VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2595/01 3241939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201939Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6537
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002595 
 
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: IRAQ; THE AMIA CASE; SOUTH AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES; 
AMBASSADOR WAYNE; 11/20/06; BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Weekend papers focus on the USG's possible shift on its strategy on 
Iraq; the AMIA case probe and its possible use by the USG to urge 
the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran; Brazil's plans 
to unite South American military forces; and Ambassador Earl Anthony 
Wayne's busy agenda in Buenos Aires. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "The US - Rice's turn to undo things" 
 
Oscar Raul Cardoso, international columnist of leading "Clarin," 
writes (11/18) "... At least since some 20 months ago, one of 
Secretary Rice's closest aides, Philip D. Zelikow, has been drafting 
 
SIPDIS 
memorandums bearing little resemblance to the official view of White 
House and the US Department of State ..., including a text in which 
he warned that the occupation of Iraq could become a 'catastrophic 
failure.' 
 
"... Therefore, one should consider the possibility that Washington 
will attempt to revive the peace process in the Middle East and 
that, as part of the new conditions, the US will try to leave the 
road of isolation and confrontation that Bush has maintained with 
Syria and Iran." 
 
- "We have always been partners" 
 
Jorge Elias, international columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," 
writes (11/19) "... Two days before mid-term US (legislative) 
elections, the new US Ambassador, Earl Anthony Wayne, arrived in 
Argentina, the country with the largest anti-US sentiment index in 
the region since the time of Braden or Peron. By coincidence, the 
Kirchner administration happened to remove former assistant 
secretary Luis D'Elia due to his anti-US and anti-Israel 
 
SIPDIS 
statements... 
 
"... the start of Wayne's mission also happened to coincide with 
court progress over the AMIA case against former Iranian 
authorities... 
 
"As he presented his credentials, Wayne made it clear that no 
country or person has all the answers to the current challenges. He 
resorted to 'soft' power, that is, the ability to attract and 
convince other governments through culture, ideals and politics 
instead of subjecting them to gratuitous pressure. 
 
"The US has a problem in Latin America - it is Venezuela's largest 
trading partner due to its oil purchases but, at the same time, it 
is the main target of Chavez's diatribes. The US discourse is 
somehow going against its own interests... 
 
"A country's willingness to cooperate in the resolution of crucial 
issues not only depends on the US but also on the attraction it 
conveys on others. In an agitated sea, Wayne moved like a fish in 
water. He spoke little, but communicated a lot. He only omitted one 
issue, the FTAA, due to the crisis unleashed by the Fourth SOA... 
 
"US Assistant Secretary for Western Hemispheric Affairs Thomas 
Shannon downplayed the counter-summit that was intended to irritate 
Bush. He never admitted to any disagreement with Kirchner, of 
hostile appearance but cordial approach. He also used 'soft power,' 
which is more profitable than 'hard power,' if one wants discourse 
to be in tune with action." 
 
- "Argentina on maximum state of alert" 
 
Joaquin Morales Sola, political columnist of daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," comments (11/19) "... The current tension between Argentina 
and Iran was inevitable. The Argentine Government ruled out breaking 
off ties with Iran, but it has not dismissed submitting the case to 
the UN Security Council in the event tension escalates. 
 
"... Does this mean that Kirchner is distancing himself from Chavez 
and getting closer to Washington? Julio De Vido often says that the 
country has reached commercial deals with Chavez but that Argentina 
and Venezuela have different political objectives. Kirchner, in 
turn, has been indifferent to suspicion that the timing (of progress 
on the AMIA case) coincided with the case against Iran sponsored by 
the US and Europe. 
 
"... According to Kirchner, 'the policy of my government does not 
differ from that of the US and Europe regarding international 
terrorism. In any case, the agreement existed prior to (the AMIA 
prosecutors' decision).'" 
 
- "The US will make use of the AMIA case in its case against Iran" 
 
 
Ana Baron, leading "Clarin's" Washington-based correspondent, 
comments (11/19) "The Argentine Judiciary will enter the world's 
political scene by the US hand and for US benefit. The Bush 
administration will use Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Coral's 
request for the arrest of former Iranian government officials to 
support its own search for international support to impose sanctions 
on Tehran if it decides to expand its nuclear program. 
 
"... The White House and US Department of State's reaction to the 
announcement of Canicoba Corral's decision could not have been more 
positive. They not only praised the Argentine courts but also 
pledged cooperation for Argentine and Interpol authorities to arrest 
those accused. During a meeting at the Argentine Embassy last week, 
National Security Adviser Dan Fisk repeated his support for 
Argentine Ambassador Jose Octavio Bordon. So did Ambassador Earl 
Wayne with FM Jorge Taiana last Friday." 
 
- "Kirchner, twists and outbursts" 
 
Eduardo van der Kooy, political columnist at the leading Clarin, 
writes (11/19) "Luis D'Elia's resignation and the progress made on 
the AMIA case served President Kirchner to redirect his ties with 
Washington, and also with Hugo Chavez, although in a different 
direction. 
 
"... Never before during his term in office has Kirchner received 
such praise from the White House and the Department of State. This 
flattery has reportedly started to bother him. 
 
"... The new US Ambassador Earl Wayne did not make any serious 
political objection to the Argentine Government during his meetings 
with the top-brass members... 
 
"... The progress made in the AMIA case could mark the 
reconstruction of a deteriorated bilateral relationship with the 
most powerful country in the world." 
 
- "AMIA - the US renews its support for the AMIA bombing probe" 
 
Leading "Clarin" (11/18) reports, "The US has reiterated its support 
for the Argentine judiciary's decision to issue arrest orders 
against former Iranian government officials due to their alleged 
responsibility in the attack against the AMIA. This is what 
Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne told FM Jorge Taiana during a meeting 
at the Foreign Ministry, according to a US Embassy statement. 
 
"According to the communiqu, Wayne welcomed the 'tenacious search 
for justice against those who are guilty for this terrible attack' 
against Argentina. 
 
"The meeting, which lasted for fifty minutes, was requested by 
Ambassador Wayne. Governmental sources confirmed that the US 
Ambassador conveyed to FM Taiana White House support for the AMIA 
judicial process just when the country's ties with Iran are at the 
point of maximum tension. According to the sources, Wayne stressed 
the Bush administration's satisfaction with the Argentine 
(Government's) willingness to shed light on the attack." 
 
- "Wayne's high-profile agenda has clear purposes" 
 
Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (11/ 19) "With surprisingly high 
profile and remarkable efficiency, thirteen days after his 
inauguration as US Ambassador, Earl Anthony Wayne has already 
represented the interests of his country in front of five 
high-ranking ministers of the Argentine Government and made it clear 
which are the issues that the USG considers crucial. 
 
"Some of the issues that Wayne tackled during his meetings were 
investment and bilateral trade, drug trafficking in the region, 
diplomatic tension with Iran over the AMIA case and the US interest 
to sell its technology for high-definition digital TV. 
 
"... With unusual sincerity and a straightforward way of saying 
things that should be imitated by his Argentine interlocutors, Wayne 
devotedthe last 13 days to defending US interests, which have not 
always been in line with ours." 
 
-  "The importance of being included in the US agenda" 
 
Business-financial "InfoBae" reports (11/20) "Last year's SOA was a 
turning point in the US-Argentine bilateral relationship. However, 
when indifference seemed to be irreversible, the Republican 
administration decided to again promote political and economic ties 
between the two countries. The new US Ambassador to Buenos Aires, 
Earl Anthony Wayne, had a busy week of meetings with high-ranking 
government officials, which satisfied the Argentine Government... 
 
Prevailing agreement (between the two sides) during the meetings are 
an omen of a better bilateral relationship in times ahead. That's 
good for the country." 
 
- "US concerned about fake IDs just steps away from the Tri-Border" 
 
 
Newspaper "Perfil" subheads (11/19) "While the US' complaint has not 
been made formal yet, the Interior Ministry has already taken note 
and is already planning to replace IDs by an intelligent card." The 
paper reports (11/19) "The controversial election in Misiones to 
attempt to reform the provincial Constitution and enable governor 
Carlos Rovira to be re-elected continues to cause problems for the 
Kirchner administration. 
 
"The US Embassy in Buenos Aires has now shown its concern and taken 
note of how easy it is in the province, just a few miles from the 
Triple Border, to get a fake Identity Card. While the US concern has 
not reached FM Taiana's office, a high-ranking Interior Ministry 
government official confirmed this information to 'Perfil.'" 
 
- "Brazil plans to unite South American military forces" 
 
Eleonora Gosman, Sao Paulo-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (11/19) "... The Brazilian Government is considering the 
creation of a joint South American military force... 
 
"The Brazilian Armed Forces are mistrustful due to the increased US 
military presence in the region. 
 
"... Brazil intends to attain military integration in the region 
with the goal of defending the region's natural resources." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Consequences of the war of Iraq" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (11/20), "Another consequence of the 
war and anarchy gripping Iraq is the annihilation of its leaders, 
professionals, intellectuals and scientists. 
 
"... By dismantling the structure of Iraqi society, the US unleashed 
civil war and a proliferation of armed groups and inter-religious 
and sectarian clashes. 
 
"Iraq does not have the minimum human resources and conditions to 
face any post-war reconstruction, something that should also be 
attributed to the lack of planning of the US invasion and occupation 
of Iraq." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE