Cablegate: Media Reaction - Mideast - Lebanon, Gaza Incursions
VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #1552 2001917
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191917Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9624
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001552
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - MIDEAST - LEBANON, GAZA INCURSIONS
1. All TV stations reported on the crisis in the Middle East.
2. On July 18, private TV channel "Chilevision" international pundit
Raul Sohr commented: "Hezbollah is demonstrating that it still has a
large capability to attack Israel.... Therefore the strategic
position in the region has radically changed. It is very clear that
Hezbollah has prepared this campaign and that it has efficiently
hidden its rocket launching-ramps. Israel has been unsuccessful in
finding the militias and the fact is that it is fighting a ghost
war..."
3. On July 18, private TV channel "Mega" international analyst
Libardo Buitrago said: "Adding to missile attacks and increasing
fears of the civilian population are the strong statements made by
the largest global powers, the United States and Great Britain.
George W. Bush and Tony Blair directly accused Iran and Syria of
supporting the Hezbollah guerrillas, thus increasing the risk that
the conflict may expand into a regional war..."
4. On July 18, conservative, afternoon daily "La Segunda" (circ
31,834) carried an editorial entitled "War in Lebanon." Quote:
"As President Bush crudely told his ally Tony Blair, the United
States wants Syria to force the Hezbollah to cease its attacks.
Meanwhile...the Security Council has decided to discuss a UN
intervention. But this process is slow and the threat of actions
from other unpredictable actors such as Iran increases."
5. On July 19, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) carried an editorial entitled "Escalation
in the Middle East." Quote:
"These are not isolated incidents between militias and Israeli
soldiers. The heightening of the attacks with missiles in northern
Israel has been answered with bombings over vast regions and
cities.... Thus far diplomatic efforts have had no effect among
those fighting and there is fear that the conflict will escalate and
become regional... In this situation the involvement of United
Nations is necessary. But the organization cannot do anything
without the will of its members.... While the European Union claims
'disproportionate violence' on the part of Israel in its response to
Hezbollah attacks...the U.S. refuses to condemn the Israeli attacks
and has explicitly given its support to Yehud Olmer. The White
House believes the current crisis was encouraged by Syria, which
wants to return to Lebanon after years of occupation, and by Iran,
which is trying to blow smoke on the global controversy over its
uranium enrichment program.... We don't foresee a quick solution to
the crisis; diplomatic timing rarely coincides with the needs of the
civilian population and many times political interests outweigh
humanitarian ones."
YAMAUCHI