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R 021338Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0348
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0191
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RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
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RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001162 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: Santiago Dec 2 Media Report 
 
Afghanistan 
 
¶1.      All Santiago major news dailies covered President Obama's 
announcement on Afghanistan.  While both conservative, influential 
El Mercurio and conservative, independent La Tercera ran front-page 
headlines on the announcement, El Mercurio headline highlighted the 
withdrawal of troops starting 2010 and La Tercera the deployment of 
additional troops.  Government-owned La Nacion had a more negative 
tone.  It ran a two-page spread on the President's announcement and 
in its subheadline and article noted with irony that the "Nobel 
Peace Prize" had announced the deployment of 30,000 additional 
troops to Afghanistan. 
 
 
 
¶2.      Headline: "Obama to Reinforce Military Presence in 
Afghanistan" 
 
Lead: West Point... was the scenario chosen by President Obama to 
announce to his fellow citizens and the world his highly awaited 
new strategy for Afghanistan.... The Nobel Peace Prize winner 
said... he would be sending another 30,000 soldiers to the battle 
field to join the 68,000 thousand already deployed to the Asian 
country (Government-owned La Nacion, 12/2). 
 
 
 
¶3.      Headline:  "Obama Announces 30,000 additional Troops to 
Afghanistan" 
 
      Subheadline:  The U.S. President announced ... his highly 
awaited strategy which considers deploying new troops in the next 
six months and a calendar for the withdrawal from that country 
starting July 2010, to end the war in three years (Conservative, 
independent La Tercera, 12/2). 
 
 
 
¶4.      Headline: "New U.S. Strategy: Obama deploys 30,000 
additional soldiers to Afghanistan and announces withdrawal from 
that country starting 2011" 
 
Subheadline:  The goal is to weaken strongholds.  The President 
warned the government of Afghanistan that 'there will be no more 
blank checks' and that it must start to show progress 
(Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, El Mercurio12/2). 
 
 
 
Honduras 
 
¶5.      At the Ibero-American Summit, President Lula da Silva 
flatly denied views that his country had toned down its objection 
to the election in Honduras. "No, no, no, and no.  We cannot make 
concessions to those who promoted the coup and go on as if nothing 
has happened," said Lula. With regard to Lobo, Lula said, "it is 
within his right to do what he believes is necessary.  But we will 
wait and see if something new occurs" (El Mercurio, 12/2). 
 
 
 
¶6.      Porfirio Lobo interview: "The United States has recognized 
the transparency of the election and our victory We has also 
received the support of many other countries such as Germany, 
Israel, Japan, Switzerland, and France and I've received calls from 
the presidents of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and 
Colombia's recognition ....  Brazil will accept the situation over 
time... as it begins to realize that the election strengthened our 
democracy (Alvaro Vargas Llosa, La Tercera, 12/3). 
SIMONS