VZCZCXYZ0028
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1970/01 2431939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311939Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5738
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001970 
 
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 OPTIONS IN IRAN; CHAVEZ IN SYRIA; BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO 
MORALES; UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE; 08/31/06; BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's leading international stories include the USG's options in 
Iran; Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' visit to Syria; the 
situation in Bolivia; and the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES 
 
- "Bush's three options" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (08/31) "Just like a separated 
couple, the US and Iran do not talk to each other. They only fight. 
While other countries are attempting to build bridges, the menu of 
choices is limited and everyone fears Washington or Tehran's next 
steps. The others know that they cannot intervene in the fight 
between the members of the couple, or else, they will not be heard. 
 
"... The White House only has three choices available - ordering an 
attack against Tehran's nuclear facilities, promoting commercial 
sanctions, or starting a direct dialogue with Tehran... 
 
"The US Pentagon has assessed all possible war options... However, 
according to the US Pentagon itself, the possibilities that this 
will be effective are minimal... 
 
"Once the war option is dismissed or postponed, US Secretary of 
State Condoleezza Rice represents those who plead for a diplomatic 
solution, which is agreed upon with the EU, China and Russia. The 
problem is that Beijing and Moscow do not trust the US. They fear 
that, if approved, economic sanctions by the UN Security Council may 
not stop Iran, and could end up paving the way for a military 
option. 
 
"... No one wants to talk about the third choice on the menu, the 
opening of a direct dialogue between the White House and Tehran... 
However, an increasing number of analysts and former USG Republican 
and Democratic officials are pleading even more for this option 
following the incompetence observed during the war between Israel 
and Hezbollah, when Rice did not want, or was unable to hold direct 
talks with Syria and Iran. 
 
"Historically, threats and sanctions have been useless in terms of 
putting a brake on the nuclear programs of India, Pakistan or North 
Korea. Only when the US directly held talks with them in the '80s or 
'90s, did it manage to order to postpone their entry in the club of 
nations having nuclear bombs. Perhaps, it is time for Bush to visit 
Tehran." 
 
- "Chavez annoys the US from Syria" 
 
Business-financial "Ambito Financiero" reports (08/31) "In what is 
perhaps his most controversial visit, in addition to his visit to 
Iran, Hugo Chavez met yesterday with Syrian President Bashar 
al-Assad, and the two of them showed their willingness to join 
efforts in their confrontation with the US. 
 
"On the first day of Chavez's official visit to Syria, the 
Venezuelan president asserted that the two presidents agreed to 
reject 'US attacks against Syria and Venezuela and its pressure on 
them.' The controversial Venezuelan president explained that they 
also agreed to reject any attempt to 'undermine the sovereignty of 
other countries.' 
 
"Chavez used a good deal of his time to criticize Israel's 
intervention in the region, he asked Israel to 'return the Golan 
Heights to Syria,' and described the occupation of the area as 
'clear theft under the nose of the international community.' 
 
"In his most irritating statement of the day, he said 'currently, 
Israel reminds us of Nazism.' 
 
"The Venezuelan president also asked the Olmert administration to 
lift the blockade on Lebanon and withdraw its troops from the 
neighboring country and the Palestinian territories. 
 
"... While the US has officially said that Chavez is free to travel 
wherever he wants, this visit has deeply irritated the White House, 
which sees how Caracas builds close ties with countries that are 
seriously suspected of fostering terrorism." 
 
- "Only a wake-up call" 
 
Fernando Halperin, international analyst of daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," writes (08/31) "Has the honeymoon between President Evo 
Morales and Bolivian society ended? Is the Bolivian scenario of 
recent days, with social protest demonstrations, announcing the 
 
 
beginning of the end of the Socialist president? 
 
"No. According to three political analysts consulted by 'La Nacion,' 
the scenario is a wake-up call for the government, but it is 
different from those bloody days of 2003 when Gonzalo Sanchez de 
Lozada was removed, or from 2005 protest demonstrations, which 
overthrew the Mesa administration. 
 
"... According to analysts, the real current battle is not in the 
framework of protest demonstrations and strikes but the debate of 
the future Constitution." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Difficulties met by the UN Peacekeeping Force" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (08/31) "After hard negotiations and 
a fragile deal reached among European countries, the UN has managed 
to form an International Peacekeeping force for Lebanon. It is the 
greatest challenge for a UN (peacekeeping) mission in recent 
years... 
 
"The purpose of this force is to obtain a permanent cease fire 
between Israel and Hezbollah in South Lebanon - this is to say 
between a State and an unusual militia which is not a warring army. 
This increases the complex nature of the Blue Helmets' task in 
Lebanon... 
 
"It is also a big challenge for the European countries... 
 
"Now, under the command of Italy and without the US participation, 
the UN Peacekeeping Force will assume a big responsibility in the 
region that is going through the most serious international conflict 
due to its regional and world implications." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
MATERA