Cablegate: Freedom of Speech in the Us; Chavez; Us Ambassador Bolton's

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DE RUEHBU #2692/01 3391923
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O 051923Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6686
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
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UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002692

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: FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE US; CHAVEZ; US AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S
RESIGNATION; WTO RULING ON TECHINT; CLIMATE CHANGE; 12/05/06

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Key international stories today include the implications of
Venezuelan President Chavez' re-election; the resignation of US
Ambassador Bolton; freedom of speech in the US; the WTO's ruling on
Techint; and climate change.

2. OPINION PIECES

- "Freedom without taboos"

Daily-of-record "La Nacion" carries an op-ed story by Enrique Tomas
Bianchi, secretary to the Supreme Court of Justice, who writes
(12/05) "The publication of a work by University Professors John J.
Mearsheimer (Chicago) and Stephen M. Walt (Harvard) has shocked the
US. In their work, they wonder about the alleged power of pro-Israel
lobbying interests on US policy.

"... This reveals that traditional US respect for freedom of
expression still prevails and allows for the discussion of key
points of the country's foreign policy.

"Now that the so-called global war on terrorism has impaired some
constitutional rights and guarantees, Freedom of Speech should
continue being protected because, according to the beautiful words
from Judge Learned Hand in an old ruling, the First Amendment
supposes that 'the right conclusions are probably better reached
through a crowd of voices that by means of any kind of selection
made by an authority. For many, this is and will always be
nonsensical but all of us have embarked on it.'"

- "The US seeks to deepen the dialogue (with Caracas)"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (12/05) "The White House managed to prevent Venezuela from
gaining a seat at the UN Security Council, but it totally failed in
its silent support for the Venezuelan opposition and it will now
have to live six more years with the man who labeled US President
George W. Bush as the 'Devil' - Hugo Chavez.

"... A high-ranking OAS official said 'At least, we have Tom Shannon
in charge of US diplomacy for Latin America.' 'He is a man who seeks
dialogue, not confrontation, as happened during the time of Roger
Noriega and Otto Reich.'

"Yesterday, Shannon said he expected Chavez to show more interest
from now on in deepening the dialogue with the US. 'We do not want a
confrontational relationship. We have always sought a way to deepen
the dialogue with the Chavez administration and we hope that he
shows more interest in this.' According to Shannon, elections (in
Venezuela) were 'a democratic expression of the Venezuelan people,'
and the US is committed to 'democracy' in the region."

- "The year in which Latin America confirmed its 'tilt' to the
left"

Pilar Conci, international columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion,"
writes (12/05) "Latin America has confirmed its 'tilt' to the left
in 2006.

"... The boom of left-wing leaders had different causes in each
country, depending on the national frameworks... Leftist leaders are
far from making up a homogeneous bloc and instead, they represent
two trends - a more radical trend, which is led by Chavez, and the
moderate trend, which is represented by Lula and Bachelet.

"The progress made by the left wing in the region can be understood
as a consequence of an overall feeling of distrust toward
traditional political parties, inequality in income distribution,
and an increasing poverty rate, which affects 40 percent of Latin
Americans.

"... A crucial issue will be US-Latin American ties. Washington's
only allies are Mexico, Colombia and most of Central American
countries... The victories of Correa in Ecuador and Ortega in
Nicaragua were the two latest setbacks in the US's attempt to
recover its clout in the region.

"For his part, Chavez will attempt to expand his Bolivarian
revolution and will continue his crusade to keep US influence in
Latin America at bay. However, analysts agree that the Venezuelan
will hardly obtain more power than what he has obtained so far or
that he will be able to expand his Bolivarian revolution. For
instance, Correa and Ortega are not likely to implement structural
changes (like those implemented by Morales) or cut their ties with
Washington."

- "Chavez's purpose is unlimited re-election"

Jorge Elias, on special assignment in Caracas for daily-of-record
"La Nacion," writes (12/05) "As soon as he knew of his landslide
victory in the elections, Hugo Chavez promised to deepen the
socialism of the 21st century, his Bolivarian revolution and the
'red' motto of his campaign...

"Chavez's project of establishing a 'life presidency' disturbs the
opposition, particularly because he did not speak of a six-year
period, like the current one, but of seven years... And because he
did not mention the possibility of calling the opposition or moving
forward elections for the Constituent Assembly, which is also
dominated by the official party."

- "US Ambassador to the UN resigns"

Ana Baron, Washington-based correspondent for leading "Clarin,"
comments (12/05) "The resignation of US Ambassador to the UN, John
Bolton, again posed a major question - will Bush change his policy
in Iraq?

"Bolton is one of the few remaining neo-conservative members who
pressured US President George W. Bush to invade Iraq, following the
resignation of Donald Rumsfeld...

"... Obviously enough, Bush could have insisted but in the end he
decided to accept Bolton's resignation, a gesture that some
interpreted as a preference for implementing changes in Washington's
policy on Iraq.

"An acid test will take place this week. The bipartisan committee
created to analyze alternatives in Iraq... will present its
report... the committee will advise that troop withdrawal not only
be subject to Iraqis assuming responsibility for their safety but
also to political deals to be reached with the opposition. The
committee is also expected to advise to hold negotiations with
Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria. As a matter of fact, no
one knows for sure what the report will say."

- "The WTO makes a new decision in favor of Techint in its dispute
with the US"

Business-financial "El Cronista" (12/05) reports "According to a FM
communiqu, the WTO issued a decision including harsh criticism of
the US and favoring Argentina in its dispute on antidumping rights
on exports of seamless tubes for the oil industry.

"The decision favors Tenaris-Siderca, a company of the Techint
Group.

"The dispute between Techint and the US started in 1995 when the US
banned the import of tubes, Siderca's specialty.

"... The WTO's decision inflicted a blow to the commercial
legislation of one of the allegedly most liberal countries of the
world - it not only argues that the dumping charge against Siderca
is invalid but also that 'certain aspects of the US antidumping
legislation... are not compatible with the WTO's set of rules'
(according to the Foreign Ministry)."

3. EDITORIALS

- "Chavez and here"

An editorial in liberal, English-language "Buenos Aires Herald"
reads (12/05) "The re-election of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
with an increased majority... also has its importance and its
lessons for Argentina.

"The Chavez landslide comes just when relations between the two
nations have entered a delicate stage, largely because of a country
distant to them both: Iran. Venezuela's hyperactive ambassador to
this country Roger Capella has been recalled to Caracas because of
his work in stirring up pickets who have not only become suddenly
more hostile to President Kirchner but also increasingly lend
themselves to pro-Iran demonstrations. This was on a direct
collision course with the receptive attitudes shown by Kirchner
towards the calls of the US in general and the New York Jewish
community in particular for a clarification of Iran's role in the
1994 terrorist bomb destruction of the AMIA. And yet Kirchner was
positive enough about the Chavez re-election, Argentina is in hock
to Venezuela for its bond purchases and fuel supplies and Federal
Planning Minister Julio De Vido, Kirchner's right-hand man within
the Cabinet, works relentlessly to advance the interaction between
Argentina and Venezuela."

- "Climate change calls for action"

An editorial in daily-of-record "La Nacion" reads (12/05) "The
recent information issued in different parts of the world on climate
change is in line with the worst predictions about the subject. In
this regard, a UK-sponsored work presents a catastrophic view of the
future of the world in only fifty years unless substantial measures
are quickly taken all over the world.

"... The consequences of 'green gashouse emissions' can already be
perceived but they will be worse...

"It is necessary to make investments to produce new technologies,
promote international cooperation and implement actions to gradually
lower gas emissions that raise the world temperature.

"World public opinion calls for actions from leaders to foster the
reduction of green gashouse emissions, particularly those of
industries and cars, and the promotion of more efficient energy.
There is no higher interest than preserving life in the world and
the future of new generations. Nothing less than this is at stake."

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

WAYNE

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