Media Reaction Sao Paulo February 06 2009

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000081 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 Sao Paulo February 06 2009 Media Reaction - Global Economy: Financial market crisis; Iraq: Governance; Sao Paulo Title- Shadows of the Past Editorial in liberal in Folha de S.Paulo (2-6) says: "....The demand for more protectionist measures are beginning to reappear in all places - from the U.S. Senate to sectors of Brazilian society. This idea is easily accepted stance but one that has proven itself to be inefficient. Skirting its traps demands an urgent coordinated global effort. Times of crisis, as one knows, are not appropriate time for national resentment and pickiness [concerning protectionism]. The situation is already sufficiently serious, for old shadows to reappear and complicate it even more." Title- Radicals defeated in Iraq Editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (2-6) states: "In the upcoming days, when the official results of the vote conducted on Sunday in 14 of the 18 Iraq provinces are released, we will know for sure whether or not the optimistic analysis made were correct about the evolution of the political scene in the country. Nevertheless, the convergence of the predictions points to a very different ending from the one suggested by preliminary data......Iraqis are very anxious to see the authority of the central government reestablished in order to have safety, jobs, electricity and water', wrote Independent commentator Patrick Cockburn, from London. Lastly, the results of the vote - to be confirmed - [also] represent a defeat for Iran." WHITE