VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0209/01 0332023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 022023Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7151
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000209 
 
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: MEDIA REACTION; ANTI-SEMITISM; CHAVEZ; TRI-BORDER AREA; 
LATIN AMERICAN ARMS RACE; 02/02/07 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Today's international lead stories include Iranian President 
Ahmadinejad's anti-Semitism; President Chavez' nationalization 
plans; the USG's concern over the Tri-Border Area; and Latin America 
increasing arms race. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "The new face of anti-Semitism" 
 
Business-financial "El Cronista" carries an opinion piece by Agustin 
¶M. Romero professor, Master in International Relations, National 
University of Buenos Aires, who writes (02/02) "... Historical 
revisionism and (recent) attacks against the State of Israel have 
become the two sides of modern anti-Semitism. 
 
"The big danger is the fact that those declaring anti-Israel hatred 
are heads of State that are members of the UN... 
 
"No head of State since Hitler has publicly voiced so much 
resentment and hostility towards a people and a country as Iranian 
President Ahmedinejad did. These kinds of statements plus Iran 
challenging the UN Security Council's non proliferation demands make 
it impossible to abide by the UN Charter's most important objective, 
which is ensuring international peace and security." 
 
- "Trenches" 
 
Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," comments 
(02/02) "... Wealthy countries often understand that Venezuela is 
controversial and boisterous, although far from being out of 
control, and that its government should be kept within institutions 
like the Mercosur trade bloc rather than suffer the hostility of 
hawks from here and there... 
 
"A strong fan of headlines, Hugo Chavez... announced yesterday that 
he will broaden his nationalization plan although it will basically 
consist in the purchase of assets not expropriations. Also, the 
larger governmental control of the Orinoco Strip oil exploitation, 
which he also declared, will not change the rules affecting major US 
oil corporations, which by the way, have not complained about it." 
 
- "'We should not demonize Hugo Chavez'" 
 
Elisabetta Pique, Rome-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," writes (02/02) "The head of the Italian Lower House, Fausto 
Bertinotti, has no doubts that Latin America is going through a 
'major process of political rebirth,' in which 'we should not 
demonize Chavez.' 
 
"... Asked about Hugo Chavez Bertinotti said 'I believe that the 
attempt to divide the hemisphere in order to deny the existence of a 
general phenomenon is a malicious strategy... I think a major 
political rebirth process is taking place in Latin America based on 
two elements - the first one is a pact between the new leaders and 
their peoples, a new democratic foundation following every mega 
crises and the disasters of right-wing experiences; and the second 
one is the importance now attributed to social justice and the 
acknowledgement of native peoples' rights.' 
 
"Asked whether Chavez should be included in this rebirth process, 
Bertinotti answered, 'Of course, one would be short-sighted not to 
notice that Chavez has popular support. On the other hand, I do not 
believe we should demonize Chavez, but learn to respect the autonomy 
of governments and their peoples. A democratic government decision 
to manage the economy should not be considered something bad.'" 
 
- "The US reiterates its concern over the Tri-Border Area" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (02/02) "In spite of repeated 
objections by the governments of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, the 
US Department of State reiterated yesterday that the Tri-Border Area 
still raises 'high concern' in the US due to the alleged presence of 
Hezbollah members or supporters. 
 
"In a press conference, the chief spokesperson of the US diplomacy, 
Sean McCormack, said 'It is a terrorist organization with 
significant (financial) resources and experience, and proven ability 
to launch terrorist attacks.' 
 
"Asked about the USG's position on the increasing ties between Iran 
and Venezuela as well as Hezbollah's eventual insertion in the 
region, after the US Treasury Department issued a warning last 
December on the Tri-Border Area, McCormack said 'That is of great 
concern to us and certainly something that our counter-terrorism 
 
people closely monitor.' 
 
"... According to a US military intelligence source, 'Our conclusion 
is that there are radical Islamic groups all over Latin America and 
the Caribbean, not only on the Tri-Border Area.'" 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Regional focus on arms race" 
 
Leading "Clarin" editorializes (02/02) "One of Latin America's most 
frequent concerns lately is the role of the military and their 
relations with civilian society and national defense. 
 
"In some countries, like Mexico or Colombia, the military have major 
direct participation in the struggle against drug-trafficking. In 
others, like Brazil, the military participate in the fight against 
racketeering and in defense of public security. There is also an 
increase in the purchase of arms and new military equipment in 
countries like Venezuela, with an impact on the region, thereby 
drawing further attention to the role of the armed forces within the 
security and defense agenda. 
 
"... However, a new kind of military involvement in domestic 
security issues deserves a serious follow-up to prevent it from 
resulting in more weakness than strength. Public security 
militarization, the 'politicization' of armed forces and the arms 
race usually make our countries more unsafe." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE