VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0481/01 0731019
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141019Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7510
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000481 
 
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; CHINA AND RUSSIA'S REARMAMENT; US-ARGENTINE 
BILATERAL TIES; TIP; 03/13/07; BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Key international stories today include an alleged Chinese and 
Russian rearmament, which could spark US concern; the "conflicting 
attitudes of the (Argentine) presidential couple towards the 
Bush-Chavez clash;" and the traffic in people in Argentina. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "(China and Russia's) rearmament brings over the ghost of the Cold 
War" 
 
Luisa Corradini, Paris-based correspondent for daily-of-record "La 
Nacion," comments (03/13) "The world is heading for a new Cold War, 
such as the one that kept it on the verge of a nuclear cataclysm 
between 1946 and 1989. However, this time, the US will have to 
monitor two fronts at the same time - its rivalry with Russia, in 
the European scenario, and China's threat on the Pacific (Ocean). 
 
"The two countries, which crave to compete with the US, hinted their 
ambitions when announcing their military projects. 
 
"Based on the excuse of a NATO military reinforcement in East 
Europe, Moscow acknowledged it is preparing a new military doctrine 
to replace that in force since 2000. The Russian military elite 
considers the US purpose to install an anti-missile shield in the 
Czech Republic and Poland a dangerous intrusion in its area of 
influence... 
 
"...The US threat, which was invoked by the Kremlin, seems to 
justify launching an arms race with two purposes. On the one hand, 
Moscow relies on taking advantage of the current US weakening to 
recover the prestige it used to have during the Soviet Union times 
and re-establish a bipolar world. 
 
"On the other hand..., Putin wishes to turn Russia's 
'military-industrial complex' into the engine of its economy's 
'overhauling and diversification.' 
 
"... The risk of this escalation for the US lies on the fact that it 
will also have to face China's arms race. 
 
"Last week, Beijing announced that its 2007 military budget could 
amount to almost 45 billion dollars, which unveils China's 
geopolitical ambitions. The most important concern is related to 
China's ability to launch a nuclear attack with long-range 
missiles... The second major concern is China's space program... 
 
"This double arms race, which could well trigger a new Cold War on 
two fronts, sparks fear in the US and mistrust in Europe. German FM 
Angela Merkel suggested that the EU does not want to become the 
scenario of a new confrontation it did not seek." 
 
¶3. EDITORIALS 
 
- Two sides of the same coin" 
 
Liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald" (03/13) 
editorializes "... The ease with which Chavez makes himself at home 
in Buenos Aires... is primarily important for the implications as to 
where Kirchner is placing (or misplacing) Argentina in the world but 
this editorial will chiefly look at the Ferro rally as an example of 
how the main two-party system is within the government. Even more 
than Kirchner himself, Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido was 
the most enthusiastic supporter of the Chavez visit while Cristina 
Fernandez de Kirchner and Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez urged 
caution over a rally so vehemently hostile to the regional visit of 
US President George W. Bush. Since Fernandez is promoting Education 
Minister Daniel Filmus in the City mayoral race while De Vido backs 
incumbent mayor Jorge Telerman, these two aides could be viewed as 
the twin poles of power behind the two faces of the presidential 
couple. 
 
"In many ways, the conflicting attitudes of that couple towards the 
Bush-Chavez clash reflect the differing US realities with the 
candidacy of each. If Kirchner wins a second term in October, he 
will have a lame duck Bush as US President for much of the time 
until he starts becoming a lame duck himself, thus making hostility 
to Bush a comfortable option. But any Cristina candidacy would be 
premised on the presidential couple alternating in power until 2019, 
a period in which the US Democrats whom the first lady courts so 
assiduously might well be in office much of the time, thus making 
dialogue with Washington the natural strategy." 
 
- Fighting the traffic in people" 
 
An editorial in leading "Clarin" reads (03/13) "The traffic in 
 
people is widely extended in Argentina, where it seems to enjoy some 
sort of tolerance or complicity from federal agents. 
 
"Ever since Susana Trimarco de Veron's daughter, Marita, was 
abducted by members of a prostitution mafia, Mrs. Trimarco has 
devoted to investigating several prostitution rings. Even though her 
search has been unsuccessful so far, she was able to free other one 
hundred women. 
 
"Trimarco has just been awarded a prize for women of courage by the 
USG on the International Woman's Day. According to Trimarco, 
prostitution rings kidnap one woman per day and young women are 
forced into prostitution, tortured and humiliated with death 
threats. 
 
"... We hope that the international repercussion of (Trimarco's) 
task will contribute to creating awareness about the problem and 
increasing public efforts in fighting this infamous crime." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE