Cablegate: Media Reaction: South and Central Asia: Us Report On Iran's

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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7730
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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8863
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8479
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TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: US REPORT ON IRAN'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM; SAO PAULO

"Power to Diplomacy"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (12/5)
editorialized: "The US intelligence services report saying that Iran
suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003, probably due to
diplomatic pressures, had the effect of a bomb.... The change of
evaluation alters the parameters under which the debate on the
Iranian nuclear threat had been treated. A few weeks ago, President
George W. Bush stated that Tehran's nuclear ambitions could provoke
a third world war. With the new report, it will be more difficult to
convince the international community to approve further and tougher
sanctions against Iran.... The new evaluation reinforces the
Democrats' speech, according to which diplomacy is preferable to a
military action, an option supported by White House hawks like Vice
President Dick Cheney.... The result of the intelligence agencies'
change of opinion is a positive one. The risk of another military
adventure was reduced, while diplomacy gained more room."
White

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