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R 041438Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0491
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000002 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: Media Report January 2-4 
 
Chile-U.S. DARPA 
 
¶1.            Article in the Science and Technology section making 
reference to a recent book review in the New York Times of "The 
Department of Mad Scientists: How DARPA is Remaking our World from 
the Internet to Artificial Limbs" by Michael Belfiore's.  "In 2008 
DARPA's Director visited Chile seeking for new ideas. 
Unfortunately, an agreement with Federico Santa Maria University to 
create landmine removing robots is currently stagnant." 
(Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio 1/3) 
 
 
 
Former President Frei's Death 
 
¶2.            The two physicians who are facing homicide charges in 
the death of former President Eduardo Frei Montalva will turn 
themselves in today.  The Supreme Court's second Room voted against 
their appeals and confirmed their indictment. (El Mercurio 1/4) 
 
 
 
Chile/Labor Strike 
 
¶3.            As of today, approximately 6,000 mining workers in 
Chile's state-owned Chuquicamata copper mine went on strike. (All 
dailies 1/4) 
 
 
 
Cultural 
 
¶4.            Throughout January, American pianist Joel Holmes and 
a quintet of Chilean musicians will perform in Santiago's jazz pubs 
and at the International Providencia Jazz Festival. (El Mercurio 
1/4) 
 
 
 
Latin America 
 
¶5.            Opinion piece by columnist and former Chilean Foreign 
Minister Hernan Felipe Errazuriz, entitled "Challenges at Eyesight" 
"The upcoming (Chilean) President -hopefully, Sebastian Pi????era, 
because of his abilities-will encounter Latin America celebrating 
its bicentennial in a disordered atmosphere, but, hopefully, 
improving.  Up until recently, Chavez, Castro and his ALBA partners 
marched triumphantly, expansively, convinced that Honduras and 
other nations would surrender helplessly. Additionally, Latin 
American and Chilean economies were receding.  Now, the economy is 
upturning; Chavez was defeated in Honduras; and he is forced to 
improve his domestic situation... In the U.S., Obama will have kind 
gestures toward Latin America, but hardly more than that. His 
attention will continue focusing on other more conflictive 
hemispheres, and the best he could provide is an economic recovery 
to invigorate exports into that important market." (El Mercurio 
1/2) 
 
 
 
U.S. Health Reform 
 
¶6.            Editorial headlined "Healthcare Reform in the U.S." 
"The debate (on Healthcare Reform) in the United States is, in 
part, comparable to Chile, since it reflects similar concerns -the 
need for good coverage and a private system that does not rejecting 
affiliations-and, also, solutions applicable to our country:  a 
State that becomes responsible for securing access to healthcare 
through private insurance, and that the latter -and not the State- 
be in charge of providing the appropriate service." (El Mercurio 
1/3) 
 
 
 
Terrorism 
 
¶7.            Opinion piece by international commentator Libardo 
 
Buitrago, entitled "Al Qaeda: the United States as its Target" "In 
spite of the strong strikes received, Al Qaeda has franchised its 
terror patent, thus facilitating its movements with greater 
freedom.  This poses an arduous task on the security agencies to 
share timely information about Osama bin Laden's followers; to 
reinitiate a more efficient flow of information; and, above all, to 
act proactively... Now, all nations have to improve their control 
systems on passengers, and mostly, to conduct more effective 
checks.  Air security is a priority and passengers know it. One 
cannot allow terrorists to gain ground." (Business-oriented, 
financial Diario Financiero, 1/4) 
 
 
 
Climate Change 
 
¶8.            Column by international pundit Raul Sohr entitled 
"China and U.S. Climate Duel" "The reasons for not reaching 
agreements in Copenhagen were numerous. The golden opportunity for 
moving the world away from its road to a cliff was lost. To gather 
more than 100 government leaders is not easy.  Maybe, instead of 
getting them all together, it would be preferable to start by 
assembling the largest polluters and then by enlarging the circle 
of countries as results are met.  Certainly, the environmental 
invoice will leave devastating footprints." (Government-owned, but 
editorially independent La Nacion 1/3) 
SIMONS