Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.- Brazil Relations

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DE RUEHSO #0724 3501010
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R 161009Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0252
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO
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UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000724

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC XM XR OIIP KMDR BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.- BRAZIL RELATIONS

"The G Spot in the Obama era"

Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (12-15) by columnist Eliane
Catanhede says: "Diplomacy is done through signs, the press and
letters. And after this, with visits from subordinates, ministers
and presidents......the Assistant Secretary for the region, Arturo
Valenzuela, yesterday was in Brasilia; Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton is on her way; Obama comes in the first quarter. In the
end, Lula, [Brazil's Foreign Minister] Amorim, [Brazil's Defense
Minister] Jobim, [Lula's international affairs advisor Marco
Aurelio] Garcia and [former Itamaraty Secretary General] Samuel
[Pinheiro Guimaraes] may bark, but they never bite. And the 'pit
bull' [the United States] knows its own strength [indicating the
GOB knows who is in charge on issues such as Honduras, Iran and
Copenhagen]."

((The title of the article is a reference to a very controversial
and humorous remark made by President Lula when former President
George W. Bush was in Brazil in 2007, alluding to the G-20 and the
Doha Round Trade Talks)).
White

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