(U) KUDOS FOR BRAZIL REPORTING (C-AL9-00886)

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 041025

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL BR
SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR BRAZIL REPORTING (C-AL9-00886)

REF: A. SAO PAULO 000090

B. SAO PAULO 000679

C. BRASILIA 000202

D. BRASILIA 000681

E. BRASILIA 000855

F. BRASILIA 00158

G. BRASILIA 000388

H. BRASILIA 000128

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C/NF) INR/B OFFICERS GREATLY APPRECIATE POST'S CABLES
THAT CONTAIN IN-DEPTH PROFILES ON, AND THE POLITICAL
STRATEGIES OF, LIKELY CONTENDERS IN THE 2010 PRESIDENTIAL
RACE, PARTICULARLY THE STELLAR REPORTING ON SAO PAULO STATE
GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER JOSE SERRA, AS NOTED IN
REFS A AND B. THE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS ALREADY HAVE BEEN
USED IN BRIEFINGS AND BIOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS FOR KEY CUSTOMERS,
AND WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO OTHER ANALYSES AS THE ELECTION
NEARS.


2. (C/NF) INR/B OFFICERS HAVE BENEFITED FROM POST'S
INCLUSION OF BIOGRAPHIC PARAGRAPHS ON ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
CARLOS MINC AND ITAMARATY'S RECENTLY-APPOINTED POINT-PERSON
ON CLIMATE CHANGE, VERA MACHADO, AS NOTED IN REFS C AND D.
THIS INFORMATION HELPS TO FILL BIOGRAPHIC GAPS ON KEY PLAYERS
ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY--A KEY BILATERAL
ISSUE-AND WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO PENDING BIOS FOR US
OFFICIALS AND OTHER PRODUCTS. BIOGRAPHIC OFFICERS COMMEND
POST FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO INCLUDING THESE USEFUL PIECES OF
INFORMATION IN CABLES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. WE ESPECIALLY VALUE
INFORMATION ON LEADERS' OPERATING STYLES, DEMEANORS,
MOTIVATIONS, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, RELATIONSHIPS WITH
SUPERIORS, SENSITIVITIES, WORLDVIEWS, HOBBIES, AND FOREIGN
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.


3. (C/NF) INR/B OFFICERS HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS
INCLUDED INFORMATION IN BIOS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM POST'S
IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON CORRUPTION CASES, AS NOTED IN REF E.
BIOGRAPHIC OFFICERS WOULD WELCOME FRESH UPDATES, PARTICULARLY
AS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NEARS, AS SCANDALS RISK
UNDERMINING CANDIDATES' CAMPAIGNS.


4. (C/NF) INR/B OFFICERS HAVE WELCOMED REPORTING THAT
ADDRESSES INTERACTIONS INVOLVING, AND CLEAVAGES BETWEEN,
BRAZILIAN LEADERS ON KEY ECONOMIC, FOREIGN POLICY, AND
POLITICAL ISSUES. MUCH OF THIS REPORTING PROVIDES INSIGHTS
INTO POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY
FAVORABLE INTERLOCUTORS (OR OBSTACLES) TO US OBJECTIVES ON
PRIORITY ISSUES, SUCH AS ENERGY AND TRADE/PROTECTIONISM, AS
NOTED IN REFS F AND H. BIOGRAPHIC OFFICERS WOULD APPRECIATE
FURTHER REPORTING ON DIVISIONS INSIDE PRESIDENT LULA'S
ECONOMIC INNER CIRCLE ON POLICIES AIMED AT TACKLING BRAZIL'S
ECONOMIC WOES--PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT WOULD AFFECT
MULTILATERAL AND US-BRAZIL TRADE POLICIES. WE WOULD ALSO
WELCOME INFORMATION ON THE RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC
ADVISERS, THEIR NEGOTIATING STYLES, AND THEIR LEVELS AND
BREADTH OF AUTHORITY.


5. (C/NF) INR/B OFFICERS APPRECIATE REPORTING THAT
IDENTIFIES KEY POLICIES THAT ORIGINATE IN PLANALTO PALACE
RATHER THAN IN TRADITIONALLY-POWERFUL MINISTRIES, SUCH AS THE
FOREIGN MINISTRY, AS NOTED IN REF G. BIOGRAPHIC OFFICERS
WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE IDENTITIES OF
PLANALTO OFFICIALS BEHIND SPECIFIED INITIATIVES, AS SUCH
INFORMATION HELPS THEM TO ASSESS THE INFLUENCE, WORLDVIEWS,
AND POLICY STANCES OF KEY LEADERS. MANY THANKS AGAIN, AND
REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.
CLINTON