VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1873/01 2341827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221827Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5622
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001873 
 
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: US-ARGENTINE BILATERAL RELATIONS; ARGENTINA'S DECISION NOT 
TO SEND TROOPS TO THE ISRAEI-LEBANESE BORDER; TRI-BORDER; 08/17/06; 
BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's leading stories include yesterday's Assistant Secretary 
Shannon's digital video conference with Argentine journalists on 
Cuba and U.S.-Argentine relations; the U.S. denial that it was 
pressuring Argentina to send troops to the Israeli-Lebanese border 
and an assessment that drug trafficking surpasses terrorism as a 
concern in the Triple Border area. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "The US sees a 'transfer of power in slow motion' in Cuba" 
 
 
Publishing the article headline as the "Quote of the Day" on its 
front page, leading "Clarin," writes (08/17) "This is a key moment, 
as much for Cuba as for all the Americas and it would be a serious 
error to give more oxygen to a regime that is ouside of the 
Inter-American framework.  That's the characterization given by the 
assistant secretary for western hemisphere affairs, Thomas Shannon, 
in a video conference with the Argentina media. 
 
"The bureaucrat confirmed that the government of George W. Bush does 
not encourage a military approach to the island.  We totally reject 
that.  Only the Cuban people can determine its democratic 
transition. 
 
"...[he] maintained that his government's policy is to promote in 
Cuba democratic transition, free markets and regional integration 
into markets, in its various forms...We want a Cuba with access to 
the IDB, to all the institutions of the Americas. 
 
"Shannon asserted to the Argentine press yesterday that Cuba should 
reinsert itself into democracy, with free elections, respect for 
human rights and more transparency.  This is not a bilateral matter 
between the U.S. and Cuba; but for all the Americas and Cuba. 
 
"With respect to Castro's recovery and the photos shown with Chavez, 
Shannon said information 'is controlled, it is something opaque, we 
don't really know the future, it isn't clear... 
 
"And on the relationship with Argentina, Shannon confirmed that it 
is productive and fluid, with excellent communication." 
 
- "Shannon, War and Democracy" 
 
Santiago O'Donnell, columnist of leftist "Pagina/12," writes (08/17) 
"That is how the new media strategy of the State Department began to 
be unveiled, which is no other than the old carrot and stick 
formula: sticks for Cuba, carrots for the rest of the region, 
including now for Venezuela and Hugo Chavez...Venezuela could play 
an important role in Cuba4s transition, and, all in all, Venezuela 
is the U.S.' most important partner. Venezuela has a commercial 
surplus with our country.' 
 
"Everything was roses for the countries of the region without the 
name Cuba.  When asked about the possibility of lifting the embargo 
on the island, Shannon became serious.  It depends on what happens, 
he said in a serious tone.  Then he named a long list of demands: 
release of political prisoners, free elections, non-governmental 
organizations, full reign for human rights.  Everything indicates 
that unless Cuba becomes Switzerland overnight, the U.S. will 
continue boycotting it. 
 
"It's true: Posada Carriles is under arrest.  Not for being a 
terrorist, but for entering illegally into the U.S. 
 
"But it's not easy to promote a war on terror and multiparty 
democracy, all at the same time. 
 
"That's why, I believe, the U.S. launched its diplomatic offensive 
to again isolate Cuba and promote regime change.  We were there to 
register the event." 
 
- "U.S. Argentine relations are very good" 
 
Jorge Elias, columnist for daily-of-record "La Nacion," starts his 
article, (08/17) "Pure praise for the relationship with 
Argentina...the State Department's top official for Latin America, 
Thomas Shannon, did not challenge the increasingly frequent 
criticisms of Nestor Kirchner against George W. Bush, nor his 
increasingly frequent defense of Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales. 
 
"'...our relationship continues to be productive and fluid'  and 'in 
the following weeks, months and years there will be opportunities to 
deepen it,' that 'there are a series of shared interests and values 
 
 
that act as a stabilizer' and that 'cooperation on counterterrorism 
has been excellent.' 
 
"It is a key moment in Cuba's history, but also for the Americas -- 
he said -- we are seeing a transfer of power in slow motion. 
 
"With an eye on Washington and another on Florida, the Commission 
for Assistance to a Free Cuba, led by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, 
Carlos Gutierrez, of Cuban origin, proposed 80 million dollars of 
assistance to the opposition of the island, to support transition. 
The initiative was well received by the Bush government.  Without 
mentioning that, Shannon said 'our policy continues to be the same: 
promoting democratic transition. 
 
"Venezuela... could play an important role in the democratic 
transition. 
 
"Several years ago, President Bush said if Cuba released its 
political prisoners, permitted fundamental democratic rights... and 
held free elections, he was disposed to speak to Congress about 
lifting the embargo. Fidel Castro rejected the offer. 
 
"At the end of the day, Mercosur issues belong to Mercosur. 
 
"We totally reject a military solution.  Democratic transition is 
something that only the Cuban people can decide. 
 
- Business-financial Ambito Financiero also covered the DVC under 
headline "Latin America should help the political transition in 
Cuba." 
 
- "The Triple Border, More Myth than Real Terrorists" 
 
Daniel Gallo, columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes 
(08/17) "For those people with deep knowledge of the area, there is 
more myth than reality in this triangle formed by Iguazu, Foz de 
Iguazu and Ciudad del Este. 
 
"'No one has ever confirmed a firm, concrete piece of information on 
terrorist activities in the Tri-Border region: neither through the 
judiciary nor any other form.  There hasn't even been a legal suit 
against terrorism on those locations,' reported a person with deep 
knowledge on every corner of the three cities.  'What happens there 
has more to do with drug trafficking than anything else,' he added. 
 
 
"If it is common to affirm that the U.S. pressures to increase 
security at the Triple Border, what is certain is that the 
Department of State's own official reports don't give the zone major 
significance. 
 
"The annual report on terrorism.. [has] a separate section on the 
Triple Border.. but the document published last April 28 states that 
'information on the operations of extremist Islamic groups could not 
be corroborated.'" 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA