Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Nuclear Issues: Iran - North

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 006418

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA;
EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA
FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR
AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA;
ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Nuclear Issues: Iran - North
Korea Iraq - British Operation in Basra NATO
PARIS - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

1. Nuclear Issues: Iran - North Korea
2. Iraq - British Operation in Basra
3. NATO

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

Le Monde prominently features an interview with A/S Dan Fried
about the German elections, Europe and France's role in the
negotiations with Iran. The interview is announced on the
front page: "Dan Fried Thanks France." Inside, A/S Fried says:
"The message of determination sent to Tehran by France was the
message that needed to be sent." And on Europe: "An
introspective Europe is not good for the world, no more than
an isolationist America. We have the responsibility of working
together for the good of humanity, not to look inward and make
believe that our prosperity and democracy can exist
independently, outside the world."

Iran, and North Korea's sudden turn-around on its decision to
end its nuclear program are two major international stories.
Liberation carries an op-ed by Therese Delpeche of CERI who
wonders if the Americans might not have been too eager in
accepting a text with "vague" wording, which in turn led to
North Korea's turn around. (See Part C)

The NASA space program elicits an editorial commentary in Le
Monde titled "The Moon Before Mars": "NASA is offering
Americans a strange deal. A heavier budget . in exchange for a
dream that might help to forget the nightmares of Iraq and
Katrina." In its satirical column titled "the American Dream,"
Liberation comments: "Even the American dream has become hard
to sell to a disillusioned public. And the dream of adding one
more star to the American flag is more pathetic than exalting.
Not so much because of the cost, but because of a quest for a
dream in order to hide the bad taste left by Baghdad and
Katrina. `Apollo on steroids' is no joke. Once again, America
under the influence is showing its muscle but it's just pumped
up."

Several articles and editorials are devoted to the death of
Simon Weisenthal and his relentless search for Nazi war
criminals. Liberation's editorial comments: "If the
international collective legal arm had done its job, his
little homebred enterprise might not have been necessary.
Simon Weisenthal proved that an individual could act in his
own name and with little means to accomplish effectively what
organizations and institutions could not accomplish, because
they were either too cumbersome or weighed down by a double
language." Catholic La Croix devotes its lead, editorial and
several articles to "Justice Against Forgetfulness."

Le Figaro carries a report on the British operation in Basra
to rescue its soldier. Adrien Jaulmes raises several questions
about the relationship between the Iraqi police and the local
militia. (See Part C)

In its op-ed pages Le Figaro carries an op-ed by Kofi Annan
titled "The Glass Half-Full" previously published in its
English-language version, and an op-ed by Michael Hanlon of
the Brookings Institute on NATO, titled: "Let's Not Expect Too
Much From NATO." (See Part C)

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

Nuclear Issues: Iran - North Korea

"The Agreement That Wasn't"
Therese Delpeche of CERI (European Center for International
Research) in left-of-center Liberation (09/21): "An American
expert on Monday, carried away by his enthusiasm cried
`victory in the Korean Peninsula.' Twenty-four hours later the
`victory' had turned into a quarrel. Was the American
negotiator too quick when he accepted the vague wording of the
first point in the agreement, accepting to leave for later the
details of the light water nuclear plant? It is legitimate to
ask this because Washington was quick to retort that what this
meant was: after the dismantling of the North-Korean nuclear
sites. Whereas Pyongyang clearly said that Washington should
not even dream of it unless it first delivered the plant. This
is what happens when one is too eager to reach an agreement
with a partner known for its turn-arounds... After two years
of negotiations the skies cleared as if by magic and a Chinese
diplomatic breakthrough was announced. But China's primary
objective is not to settle the North Korean issue, but to
prolong the discussions and avoid a major crisis with the U.S
and/or Japan. In short, negotiations will continue but it is
too early to cry victory."

"Tehran Threatens"
Left-of-center Liberation (09/21): "The tone is escalating
between the Iranians and the Europeans. In a very harsh draft
resolution, the EU is asking the IAEA to bring the Iranian
nuclear issue before the UNSC, without mentioning sanctions,
and accused Iran of `violating' its commitment. As a response
the Iranians are threatening to withdraw from the NPT and to
limit their oil supply to any country that would oppose Iran
in this dispute."

Iraq - British Operation in Basra

"A Commando Operation in Basra"
Adrien Jaulmes in right-of-center Le Figaro (09/21): "The
complete impunity which surrounded the delivery of the two
British soldiers to the militia by the Iraqi police and the
level of street violence against the British tanks suggest
that the alleged calm in the Shiite regions of Iraq remains
doubtful. The incident is one more worrisome sign of the
degrading situation in Basra, which had until now been spared
the violence spreading in the rest of Iraq. It also stands as
proof of the growing influence of the radical militia led by
Moqtada al-Sadr. Because of a situation that is increasingly
looking like an Iraqi civil war, because of a central
government overwhelmed by events, the Shiites are increasingly
turning to religious militia for protection. According to
certain sources, the local police forces in Basra are
completely controlled by al-Sadr's men."

NATO

"Let's Not Expect Too Much From NATO"
Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institute in right-of-center
Le Figaro (09/21): "While it is indisputable to say that NATO
has indeed a future, it is less easy to ascertain how the
organization could become more effective, politically or
militarily. NATO has its merits, but also its weaknesses.
These are not to be considered as failings but rather as a
result of its inherent limitations, due to an organization
based on integration of conventional military power. NATO has
not contributed to a coherent western response to terrorism.
It is not equipped to deal with the Iranian and North Korean
nuclear issues. In the U.S., where NATO is considered as
indispensable, everyone is equally aware that NATO is limited
in its capacity to deal with certain problems. It is obvious
that NATO has done little in Iraq. First and foremost NATO is
a military alliance whose main objective is to protect its
members. The Atlantic Alliance may try to do something in
Sudan and the Congo. Its non-American members may improve
their military forces. But to expect more from NATO is to
misinterpret the nature of the organization and presume of its
capabilities." STAPLETON

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