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Cablegate: Media Reaction President Bush to Iraq; Islamic Activities

VZCZCXYZ0027
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1349 1661112
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151112Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4917
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001349

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 PRESIDENT BUSH TO IRAQ; ISLAMIC ACTIVITIES
IN LATIN AMERICA 06/14/06; BUENOS AIRES


1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's most important international stories include US President
Bush's trip to Baghdad; and the US House of Representatives passing
a resolution calling on the Latin American countries to 'intensify
their efforts' against Islamic groups.

2. OPINION PIECES AND KEY STORIES

- "Bush's surprising visit to Baghdad"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (06/14) "US President George W.
Bush surprisingly traveled to Baghdad to personally support the new
Iraqi government and seek more support for the US intervention in
Iraq, which has been highly questioned in his own country.

"Al Zarqawi's death seems to have increased confidence levels in the
president, who will have to face crucial legislative elections by
mid-September."

- "We'd better go"

Marcelo Cantelmi, international editor of leading "Clarin," writes
(06/14) "Washington is unlikely to believe that violence in Iraq is
the only outcome of Al Qaeda's work. This suggests that the death of
Al Zarqawi was a turning point. Now, the Iraqi Shiite government may
take over. However if killings continue, it will be their burden.

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"As a matter of fact, Al Zarqawi's death can act as a platform from
which the US will seek to get rid of an uncomfortable 'swamp'...
Bush's statement on violence was at least honest when he admitted
the probable future of Iraq."

- "Too many purposes for only one trip"

Hugo Alconada Mon, Washington-based correspondent for
daily-of-record "La Nacion," comments (06/14) "Why did George W.
Bush travel to Iraq? Why didn't he do it ten days ago or next month?
Because the US president knows he has no time to spare in his own
country - the death of Al Zarqawi gave him the opportunity he was
seeking to gain some relief and convey multiple messages to both the
US citizens and the Iraqis.

"The paradox is that Bush traveled to the Middle East to support the
incipient Iraqi government but, above all, to recover the support of
the US citizens, who are disappointed about the way the 'war on
terror' is being developed.

"... US President Bush's trip to Iraq is significant, in regards to
building public confidence that the situation in Iraq is moving away
from civil war, and the last-minute idea by the presidential team to
strengthen (President) Bush's deteriorated image."

- "Threat in Latin America"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" reports (06/14) "The US House of
Representatives passed a resolution considering Islamists'
activities in Latin America 'a potential threat' and calling the
countries of the region to 'intensify their efforts' against those
groups.

"US Representatives approved the text unanimously after recalling
the criminal assaults against the Israeli Embassy and the AMIA
headquarters in Buenos Aires in 1992 and 1994, which 'clearly
demonstrated that international terrorist organizations, such as
Hezbollah, are ready and able to carry out attacks against the
Western Hemisphere.'"

To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website
at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires

GUTIERREZ

© Scoop Media

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