VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1766/01 2191942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071942Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5482
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001766 
 
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: USG FOREIGN POLICY ON THE MIDDLE EAST; US PRESIDENT BUSH 
URGING FOR A DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN CUBA; FOREIGN JOURNALISTS TO CUBA; 
FRICTION BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND THE IMF; AMBASSADOR WAYNE; 08/04/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's key international stories include the USG's policy towards 
the Middle East; US President Bush urging Cubans to undertake 
democratic change on the island; the trouble met by foreign 
journalists in reaching Cuba; friction between the Argentine 
Government and the IMF; and the Trade Transparency Unit Program 
between the US and Argentine Custom Houses. 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion," leading "Clarin," left-of-center 
"Pagina 12," business-financial "El Cronista" and wire service 
"Infosic" carry the PAS press release about Ambassador Wayne's 
announcement that he will arrive in the country in approximately 
three months. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "A return to the past" 
 
Claudio Mario Aliscioni, international columnist of leading 
"Clarin," writes (08/04) "'Constructive case' is the concept used 
now in US academic centers when trying to explain US strategy in the 
Middle East, which is certainly agreed upon by the current Israeli 
administration. 
 
"The theory is based on some view of USG's neo-conservatives... By 
misusing some concepts from renowned philosophers like German Leo 
Strauss, this school defends the military solution for problems and 
it despises the complex meanders of political discussion. 
 
"However, 'constructive chaos' has proved to be an illusion rather 
than an example of effectiveness - some examples are the Iraqi 
'quagmire,' the unsolved situation in Afghanistan, the ongoing clash 
with Iran. The security fringe in Lebanon is another thread of the 
same weave. 
 
"The current situation revisits the moment when Israel invaded 
Lebanon two decades ago, just as though experience were useless." 
 
- "Bush urges Cubans to undertake 'democratic change' on the 
island" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (08/04) "US President George W. 
Bush urged Cubans to 'undertake democratic change on the island,' 
while Miami exiles called for a civil-military uprising in the 
Caribbean country... 
 
"... Bush's statements went beyond a previous statement by the US 
Department of Sate asking Cuban exiles to stay in the country and 
work for a 'positive change' on the island. This comment hinted that 
Washington fears an exodus of exiles from the Caribbean island." 
 
- "The trouble faced by foreign media in reaching Cuba" 
 
Leading "Clarin" carries an opinion piece by Oscar Raul Cardoso, 
international analyst, who writes (08/04) "The term 'normality' has 
become the favorite word in Cuba. With Fidel Castro sick and 
distanced from the handling of State affairs for the first time in 
almost 50 years, the Cuban government faces a huge challenge - 
trying to continue working with or without Castro. 
 
"... There is a conflict between two antagonistic views about the 
institutional situation on the island - the 'normality,' which is 
being promoted by Havana's official voices and that of the 
international media, according to which there is a booming crisis 
which the government is badly trying to disguise. 
 
"Yesterday, it was made public that six journalists who had just 
arrived in Havana were compelled to return home... 
 
"The International Media Center in Cuba denied that this could be 
part of an 'informational siege' on the island, but it is known that 
journalistic visas are today delayed, according to repeated reports 
from embassies and consulates in Cuba." 
 
- "The new US ambassador will arrive in the country in three 
months" 
 
Leading "Clarin" reports (08/04) "The new US Ambassador to 
Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, said he is 'delighted' by his 
nomination for this position, and he announced he will arrive in the 
country within three months. 
 
"The US embassy released a communiqu signed by (Ambassador) Wayne 
following the confirmation of his nomination as US Ambassador to 
Argentina. 'I am delighted that the US Senate has confirmed my 
 
 
nomination as the next US Ambassador to Argentina. I am deeply 
honored that US President George W. Bush has nominated me for this 
position as per the Secretary of State's recommendation.' 
 
"Wayne added that he wishes to 'closely work with the Argentine 
government and people to strengthen ties between our two great 
nations.'" 
 
- "US Ambassador will arrive in November" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" (08/04) reports "According to the US 
Department of State, US Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony Wayne 
will arrive in Buenos Aires in November... Wayne expressed his 
satisfaction at his nomination after having overcome the hurdles 
placed by exiled Cuban lobbyists at the US Senate." 
 
- "Wayne's satisfaction" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" reports (08/04) "The new US 
Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne, who will arrive in 
November, expressed his satisfaction that the US Senate confirmed 
his nomination. 
 
- "The new US Ambassador to Argentina maintains he wishes to 
'closely work with the Argentine Government" 
 
Wire service "Infosic" reports (08/04) "Earl Anthony Wayne, who was 
nominated as US Ambassador to Argentina, will arrive in the country 
during the first days of November, and he maintained that he wishes 
'to closely work with the Government,' with the purpose 'of 
strengthening ties between our two great nations.'" 
 
- "'I am delighted'" 
 
Left-of-center "Pagina 12" reports (08/04) "The US Senate confirmed 
the nomination of Earl Anthony Wayne as the new US Ambassador to 
Argentina. In a press communiqu, Lino Gutierrez's successor said 'I 
am deeply honored that the President has nominated me for this 
position.' Wayne and his wife will arrive in Buenos Aires no later 
than the first days of November... 
 
"Wayne will arrive in the country to 'normalize' ties between 
Washington and Buenos Aires, which were impaired at the Mar del 
Plata Summit of the Americas. 
 
"... The Argentine Foreign Ministry positively assessed Wayne's 
nomination because they see him as  a 'serious' and 'good 
interlocutor.' However, some in the diplomatic circle believe that 
his nomination reflects some distancing in the White House's 
consideration because Wayne does not have ties with George Bush's 
team like Gutierrez did." 
 
- "Bush could enlarge Guantnamo" 
 
Left-of-center "Pagina 12" (08/04) "Far from closing Guantnamo 
detention center, the Bush administration will enlarge it. In 
addition to building a new prison in Guantanamo, the White House 
submitted a new plan to judge terrorist suspects outside of usual 
legal proceedings. 
 
 
"The proposal, which is being analyzed by the US Senate, was 
criticized by different experts for leaving indicted criminals 
unprotected. 
 
"Bush needs to pass this draft bill in order to replace the ad hoc 
military courts system, which was considered illegal by the US 
Supreme Court of Justice last June." 
 
- "Friction with the IMF continues" 
 
Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by economic columnist 
Marcelo Bonelli, who writes (08/04) "The international business 
community criticized and questioned Argentina's economic program 
during two top-level meetings that were held in Washington -  the 
IMF Board meeting, in which a work by Anoop Singh, the head of the 
IMF Western Department, was discussed, and a parallel meeting of the 
IDB Board. During the two meetings, G7 leaders objected to the gist 
of the country's economic strategy - the monetary expansion, the 
fiscal policy and the anti-inflation control. 
 
"They also questioned the lack of structural reforms - tax reform, 
public rates reform and a definitive solution for the still 
defaulting debt. 
 
"Washington officials expressed the opinion of international 
 
 
bankers, the headquarters of companies controlling privatized 
services and food multinational corporations. They all agree on this 
point but do not make it public due to fears of the liberal sector 
of the local establishment." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Custom houses and trade transparency" 
 
An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (08/04) "The 
Argentine Tax Board and the US Embassy implemented an interesting 
trade transparency program through a special software and 
technology, which will allow for the exchange of information between 
the Argentine and US Customs Houses. 
 
"The Trade Transparency Unit Program (TTUP) will allow the Argentine 
Tax Board to monitor some seven million dollars in transactions 
between the US and Argentina. 
 
"... The challenges posed by the struggle against transnational 
organized crime call for human and technological efforts as well as 
the political decision to fight it... 
 
"... The TTU adopted by the US and Argentine Custom houses is a 
significant milestone in the fight on organized crime." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA