good that the international rejection is unanimous. The international community should now use all diplomatic possibilities to exert pressure on the self-appointed rulers in Honduras. A coup should no longer set a precedent." Frankfurter Allgemeine noted: "A coup took place in Honduras over the weekend and reminded us of an era which we thought had been overcome. Obviously the Honduran military had the mandate of the country's judicial and legislative branches to prevent a de-facto coup by the president. But since the end does not justify the means, it is the duty of the international community, including the United States, to unanimously protest this move. But the West should not simply sing to the tune of Zelaya's political friends ranging from Chvez to Ortega and Morales. Their policies have much more in common with the disastrous old times than with the new era of perfect democrats that has by no means dawned yet." Under the headline: "America Without Backyard," Tagesspiegel argued: "This time something is different in Honduras. This time, the United States does not seem to have played any role in this coup. Seven years ago, the CIA vigorously helped oust Hugo Chvez and former President Bush explicitly welcomed the coup. But 48 hours later, Chvez returned under pressure from the masses and the United States again proved that Latin America is for the U.S. nothing but the well-known backyard in which it can do whatever it likes. But Barack Obama seems to have learned his lesson from the chauvinist activities of his predecessor. It did not take long before he described the coup as 'anti-democratic.' The fact that the elites in Honduras used the question of the term of an incumbent for a coup shows that the relationship between the many poor and the few wealthy has not changed. In Honduras, the elites are still living in the 20th century. Obviously, they have not yet felt the fresh breeze that is blowing in Washington." die tageszeitung noted: "In America the Cold War is over, the democratic left-wing is forming again. Even if Manual Zelaya cannot count on any support from Washington: if destabilization is to succeed, it must be orchestrated in a more discrete way today, for instance, through economic and media pressure. The right wing in Honduras and its supporters, the military, which grew up under wings of the Untied States, have not yet realized this." In view of Handelsblatt, "What has happened in Honduras is a relapse into dark times that we thought had been overcome long ago. Those who defend the coup as a step to save democracy must allow questions regarding their definition of democracy, a definition that obviously allows the kidnapping of a president at gun point. The international community reacted quickly and correctly. It does not recognize Interim President Micheletti and is calling for a return of Zelaya." ¶5. Outcome of Argentinean Elections Under the headline: "A Dynasty is Stumbling," Sueddeutsche Zeitung observed: "The defeat in the parliamentary elections is so harsh because the Kirchners and their supporters lost not only in the countryside but also in Buenos Aires Province, where the majority of Argentineans live, among them the urban bourgeoisie. They had already forfeited their reputation among the farmers and the agricultural barons in the Pampas. It was the Kirchners' arrogance that contributed to their downfall. Instead of explaining to the Argentineans the need for public spirit, they tried to decree solidarity. But this is bad in a country in which activities for the common good is a foreign concept. In the midst of a global financial crisis, which is consuming the country's modest wealth, Argentina wants to see new saviors." Die Welt opined: "This is the greatest defeat in Nstor Kirchner's political career. It demonstrates that he has suffered a total loss of reputation among the Argentinean population. However, the victorious opposition is totally fragmented. As a close ally of Venezuela, Argentina has increasingly lost its reputation, and as far as global politics is concerned, the agricultural state no longer plays a role. Kirchners' extreme economic nationalism has turned out to be a dead end street. There are forces in the country who want to change this because they know that something must change. But they will succeed only if they forge a broadly based alliance. The Kirchners are weakened but still in government." Regional daily Mdrkische Oderzeitung of Frankfurt on the Oder observed: "The Kirchner era is coming to an end in Argentina. The most recent election defeat is only a continuation of the downward trend of former President Nstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina. It is true that they have led their country out of the deep economic crisis to relative stability, but their social populist course did not meet with support everywhere, not even in their own party. With the president garnering support from only 30 percent of the voters, the race for Kirchner's succession will now begin. It will be two stormy years for Argentina's Peronists." ¶6. IRENA Regional daily Klnische Rundschau judged: "What looks like a bad compromise is basically an understandable choice. Of course, it is a pity that Bonn will not get the seat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). There were enough good arguments in favor of Bonn, not at least the fact that it was Germany that initiated the foundation of IRENA. But the decision for Abu Dhabi sends an important signal. Developing and threshold countries have now had the experience that they no longer play second fiddle in the international concert.... Of course, the successful application of the UAE is also a sign that the Gulf state has recognized the signs of the times. The era of crude oil is coming to its end and those who want to build their wealth on it for another 100 years will fail." ¶6. G-20 Follow-Up Handelsblatt opined that "it happened 100 days ago that, at its meeting in London, the G-20 agreed on joint efforts to support the global economy and to build up a new financial order. But many governments are so busy with their crisis management that they have trouble thinking beyond the present moment. The economic emergency assistance of central banks and governments will take effect in the coming months. The question is whether this will initiate a lasting economic boom or only an economic flash in the pan. It is still too early to release the ailing global economy from the hospital, but the time when the economy will be able to stand on its own feet again is coming sooner rather than later. That is why it is right that the finance ministers and central bank chiefs not only prepare their exit strategy but also undertake the first steps back to a new normality. They should now begin to close the money taps they have opened to save the economy. But a return to normality can succeed only if the finance system is undergoing a complete overhaul...and in this respect, questions remain." ¶7. Madoff Trial Many German papers led with the story on the "150 years of prison for the multi-billion dollar swindler Madoff" (S|ddeutsche headline). Editorials noted that the verdict is correct but also emphasized that it would not resolve the financial crisis. A front-page editorial in FT Deutschland remarked: "It is indispensible for the health of the financial system that the inventor of a pyramid investment scam is punished severely. The court's verdict is right and important. However, those who now believe that such financial criminality is history as of today are wrong. The deterrent impact of punishment is limited and it is likely that authorities will fail to identify a clever swindler in a few years. The U.S. government will certainly disagree with this assessment as President Obama just called for the greatest overhaul of the American financial regulation since the Great Depression. However, Madoff's swindle remained unnoticed not because the rules were too soft, but rather because the SEC watchdogs simply ignored the warning signals. Obama's overhaul of the authorities will therefore have only little impact on the quality of the oversight, which might in the medium term actually suffer from the restructuring and redistribution of competences because the watchdogs are busy navel-gazing. In the end, it is not clear who is responsible for what." A front-page editorial in Die Welt noted that "greed on both sides" led to the Madoff case, explaining that "investors who gave Madoff their money were not ordinary savers. They were people who expected profits of ten percent even in times of a crisis." Under the headline "The scapegoat," Tagesspiegel commented: "The world needs somebody to blame and the financial crisis now seems to have a face with Bernard Madoff.... What a mistake. Madoff is the wrong one to blame for the financial crisis. He built up a pyramid investment scam that guaranteed profits that were higher than conservative investments. His system was so successful that it took the collapse of the financial system to bring it down. The verdict comes at a time in which banks are already beginning to gamble with poisonous investments that caused the financial crisis and money that governments are printing. While the public is satisfied, those who are actually responsible for the crisis are still at large." KOENIG