VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0851/01 1221737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021737Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8016
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000851 
 
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; BUSH VETO OF IRAQ WITHDRAWAL BILL; US 
REPORT ON ANTI-TERRORISM; CHAVEZ; WEF AND ARGENTINE ECONOMIC 
PERFORMANCE; 05/02/07; BUENOS AIRESQMARY STATEMENT 
 
Leading international stories today include US President Bush 
vetoing an Iraq war spending bill that sets deadlines for troop 
withdrawal; Argentina in the US State Department counterterrorism 
report; Chavez taking over the remaining private oil fields in 
Venezuela; and Argentine Economic Minister Felisa Miceli's 
attendance at the WEF. 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS 
 
- "Bush vetoes bill asking for troop withdrawal from Iraq" 
 
Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for 
daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (05/02) "Yesterday, in the 
context of one of the worst clashes between Capitol Hill and the 
White House in times of war, George W. Bush used his veto power for 
the second time during his presidency to dismiss the Democratic plan 
to start troop withdrawal from Iraq. 
 
"When doing so, Bush accused the opposition of wanting to promote 'a 
prescription for chaos and confusion' in the Middle East... 
 
"... Bush's veto epitomizes an impasse between the White House and 
Capitol Hill in the confrontation over how to continue financing the 
war. 
 
"The president remains without the funds he had requested for his 
controversial military plans, and Democrats do not have the 
necessary votes (at least 65 in the US Senate) to override the 
presidential veto. 
 
"This is why it is not clear what will happen now that Bush imposed 
his veto... 
 
"The president has reiterated that he wants to work along with 
Democrats to obtain the funds required by the military but he never 
showed (at least in public) that he was willing to compromise. 
 
"... Democrats facing the 2008 presidential elections cannot dismiss 
the pressure from most Americans who, according to opinion 
pollsters, support the return of troops as soon as possible." 
 
- "The US praises (Argentina's) antiterrorist policy" 
 
Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin," 
writes (05/02) "Following the tension in the US-Argentine bilateral 
relationship created by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's anti-Bush 
rally in Buenos Aires, the US Department of State praised the 
Kirchner administration's performance in its latest annual report on 
the world's fight against terrorism. 
 
"As a matter of fact, while the White House believes Chavez is 
providing Iran a platform in our hemisphere, Kirchner is perceived 
as one of the few governments that dared to confront it. 
 
"Regarding the (Argentine) Government's amendment to its anti-money 
laundering legislation, aimed at reinforcing and overhauling its 
Financial Intelligence Unit, the report says 'Argentina has 
cooperated effectively with the US on an operational level and 
started to solve the institutional and legal weaknesses that had 
undermined its antiterrorist efforts.' 
 
"... As expected, the report also mentioned the progress made in the 
investigation of the attack against AMIA and the international 
warrants for the capture of eight Iranian citizens and one Hezbollah 
member. This gesture was much appreciated by the White House because 
it fits in well with its anti-Iran strategy... 
 
"The USG remains concerned over the possibility that Hezbollah and 
Hamas may collect funds through illegal activities in the Triple 
Border area although so far it haQally produced evidence that 
members of those two groups are actually operating in the area." 
 
- "Figures" 
 
Paula Lugones, international columnist of leading "Clarin," writes 
(05/02) "Hugo Chavez took a major step yesterday in benefit of 
Venezuela's income, a jump into the future. He guaranteed that the 
wealthiest sector in the country, which has huge potential, will be 
exploited mostly for the benefit of the State. And, except in a few 
cases, oil companies did not oppose the measure. 
 
"George W. Bush may protest Chavez's policies, but foreign 
corporations (including US companies) are satisfied with the numbers 
and continue doing business in the country." 
 
 
 
- "WEF conference journal" 
 
Andrew Graham-Yooll, editor of liberal, English-language "Buenos 
Aires Herald," penned (05/02) "... The message from the Economy 
Ministry is that the WEF report covers nearly 15 years and Argentina 
is a different case now. They all say that. But Qseem that 
Minister Felisa Miceli is holding a candle to a hurricane trying to 
convince the world that there is dramatic change in Argentina. 
 
"There has been impressive growth since 2003, acknowledged and 
praised worldwide, but as a destination for investors the country 
has to persuade with signals of legal and social stability, among 
other features. Countries are not judged on three and a half year 
performances, but on a decade or more." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE