Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SAOPAULO507
2009-08-26 12:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION - SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: AFGHANISTAN,

Tags:  KMDR OPRC OIIP XM XR XF BR 
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VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0507 2381233
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261233Z AUG 09
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9531
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0665
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 9238
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.)...."
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