MEDIA REACTION: US MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN HAITI; BUENOS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000046 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL HA AR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: US MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN HAITI; BUENOS AIRES SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; US MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN HAITI; 01/20/10; BUENOS AIRES SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The crisis in Haiti did not make the front pages on January 21, with Argentine dailies focusing instead on domestic political disputes. However, Haiti continued to dominate the international sections, with headlines dramatizing the U.S. military deployment. While reporting generally did not criticize the U.S. explicitly, many articles depicted U.S. relief efforts in a negative light through their choice of words and quoted comments from the local population. In addition, several opinion articles accused the U.S. of a massive militarization and failure in its humanitarian goals. End summary. DRAMATIZING THE US MILITARY DEPLOYMENT -------------- ¶2. Although Haiti was not front page news on January 20, it continued to dominate the international sections of Argentine dailies, with headlines such as top circulation Clarin's "Airport filled with marines and machine guns" and La Prensa's "U.S. troops occupy presidential palace in Haiti" dramatizing the U.S. military deployment. English daily The Buenos Aires Herald picked up a Reuters newswire with the headline "GIs land at presidential palace," detailing how U.S. troops have secured Haiti's General Hospital, adding that the U.S. was handing out supplies as part of the international relief operations. ¶3. Three newspapers (La Nacion, Clarin and Critica) and one radio station (Radio Nacional) have reporters on the ground. Although their correspondents were not explicitly critical of the U.S., their articles used terms such as "invasion," "military bastion," and "marines armed to the teeth" to describe U.S. troop deployments. Furthermore, several report concerns of the Haitian population about the deployments, with La Nacion claiming that, "Many Haitians doubt the US real intentions. Many believe it is a veiled occupation." La Nacion also picked up a news wire from DPA German news agency describing a history of U.S. intervention in Haiti. (Note: CDA Kelly conducted interviews with both La Nacion and Clarin on January 20 to counter misperceptions about the U.S. troop deployments. End note.) http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/20/elmun do/i-02123465.htm http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 223994 ¶4. Surprisingly, pro-government paper "Pagina 12" was quite minimal in its negative reporting, citing concerns by French officials that the U.S. was monopolizing relief actions. "Pagina 12" also reported that the U.S. was throwing food from airplanes, against U.N. recommendations. http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elmundo/sub notas/138756-44830-201 0-01-20.html OPINION PIECES MORE CRITICAL -------------- ¶5. Several opinion pieces adopted a more critical position, accusing the U.S. of failing in its humanitarian goal. Centrist Critica said U.S. troops refused to perform security and police operations in Haiti, accusing the U.S. of monopolizing humanitarian aid and quoting complaints from other governments. http://www.criticadigital.com.ar/index.php?se cc=nota&nid=36253 http://www.buenosairesherald.com/PrintedEditi on/View/22912 ¶6. Daily Buenos Aires Economico (pro-government) blasted U.S. efforts and accused the U.S. of occupying Haiti. In an opinion piece entitled "The humanitarian invasion," it reported a "massive militarization" of the island, claiming the "military component" of the mission is prevailing over the actions of the State Department and USAID and hindering civil actions. The article also criticized the use of the 82nd Airborne Division, which it claimed is specialized in countering riots. It adds that "the experience of U.S. humanitarian aid cannot lead to positive prospects" in Haiti. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires KELLY KELLY