MEDIA REACTION - WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000496 SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP XM XR XF BR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ' POLICIES; SCO PAULO August 15 & 16, 2009 Title- The Threat Lula Stimulates Editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (8-15) states: "..... [The Economist] magazine [published an editorial that] emphasizes the dangerous benevolence .....of Brazil's regional diplomacy with regards to Hugo Chavez.......In the current crisis [related to the expansion of the U.S- Colombia deal] created by Chavez to hide the evidence of his armed support to the [FARC] movement, Brazil had the second worst reaction, ranking only behind Ecuadorian Rafael Correa, which has no relations with Bogota, by demanding guarantees that the bases will not have another aim .....It is of national interest to prevent a new cold war among neighbors....." Title- Welcome to the team Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (8-16) by Eliane Catanhede says: "Barack Obama is trying to pretend he cares for Latin American, but he in fact does not. And it is time for him to do so. Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador are recouping their anti-U.S. rhetoric under the pretext of the expansion of the U.S.-Colombia deal....It is in this context that Mexico's President visits Brazil.....[a country] without enemies . . . that is the door for Mexico to enter into a place it should have never left....." WHITE