VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0367/01 0571834
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261834Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7374
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000367 
 
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; KIRCHNER-CHAVEZ, LULA-BUSH-TABARE, IRAN, 
02/2607; BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Key stories focus on President Kirchner's ambivalence in his policy 
vis-`-vis the U.S. regarding Chavez, President Bush's trip to the 
region, with media speculating on biofuels as the main reason for 
his visit, and repercussions of Iran's challenge to UNSC ultimatum. 
 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "Kirchner Invites Chavez, Who Will Lead Anti-Bush Rally" 
 
Mariano Obarrio, daily-of-record "La Nacion" political columnist, 
writes (02/24) "President Kirchner will receive Hugo Chavez in two 
weeks in an attempt to give continuity to the bilateral agenda which 
he resumed in Puerto Ordaz and send a strong message of rejection to 
the presence of George W. Bush in the region, when he visits Uruguay 
shortly. 
 
".... Both Kirchner and Chavez will organize a bilateral meeting in 
Buenos Aires and then, the Bolivarian leader will address a 
multitude of picketers in a rally against President Bush. 
 
".... Government House - through Secretary Parrilli - summoned 
pro-Kirchner picketers and social movements to welcome Chavez and 
next Tuesday they will get together to finalize the details of the 
organization. 
 
".... The anti-Bush act -- and another rally in support of the 
inauguration of this year's sessions in Congress -- takes place in 
the framework of the campaign launched by Kirchner in an election 
year. 
 
"'It's time to give elections a 'leftist' tinge. Bush has a bad 
image here and in the region. Though this doesn't mean we're 
breaking ties with the U.S., or anything like that,' said a 
pro-Kirchner leader. 
 
".... Of course, Chavez will be the key-note speaker at this rally 
in which he will totally reject Bush, in a new 'anti-summit', 
similar to the one which took place in Mar del Plata. 
 
".... That hostility towards the U.S. visitor is precisely one of 
the reasons why Bush won't step in Argentina again...." 
 
 
- "Ominous Campaign" 
 
Eduardo Van der Kooy, leading "Clarin" political analyst, opines 
(02/25) ".... Oftentimes, Kirchner's silences and gestures are more 
valuable than his speeches. This occurs in his relations with 
Chavez. The Argentine leader firmly declared in Caracas his duty is 
not to control Venezuela's strong-man, as Washington wants. The 
Venezuelan needed this concession in front of his people. But U/S 
Burns expressed to Secretary Rice his satisfaction with the 
guarantees he received in Buenos Aires and Brasilia on Venezuela and 
Bolivia. 
 
"Chavez again criticized Bush and White House foreign  policy. But 
during the launch of the first oil well in the Orinoco Basin, he 
hailed his country's sales commitments, which include the U.S. 
 
".... This gap between rhetoric and action identifies both Kirchner 
and Chavez. Although Kirchner, every now and then, makes other 
gestures - such as putting distance with Iran - which tend to tone 
down that resemblance and avoid confusion." 
 
- "Kirchner's Constant Ambivalence" 
 
Joaquin Morales Sola, dailyof-record "La Nacion" political analyst, 
says (02/25) ".... The major problem with Chavez is not Washington, 
as the GOA believes. But rather the answers to some key questions: 
are the dollars that the Venezuelan leader lavishly spills on 
Argentina the only important issue? Or is it also worth while to 
preserve democracy and its institutions around the world? 
 
".... The problem with Kirchner is that his public rhetoric creates 
an image of ambivalence in the world while the content of his 
private conversations comes late, when the image is already 
installed. Close to Kirchner's entourage they say 'there was never 
an attitude against the U.S.' But this came too late, because news 
of Kirchner challenging the U.S. had been released worldwide...." 
 
- "Visits" 
 
Marcelo Cantelmi, leading "Clarin" international editor, opines 
(02/26) "... Lula's visit to Uruguay is directly linked with Bush's 
 
regional tour. The Brazilian is trying to stop his colleague Tabare 
-- tempted by a hardly feasible agreement with the U.S. - from 
taking a step which will cause serious and irreversible damage to 
Mercosur... Bush, who no longer has the power to make these trade 
deals, will meet with both during a visit whose only and strategic 
goal are biofuels. Those who believe that, with this trip, the White 
House changes its agenda and rediscovers Latin America, lose track 
of Washington's interests. Lula seems pretty clear about his own." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- "Iran Challenges the West" 
 
An editorial in independent "La Prensa" reads (02/26) "Iran has 
decided to challenge Western powers. It disregarded UN ultimatum and 
the theocratic regime not only refused to call off its uranium 
enrichment process but decided to increase it, according to a tough 
IAEA report. This forecasts another confrontation in the world's 
most dangerous region. 
 
".... The ball is back in the UNSC court. Once again, Russia and 
China's attitude is a question mark, because it seems there are no 
divisions between the U.S. and Europe in this case. An Iranian 
nuclear bomb doesn't seem to be convenient for any superpower. But 
the gist of the problem is how to persuade, with civilized means, 
the ayatollahs that having WMD is bad business in the long run. The 
recent and successful negotiations with North Korea - another 
irresponsible State - open a window of hope." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE