Cablegate: Media Reaction; the Israel Lobby; Colombia; China;

VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1757/01 2490824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060824Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9139
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001757

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
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; THE ISRAEL LOBBY; COLOMBIA; CHINA;
09/05/07; BUENOS AIRES

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Today's key international opinion pieces are related to "The Israel
Lobby," by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt; negotiations over
hostage release in Colombia; and Chinese hackers' reiterated attacks
on the US Pentagon's computing system.

2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "The Israel lobby in the US"

Daily-of-record "La Nacisn" carries an op-ed piece by contributor
Mario del Carril, who writes (09/05) "Yesterday, a new book appeared
in the stores in Washington and other US cities - 'The Israel lobby
and US foreign policy,' by Professors John J. Mearsheimer, from the
University of Chicago, and Stephen M. Walt, from the Kennedy
Institute, University of Harvard.

"According to Mearsheimer and Walt's thesis, which is shared 'sotto
voce' by many influential people in the US, the Israel lobby in the
US has successfully manipulated US foreign policy to the point that
the US-Israeli relationship has currently damaged US interests in
the Middle East. The centerpiece of the argument is that during the
Cold War, Washington strengthened its position in the Middle East by
supporting Israel, although today that unwavering support hinders
its ties to Arab countries. In this way, due to Israel's influence,
the US neither objected to the 2006 war in Lebanon nor pressured
Israel to reach a deal with the Palestinians and it aborted
negotiations with Syria and Iran.

"... Israel's friends and organizations defending the positions and
clout of the Israel lobby have organized a campaign against the
book...

"... During the last six years, US interests in the Middle East have
been damaged. The country has lost money and lives in an effort to
create a political system in Iraq that is dysfunctional and with no
promise. Many Americans wonder why they are there. Obviously enough,
the Israel lobby does not want to answer this question by saying
that the invasion and occupation of Iraq can only be explained in
terms of Israel's national interests. If the average American comes
to this conclusion, whether it is true or not, there will be an
unpredictable reaction. This fear is not unjustified, although a
problem cannot be solved by hiding it. Instead, it should be openly
analyzed... This does not mean that Mearsheimer and Walt are right,
but many people will believe they are right as long as many attempt
to curtail their freedom of expression."

- "Choices in the Colombian crisis"

An editorial in leading "Clarn" reads (09/05) "New efforts are
currently being made in Colombia aimed at releasing hostages and
obtaining some kind of rapprochement between the FARC and the
Government.

"... The armed confrontation in Colombia has gone beyond anything
known in Latin America for the last fifty years. Guerrillas have
imposed themselves in vast areas of Colombia and questioned the
power of the Government or replaced it in its basic role.

"On the other side, the humanitarian situation of prisoners,
kidnapped and people directly affected by the confrontation
dishonors the international legislation on human rights.

"The implications of the Colombian conflict go beyond the country's
borders and involve some other countries and leaders, such as
Venezuelan President Hugo Chvez in his mediator role.

"The release of Ingrid Betancourt and the other hostages would be a
first step towards seriously negotiating a peace accord."

- "A tenacious adversary in a new front of war"

Luisa Corradini, columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacisn," comments
(09/05) "The number of Chinese civilian or military groups that are
trained to launch cyber-attacks against 'enemy systems' is
increasing.

"And for most of those groups, the main enemy is the US Department
of Defense.

"Confronted with those permanent attacks, US Pentagon authorities
had to admit that mysterious hackers managed to frequently access
their computing systems in order to retrieve classified
information.

"... Between 2003 and 2005, a series of perfectly coordinated
cyber-attacks hit the military, governmental websites and those of
companies contracted by the USG. US Pentagon experts called this
massive wave of cyber-attacks 'Titan Rain' (encoded name).

"... Professor Jos Fernndez, from Montreal Polytechnic Institute,
told 'La Nacisn' - It could be the Chinese military, corporations,
it could be civilian groups aligned with official interests. We
cannot know for sure. What we do know is that nothing or little is
done in China without the Communist Party's authorization.

"... US strategists have long known that the use of the armed forces
is not the only way to subdue an enemy. The new war doctrine advises
'to make use of all means, including armed or non-armed forces,
lethal or non-lethal weapons, to make the enemy accept one's own
interests.' Chinese military agree on this."

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

WAYNE

© Scoop Media