Cablegate: Media Reaction; S-11; Argentine Debt to the Paris Club;

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1816/01 2551445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121445Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9216
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001816

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; S-11; ARGENTINE DEBT TO THE PARIS CLUB;
09/12/07

1. SUMMARY STATEMENT

Major international opinion pieces today cover the features of
"multinational" terrorism and an assessment of the world response on
the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks; as well as
ongoing negotiations between Argentina and the Paris Club.

2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS

- "Terrorism on the S-11 sixth anniversary"

Leading "Clarn" editorializes (09/12) "Six years after the
September 11 attacks, the US foreign response has not turned the
world into a safer and more peaceful world.

"While it is true that no similar attacks have occurred in the US,
the Bush administration's pre-emptive defense strategy and global
war on terrorism has had as a consequence a dead-end war in Iraq,
greater instability in the Middle East and conditions of conflict
that fuel violence and fundamentalism.

"Meanwhile, the entire military and intelligence capability of the
world superpower has not been able to dismantle Al Qaeda...

"On the other hand, US society has had to get used to greater
surveillance and security restrictions, which in most cases turned
into the curtailment of civil rights...

"In this way, the brutal September 11 attacks, in addition to those
committed in different capital cities of the world, including Buenos
Aires on two occasions during the '90s, prove that terrorism still
poses one of the greatest threats of our time, for which no
adequate, conclusive or efficient responses have been found yet."

- "S-11 and the features of the new terrorism"

Agustn Romero, professor of the Master in International Relations
at the National University of Buenos Aires, writes (09/12) "The S-11
sixth anniversary, the recent attack in Algeria and the aborted
massive attacks in Germany and Denmark are again putting
multinational terrorism on front pages around the world and on the
agendasof the world's most powerful countries...

"... In an internationally changing scenario, in which governments'
roles and capabilities are in crisis, certain undefined 'places with
out law' are emerging that allow criminal groups to prosper. Those
groups have easy access to information, mobility and new sources of
funding and are in a position to jeopardize not only the domestic
security and stability of a country but also international peace and
security.

"... First and foremost, new multinational terrorism appears to be
motivated by cultural and religious goals. Regarding its source of
funding, it is not only sponsored by countries but also by
mega-fortunes and small private contributions...

"Another feature of modern terrorism is that it no longer acts as a
hierarchic organization but rather as a horizontal one, which takes
advantage of the tools of globalization.

"Another issue that concerns experts in counterterrorism is that
these groups could have WMD.

"Another characteristic of modern terrorism is that it is a
multinational and global threat, which does not remove 'neutral'
territories from its devastating actions. Not even a superpower can
act on its own against what has already been defined as one of the
major challenges of this century."

- "Argentina's negotiation with the IMF makes progress"

Daily-of-record "La Nacisn" carries an opinion piece by Joaqun
Morales Sol, who writes (09/12) "A negotiation has begun with the
IMF for a resolution to the defaulted debt with the Paris Club. The
first new development is that that the IMF will participate in the
dealings, although indirectly, in spite of public comments which
partly hide the truth.

"The only condition for those negotiations to progress is that
French economist Dominique Strauss-Kahn be elected as IMF managing
director by the end of the month and that afterwards he obtain IMF
consensus on Argentine. President Nstor Kirchner and his wife moved
forward on a probable agreement with Strauss-Kahn during his recent
visit to Buenos Aires.

"... Neither Cristina Kirchner nor Strauss-Kahn... went to the heart

of the ongoing negotiation. They limited themselves to... setting
general guidelines which nevertheless have been taken into account
in recent discussions. The debt is approximately seven billion
dollars.

"... Strauss-Kahn's proposal was that the Argentine Government
formally articulate its economic program, which would then be
'accepted' by the IMF. The IMF's favorable 'opinion' would not call
for a program or deal between the country and the IMF. As a result,
there would be no periodic audits, which are normally required in an
IMF program.

"The proposal would satisfy both sides... - the Kirchner
administration and the IMF. In effect, the norms would be honored in
which 'the IMF cannot be avoided', as Strauss-Kahn said, and there
would not be any 'audits', as requested by the Argentine Government
through its presidential candidate. The IMF 'OK' is essential for a
refinancing program with the Paris Club to be approved by the USG
and Congress."

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

WAYNE

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