VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0054/01 0221422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 221421Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0351
INFO RHMCSUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000054 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC 
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: US RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI; 01/21-22/10; 
BUENOS AIRES 
 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; US RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI; 01/21-22/10; 
BUENOS AIRES 
 
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶1.  In contrast to January 20 headlines, which highlighted the U.S. 
military deployment, Argentine dailies on January 21-22 focused 
primarily on the January 20 aftershock and early signs of recovery. 
The Charge d'Affaires' January 20 interviews with public news 
agency Telam, the country's most popular radio station (Radio 10), 
and top two newspapers (La Nacion and Clarin), stressing the 
humanitarian nature of U.S. relief efforts, received wide coverage. 
Criticism of the U.S. role was limited to a few articles, with 
Argentine journalists on the ground in Port-au-Prince reporting on 
the positive impact of relief efforts.  End summary. 
 
 
 
 
 
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES STRESSES 
 
U.S. HUMANITARIAN MISSION 
 
-------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.  Charge d' Affaires Tom Kelly granted press interviews to 
state-owned Telam news agency, Radio 10, daily-of-record La Nacion, 
and leading circulation newspaper Clarin, resulting in positive 
coverage from most local media.  Saying the U.S. government was 
trying to downplay accusations that it was planning to occupy 
Haiti, center-right La Nation quoted the CDA's remarks that the 
U.S. intentions are "honest" and that the U.S. is coordinating 
relief efforts with other nations. 
 
  
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 224303 
 
 
 
¶3.  Argentina's largest circulation daily, Clarin, headlined an 
article with a quote from the CDA that Haiti "is a good example why 
we have the Fourth Fleet," highlighting the CDA's remarks stressing 
the humanitarian nature of the mission.  Clarin also reported his 
remarks that the U.S. presence came at the request of the Haitian 
government, and that U.S. efforts resulted in the rescue of 42 out 
of the 122 survivors.  The article also reported the CDA's remarks 
that accusations of a military deployment were "unfounded." 
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/21/elmun do/i-02124058.htm 
 
 
 
¶4.  Under the headline "U.S. praises Argentina," financial paper El 
Cronista quotes the CDA as saying "Argentine support in Haiti has 
been very important." The paper highlights that the U.S. praised 
the Argentine Mobile Hospital's endeavors in Haiti, featuring 
Kelly's remarks that it was "the only medical facility that 
provided permanent medical care throughout the crisis." 
 
http://www.cronista.com/notas/218546-eeuu-elo gia-la-ayuda-la-argent 
ina 
 
 
 
¶5.  Right-leaning Infobae picked up the CDA's interview with Radio 
10, stressing the "heroic" work of the Argentine hospital which 
"saved many lives."  It also quotes the CDA as saying that "armed 
forces are not only used for combat, but they provide logistical 
capabilities and are very flexible."  The article quotes Kelly as 
saying that "there is no alternative but sending troops to 
Haiti...; without that logistical support it would be difficult to 
alleviate the crisis." 
http://www.infobae.com/mundo/496368-601275-0- Es-heroico-el-trabajo- 
argentino-Hait 
 ???? 
 
 
¶6.  State-run news agency Telam cited the CDA's remarks that "there 
was no other alternative for the U.S. It was either doing it this 
way or letting Haitians die."  The interview also mentions that the 
U.S. coordinated efforts with the U.N. The CDA stressed, 
"Multilateral efforts are very important... Obviously, in an 
operation this size there will be misunderstandings, but I would 
say that the response from the international community has been a 
great success." http://www.telam.com.ar/vernota.php?tipo=N 
 
&dis=1&sec=1&idPub=175058&id=336711&idnota=33 6711 
 
 
 
¶7. An editorial published in La Nation on January 22 strongly 
echoed the CDA's remarks, with a subheadline reading: "The rapid 
determination of the United States to assist the Caribbean country 
in numerous ways made it possible to save many lives."  The article 
notes that the U.S. decision to deploy troops was based on the need 
to establish order and provide urgent medical assistance after the 
chaos caused by the earthquake -- joining the efforts of the 
international community.  The author also calls criticisms by 
Chavez and others "inopportune and unacceptable." 
 
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 224614 
 
 
 
... BUT SOME CRITICISM OF 
 
U.S. TROOP DEPLOYMENT CONTINUES 
 
------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶8.  Telam and Ambito Financiero on January 22 expressed concerns 
about Deputy PermRep Wolff's remarks that U.S. troops would need to 
remain in Haiti for the "long-term."  However, Telam also quoted 
Wolff as saying that security remained under the control of the 
Haitian authorities and that cooperation efforts were being led by 
the UN. 
 
 
 
¶9.  An article published in pro-government Buenos Aires Economico 
on January 21 accused the U.S. of "having manipulated Haitian 
politicians and governments since the '70s."  The author concluded 
that this history explains why Haitians fear what is ahead and 
repudiate such military presence, regardless of the fact that a 
Nobel Peace Laureate ordered it."  Meanwhile, left-leaning 
independent paper Critica headlined "Marines disturb the Bolivarian 
Alliance for the Americas (ALBA)," quoting critical comments made 
by Venezuelan President Chavez, Nicaraguan Daniel Ortega and 
Bolivian Evo Morales about the U.S. military deployment in Haiti. 
 
http://www.criticadigital.com/impresa/index.p hp?secc=nota 
 &nid=37264 
 
 
 
ENVOYS DESCRIBE IMPROVING SITUATION 
 
----------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶10. On January 21, La Nacion's journalist on the ground described a 
deteriorating situation in Haiti, claiming that U.S. relief efforts 
had failed to reach many Haitians.  On January 22, however, the 
headline read "First signs of rebirth in Haiti." 
 
 
 
¶11.  Clarin's reporter in Haiti underscored January 21 that U.S. 
relief efforts are aimed at "supporting the normalization" of the 
country.  She also noted that Haiti asked Washington to take charge 
of the injured and asked the U.S. Federal Reserve to print all the 
money that will be necessary to rebuild the country.  Under the 
January 22 headline "Aid starts to arrive in Haiti," she reports 
that the security in the country has begun to improve thanks to the 
efforts of the UN and the U.S. military. 
 
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 224377 
 
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/21/elmun do/i-02124147.htm 
 
 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
 
Classified website at: 
 
  
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
 
 
KELLY 
KELLY