INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Honduran Atmospherics - Iraq

Published: Tue 25 Mar 2003 06:53 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000748
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/PDA (BUCKLEY), WHA/CEN, PD TASK FORCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO PA
SUBJECT: HONDURAN ATMOSPHERICS - IRAQ
1. Moderate Daily El Heraldo 3/22 - Article on a forum for
students on the conflict in Iraq sponsored by the youth of
the Democratic Unification Party (a leftist party made up of
the remnants of the Socialists and Communist parties of the
1980s). Among the speakers was Carlos Reyes of the Bloque
Popular (an NGO representing labor unions and other group
opposed to globalization) and UD party members. "The
invasion of Iraq is part of a global [U.S.] strategy of
gaining economic, political and military hegemony over the
world. Economically, the main project is FTAA, through
which the U.S. seeks to challenge the EU and Japan;
politically, the plan is to get rid of independent regimes
and opposition movements; and the military is the means that
will be used to achieve the other goals." According to the
president of the UD, this is "a war without humanitarian
ends, one that "strengthens imperialism." He also called
the U.S. "the number one enemy of the people of the world."
Note: The Bloque Popular organized a small demonstration
yesterday (250 people) in front of the U.S., Spanish and
British Embassies and UN Headquarters to protest the war.
2. "El Heraldo" 3/22 - Honduran Secretary of State Guillermo
Perez Cadalzo said, "Latin America has taken a step
backwards in the priority list of the United States. George
Bush's promise that this would be `the century of the
Americas' has been put on hold since September 11.. The war
will create problems in the already fragile relationhip
between Latin-American countries, especially those that
opposed the war, and the United States."
3. "El Heraldo" 3/22 - ran a page of political comment on
the war in drawings. One was entitled Remember Vietnam and
featured a likeness of the child burned by Napalm who was
filmed running down the road and a U.S. soldier. Another was
entitled "Blood for Oil." A third features the letters UN
(ONU) decorating a roll of toilet paper.
4. "El Heraldo" 3/24 - carried seven pages reporting on the
war against Iraq. Among the headlines are: "Missile Rains
over Baghdad," "Enraged battles," "Baghdad's defense is On,"
"Life Goes On for Iraqi People After the Bombs," "Russia
Accused of Helping Iraq by Providing Electronic Technology
to Guide Missiles," "War from different angles" (this is a
picture gallery showing U.S. as well as Iraqi soldiers),
"More Demonstrations Against the War Around the World."
5. "El Heraldo" 3/24 - Political cartoon shows a motorist
asking a gasoline station attendant to "fill the tank with
Iraqi blood, please."
6. San Pedro Sula-based liberal party paper "La Prensa" 3/22
- featured an image of the attack last Friday on the cover.
It also carried seven pages of stories and images on Iraq.
Cover headlines: "Devastating;" other headlines "Impact and
Terror;" "Day A: Third Day of War;" "Like a Movie;" "U.S.
Army Negotiated Before Attacking;" "Saddam: alive or dead?"
"Nights of panic for Iraqi people."
7. "La Prensa" 3/22 - political cartoonist Daro Banegas
shows President Bush holding three signs, two of them
against abortion and cloning, and the third one supporting
war.
8. "La Prensa" 3/23 - cover story featured a picture of a
demonstration in Bangladesh entitled "More Protests." The
newspaper carried nine pages on the war, including the
following headlines: "Basra Besieged," "Burning Oil in
Kuwait," "U.S. Government is Unsure if Iraq Will Use Weapons
of Mass Destruction," "The Day After in Baghdad," There
might be Difficult Days: General Frank," "ONU Expects More
than 600,000 Refugees."
9. "La Prensa" 3/24 - carried 14 pages of coverage on the
war, focusing on the U.S. POWs as well as the demonstration
supporting the war in Washington.
10. Liberal "El Tiempo" 3/24 - Carried six pages on the war.
The cover shows a picture of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, with
"Honduras has not sent troops to Iraq" as the headline.
11. "El Tiempo" 3/24 - cartoon by political cartoonist
Dumont entitled, "The Oscar goes to most stubborn," shows
death announcing the Oscar winners. The candidates are
Saddam Hussein and George Bush, who are partially covered by
skulls.
12. "El Tiempo" 3/24 - carried a three-page picture gallery
on Iraq.
PALMER
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