VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1593/01 1992056
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 182056Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5262
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001593 
 
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: MIDDLE EAST; TRIPLE BORDER; WTO DOHA ROUND; US-ARGENTINE 
DEAL TO FIGHT MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES; 07/18/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Leading international stories today include the war in the Middle 
East; the US Senate's attempt to pass a resolution intended to 
create an antiterrorist task force on the Triple Border between 
Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil; and the US-Argentine deal to fight 
money laundering activities. 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion," conservative "La Prensa," 
business-financials "Ambito Financiero" and "InfoBae" and 
left-of-center "Pagina 12" cover the signing of a deal between US 
Ambassador Lino Gutierrez and the head of the Argentine Tax Board 
Alberto Abad to further the struggle against money laundering 
activities. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- Stop it" 
 
Left-of-center "Pagina 12" carries an opinion piece by the winner of 
the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel, who opines 
(07/18) "I have always supported the Jewish people, who suffered the 
Holocaust, segregation, torture and death... 
 
"I have repeatedly pointed out that the Israeli people have a right 
to exist, but the Palestinian people also have the same right, and 
they are currently being oppressed and massacred by the State of 
Israel. 
 
"... We all know that not all the Israeli people agree with the 
policy carried out by the Israeli government, which is supported by 
the US and the silence of the European governments, this makes them 
accomplices to the horror unleashed in the Middle East... 
 
"... It is crucial that the international community act by stopping 
the craziness of the governments before it is too late." 
 
- "Middle East in the dark" 
 
Mercedes Lopez San Miguel, columnist of left-of-center "Pagina 12," 
writes (07/18) "The escalation between Israel and Lebanon is not a 
focused tragedy. It will have a negative impact on the entire 
region. Israel will always be supported by the US, and the images of 
its attacks and invasion of Lebanon will distance Arabs and Muslims 
all over the world. However, for many of them there will always be a 
link between the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the war in Iraq, the 
war in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism. 
 
"... In the meeting of the eight wealthiest countries two blocs were 
distinguished vis-`-vis the explicit call for a quick cease fire in 
the Middle East - Russia and France favored it, while the UK, the US 
and an ambiguous Germany led by conservative Angela Merkel were 
opposed. Bush and Blair defended Israel's right to defend itself 
from Hezbollah and its sponsors, Iran and Syria. 
 
"... It is likely that security will worsen in the Middle East, 
there will be controversy in the West for some time, and all aspects 
of the global fight on terrorism will be revisited." 
 
- "The mania of rowing against rationality" 
 
Oscar Raul Cardoso, international analyst of leading "Clarin," 
writes (07/18) "In 1984, the bright US historian Barbara Tuchman 
published her book 'The March of Folly,' in which she attempted to 
demonstrate a daring theory. At moments of crisis, governments often 
row against the current of rationality even when it will assure the 
defeat of their interests. 
 
"... George W. Bush is the one who offers the best case study for 
Tuchman's theory. He hindered a G8 blunt communiqu, he did not 
obtain the text he wanted and he did it without thinking of a 
Lebanese, Jewish or Palestine life. He was barely grateful for 
having 'sold' his  impracticable 'war on terrorism.' He opposed 
using the resource of a blue helmet force... and he limited himself 
to arm-wrestling with Vladimir Putin in an attempt to demonstrate 
that Washington is more powerful than Moscow. The outcome was a 
shameful tie (between Putin and Bush) in which Putin spit the 
victory of the communiqu on Bush. 
 
"In the meantime, the most radicalized wings of Hezbollah and Hamas, 
are excelling. The crisis is desperately asking for someone who will 
deny Tuchman's theory." 
 
- "Triple Border - they ask in the US for the creation of an 
antiterrorist force" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
 
writes (07/18) "The US Senate could approve a resolution enabling US 
President George W. Bush to ask the OAS to create an anti-terrorist 
task force to act on the Triple Border between Argentina, Brazil and 
Paraguay. 
 
"The resolution, which was approved by the US House of 
Representatives and turned over to the Senate, was made public 
yesterday by the newspaper Folha from Sao Paulo. 
 
"... The resolution is not binding - this means that the Bush 
administration is not legally bound to implement it, however, it is 
a strong political sign." 
 
- "Inopportune" 
 
Daniel Santoro, political columnist of leading "Clarin," writes 
(07/18) "According to spies, ever since the September 11 attacks, 
'there are more CIA agents than terrorists on the Triple Border.' 
However, Arab sectors in Ciudad del Este and Foz de Iguazu send 
money to Hezbollah-related foundations. 
 
"Since 2001, there is a committee made up by the US, Argentina, 
Brazil, Paraguay, which coordinates investigations on money 
laundering. This is why the US diplomacy seems inclined not to 
accept this project, which would also be rejected by most Latin 
American countries." 
 
- "Lula asks Bush to ensure the success of the Doha Round" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (07/18) "Brazilian 
President Lula urged US President George W. Bush to make 'political 
decisions, whatever they are,' to successfully complete the WTO Doha 
Round negotiations. Lula was referring to the need for lowering farm 
subsidies implemented by developed countries to protect their 
agricultural sectors. 
 
"Lula offered the US president the possibility to establish an 
alliance regarding oil and energy renewable sources." 
 
- "US-Argentine deal against money laundering activities" 
 
Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (07/18) "Argentina 
and the US signed a deal that will allow the two countries to have 
information from its custom houses on imports and exports. The 
purpose is detecting illegal activities, such as money laundering 
and trade triangle transactions that could imply fiscal evasion. 
 
"In a press release, the US Embassy emphasized that the program will 
investigate into, and try to impede against the money laundering 
activities conducted through the traffic of merchandise. It is a 
highly efficient technique in the fight against money laundering 
which is carried out in the international exchange of goods. 
Information obtained at the ports of entry and departure of exports 
and imports will be subject to comparison in order to verify that 
said data is the same information reported in the statements 
submitted to the authorities. 
 
"Ambassador Gutierrez said that the implementation of this program 
is a 'fundamental step in the fight on crime and in preventing 
illegal activities in foreign trade.'" 
 
- "The US is concerned over alliances made by Hugo Chavez" 
 
Conservative "La Prensa" reads (07/18) "The outgoing US Ambassador 
to Argentina, Lino Gutierrez, said that the US is 'very concerned 
about the situation in Venezuela and about the alliances Mr. (Hugo) 
Chavez is seeking,' although he pointed out that 'no one may 
criticize Argentina for seeking the best economic ties it can.' 
 
"While he acknowledged that in the framework of the Fourth Summit of 
the Americas held last November in Mar del Plata, 'there was some 
disagreement on the hemisphere's view of free trade,' he also 
underscored that 'the Argentine Government cooperated in an 
impressive way' to facilitate the participation of US President 
George W. Bush. 
 
"The US Ambassador said that the US-Argentine relationship 'has been 
strengthened' 'in many aspects' during recent years, and he 
emphasized 'the very good dialogue' held with the government." 
 
- "Control against tax evasion is reinforced" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion's" "Economic and Business" supplement 
reports (07/18) "Illegal exports between Argentina and the US will 
instantaneously be controlled thanks to a deal that was signed 
yesterday between the two governments in order to detect tax evasion 
and money laundering operations. 
 
 
"The deal, which was signed between the head of the Argentine Tax 
Board, Alberto Abad, and US Ambassador Lino Gutierrez, will 
implement the Trade Transparency Unit, which will serve to 'ensure 
international trade' between the two countries.' 
 
"... US Embassy sources emphasized that this initiative will 
reinforce the struggle against money laundering through the traffic 
of merchandise, which is a central concern for Washington." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website 
at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
GUTIERREZ