MEDIA REACTION - SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: AFGHANISTAN,

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000507 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 - SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: AFGHANISTAN, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; WESTERN HEMISPHERE; GLOBAL ECONOMY: FINANCIAL MARKET CRISIS; CHINA AND GLOBAL ECONOMY; SAO PAULO "Afghan crossroad" Editorial in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (8-25) states: "Without this positive scenario [elections in Afghanistan without fraud reports and contested results], it will be harder for the U.S. President to sell a plan that anticipates a prolonged occupation....In addition to the skepticism about the capacity of external forces to create a functional Afghan State, U.S. specialists are beginning to raise doubts about the final aim of the war. In Iraq, the gradual withdrawal (of US troops) today is accompanied by the violence that springs from power disputes that only Iraqis can resolve. In Afghanistan there is a fear that Al Qaeda bases, if eradicated, would return when the U.S. leaves, no matter how much time this takes......There is no easy option before Obama, but he hasn't even formulated the modest aims he promised." "The return of the militarists" Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (8-25) by Marcos Nobre says".....a militarist ascendancy is under way....There is today a sizeable anti-American and nationalist alliance that was last seen in the 60's. Everything indicates that Brazil's Armed Forces were able to place in the heart of the political system its lasting conviction: the need of giving Brazil a armament power that secures to the country an incontestable position of military hegemony in South America...In the future we will have a poor and unstable Latin America following an unprecedented arms race, which will consume precious resources that should be used to fight inequalities." Considerations on the economic crisis" Op-ed in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (8-25) by former Ambassador Rubens Barbosa notes: "....The perspectives for the world economy are not very optimistic for the "coming years. The situation is likely to get worse before it gets better, perhaps by the end of ¶2010. Although there are some positive indicators of a rebound arising....., what is happening is only the slowing down of a fall, and not the return of growth. The economic crisis is far from ending. There is a structural problem that needs to be faced: the unbalance between countries with surplus - China, Germany - versus the ones with deficits (mainly the U.S.)...." WHITE