Santiago Dec 2 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001162 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI SUBJECT: Santiago Dec 2 Media Report Afghanistan ¶1. All Santiago major news dailies covered President Obama's announcement on Afghanistan. While both conservative, influential El Mercurio and conservative, independent La Tercera ran front-page headlines on the announcement, El Mercurio headline highlighted the withdrawal of troops starting 2010 and La Tercera the deployment of additional troops. Government-owned La Nacion had a more negative tone. It ran a two-page spread on the President's announcement and in its subheadline and article noted with irony that the "Nobel Peace Prize" had announced the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. ¶2. Headline: "Obama to Reinforce Military Presence in Afghanistan" Lead: West Point... was the scenario chosen by President Obama to announce to his fellow citizens and the world his highly awaited new strategy for Afghanistan.... The Nobel Peace Prize winner said... he would be sending another 30,000 soldiers to the battle field to join the 68,000 thousand already deployed to the Asian country (Government-owned La Nacion, 12/2). ¶3. Headline: "Obama Announces 30,000 additional Troops to Afghanistan" Subheadline: The U.S. President announced ... his highly awaited strategy which considers deploying new troops in the next six months and a calendar for the withdrawal from that country starting July 2010, to end the war in three years (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 12/2). ¶4. Headline: "New U.S. Strategy: Obama deploys 30,000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan and announces withdrawal from that country starting 2011" Subheadline: The goal is to weaken strongholds. The President warned the government of Afghanistan that 'there will be no more blank checks' and that it must start to show progress (Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, El Mercurio12/2). Honduras ¶5. At the Ibero-American Summit, President Lula da Silva flatly denied views that his country had toned down its objection to the election in Honduras. "No, no, no, and no. We cannot make concessions to those who promoted the coup and go on as if nothing has happened," said Lula. With regard to Lobo, Lula said, "it is within his right to do what he believes is necessary. But we will wait and see if something new occurs" (El Mercurio, 12/2). ¶6. Porfirio Lobo interview: "The United States has recognized the transparency of the election and our victory We has also received the support of many other countries such as Germany, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, and France and I've received calls from the presidents of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and Colombia's recognition .... Brazil will accept the situation over time... as it begins to realize that the election strengthened our democracy (Alvaro Vargas Llosa, La Tercera, 12/3). SIMONS