VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0398/01 0481946
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171946Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3524
INFO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000398 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, 
WHA/EPSC 
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ABU GHRAIB, IRAN, HAITI; 
BUENOS AIRES 02/16/06 
 
NOT CLEARED BY AN AMERICAN OFFICER 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Papers lead with the new scandal following the 
broadcast by an Australian TV station of previously 
unpublished images of apparent abuse of prisoners at 
Abu Ghraib. Bush's request of funds to 'democratize' 
Iran and the growing allegations of fraud in Haiti 
which could lead to more chaos, are also played by the 
local media. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "New Photos on Abu Ghraib Abuse" 
 
Center-right, daily-of-record "La Nacion" says (02/16) 
"Two years after the scandal sparked by U.S. soldiers' 
abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, public 
Australian TV SBS broadcast yesterday new photos that 
show 'all the horror' of that abuse. 
 
".... According to SBS, the images were recorded at 
the same time (2003) as those showing the torture of 
Abu Ghraib prisoners, disclosed in 2004, which 
triggered international condemnation and forced the 
U.S. to shut down the prison. The station says this 
country wants to stop the publication of the photos 
that are now a legal issue in the U.S., and can't be 
shown there. Nevertheless, they were shown to members 
of U.S. Congress during a private session in which 
they expressed their 'shock' at 'the total horror of 
the abuse at Abu Ghraib' depicted by the photos.' 
 
"SBS producer Mike Carey said the images 'confirm the 
extended abuse, including murder, torture and sexual 
humiliation,' suffered by the prisoners and believes 
its broadcast is important 'for people to understand 
what took place in Abu Ghraib.' 
 
".... For his part, in Washington, DOD spokesperson, 
Bryan Whitman, said the broadcast 'will only fuel and 
possibly lead to unnecessary violence that would 
jeopardize our military around the world.' In his 
opinion, Abu Ghraib abuse has been thoroughly 
investigated.'..." 
 
- "Bush Requests Funds to 'Democratize' Iran" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, center-right, daily-of-record "La 
Nacion" Washington-based correspondent, writes (02/16) 
"Determined to stop Iran's nuclear program, Secretary 
Rice explained yesterday that the U.S. will foster 
international pressure and, eventually, the 
implementation of unilateral sanctions against Iran. 
But it will also seek to counter the Fundamentalist 
rhetoric of Tehran's regime with more funds for the 
promotion of democracy. 
 
"At the Senate's influential Foreign Relations 
Committee, Rice said the U.S. is walking on 'a thin 
line' and requested 75 million dollars to 'support the 
democratic hopes of the Iranian people, although she 
was immediately criticized by Senators from both 
parties. 
 
"The Democrats said President Bush's policies resulted 
in new administrations that are against the U.S., 
while two Republican senators - Hagel and Chafee -- 
referred to the complex realities of Iran and Iraq, 
Israel and Palestine. 
 
"Rice explained that, so far, Iran 'has crossed the 
line and is now openly challenging' the international 
community with its controversial uranium enrichment 
program, turning Tehran into 'the major individual 
strategic challenge' in the hottest region of the 
world. 
 
".... She warned that this hegemony can only be 
balanced by a multilateral effort at the UN and, if 
necessary, new and stricter unilateral sanctions by 
the U.S. 
 
".... But, in addition to sanctions, said Rice, we 
must add aid that will allow us to increase 'support 
for democracy.' 
 
 
".... Around 55 million dollars will be allotted to 
the improvement of U.S. radio broadcast and kick off 
satellite TV transmissions in Farsi, while another 5 
million dollars will be assigned to more scholarships 
for Iranian students, according to the State 
Department. 
 
".... Nevertheless, the senators believe the U.S. 
strategy poses serious doubts in view of its results: 
the growing influence of Iran in the Persian Gulf; the 
rise of Hamas, Hizbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood, 
in Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt; the arrival in Iraq 
of a Shiite government, with close links with Tehran; 
and, in Latin America, the challenges of Bolivia or 
Venezuela, which recently backed Iran or the IAEA. 
 
"Republican Senator Hagel - possible candidate for the 
2008 presidential elections -- said 'I don't see, 
Madame Secretary, how things are getting better. I 
think things are getting worse in Iraq and Iran.'..." 
 
- "Moderation" 
 
Pablo Biffi, center-left, leading "Clarin" 
international columnist, opines (02/16) "Eight days 
after the elections, uncertainty prevails in Haiti. 
Protest rallies, ballot boxes that appear in dumps, 
and the most voted candidate, Rene Preval, claiming a 
major fraud or gross mistakes in the vote count. 
Preval - who's on the threshold of the 50% of the 
ballots needed to avoid a runoff against Manigat... 
says he's ready for ballottage. Of courser, the law 
must be respected, but Haiti is today a powder-keg 
that may blow off if the poor Haitians - a majority in 
the country - feel their ballots 'were robbed.' These 
aren't times for fiery words. It's time for moderation 
in seeking a way out which - at this point - is more 
political than numerical." 
 
¶3. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
The Media Reaction Report reflects articles and 
opinions by the cited news media and do not 
necessarily reflect U.S. Embassy policy or views.  The 
Public Affairs Section does not independently verify 
information.  The report is intended for internal U.S. 
Government use only. 
 
GUTIERREZ