Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Oil for Food Scandal

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 006994

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 - Oil for Food Scandal
Earthquake in Kashmir - Geopolitical Considerations Harriet
Miers Nomination
PARIS - Wednesday, October 12, 2005

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

Oil for Food Scandal
Earthquake in Kashmir - Geopolitical Considerations
Harriet Miers Nomination

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

A wide variety of domestic stories dominate today's front
pages, except for right-of-center economic Les Echos, which
devotes its lead to Washington's "Strong-Arming Policies With
Beijing." "The Secretary of the Treasury's visit will be an
opportunity to increase the pressure on China, with Secretary
Snow asking that China re-evaluate the Yuan." Left-of-center
Liberation leads with the latest arrest in the "Oil for Food"
scandal in France, that of former UN Ambassador Jean-Bernard
Merimee. The editorial suggests that ultimately
"responsibility lies at the highest level of the State." (See
Part C)

Right-of-center Le Figaro devotes an editorial to "Earthquake
Diplomacy" in the wake of the earthquake in Kashmir. (See Part
C) France 2 Television announced this morning that Secretary
Rice would be stopping in Islamabad after visiting
Afghanistan. In an article on President Chirac's return to
diplomacy after his recent health problems, Le Figaro notes
that he will be meeting with Secretary Rice on Friday.

Popular right-of-center France Soir devotes a full-page report
to a recent article in Newsweek, which alleged that Secretary
Rice was responsible for thwarting a Washington plan to invade
Syria. Thomas de Rochechouart quotes Secretary Rice in
Kyrghizstan: "Do not believe everything you read."

The nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court elicits
two opposing commentaries. In Liberation, Barthelemy Courrmont
of the Institute for International and Strategic Relations
writes: "Her nomination raises once more the question of
Supreme Court Justices who are designated more because of
their political affiliation than their experience. More than
ever the question of impartiality is becoming an issue. The
credibility of the American justice system is becoming a key
element in the structural debates in the U.S." But Catholic La
Croix carries an opinion piece by Pierre de Charentenay,
editor in chief of the magazine `Etudes,' titled "The New
Supreme Court." (See Part C)

Right-of-center les Echos carries an op-ed by Stephan Richter
of "The Globalist" titled: "American Royalism." "Faced with
incredible challenges, President Bush has made one daring
declaration after another. But behind the words, one soon
realizes that nothing concrete follows. One example is
America's African aid policy. America's new political strategy
could in fact be renamed the `execution of a Presidential
policy through press releases.' The advantage is that there is
always an official text one can refer to. But abroad, this
attitude is perceived as being regressive. and becoming
counter-productive: it undermines the American desire to serve
as a democratic model."

Ironically, left-of-center Liberation carries an op-ed about
President Chirac's own "Diplomatic Monarchy" by Alain Duhamel:
"France is hostile to Turkey's EU membership. But the
President is in favor. When it comes to diplomacy, defense and
cooperation, the President acts like a Monarch. In foreign
policy, the French Head of State acts as absolute master. In
this regard, French democracy is an absolute myth. This is
both shocking and dangerous."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

Oil for Food Scandal

"The Big Heist"
Patrick Sabatier in left-of-center Liberation (10/12): "The
blood-stained chaos that reigns in Iraq could lead one to put
in perspective the fallout from the `oil for food' affair that
seems outdated. But that would be a mistake. First, because
France, and its diplomacy, therefore its image, are in the
line of fire of the investigation into wrongdoings in the `Oil
for Food' scandal. The amounts of money embezzled make it the
biggest heist ever! All those who participated in this heist
worked hand in hand with a dictator who will soon be on trial
for his crimes. The arrest of French diplomats who have
influenced France's foreign policy, including its so-called
Arab policy, casts doubts on this same policy. The
responsibility lies at the highest level of the State, where
the truth was necessarily known."

Earthquake in Kashmir - Geopolitical Considerations

"Earthquake Diplomacy"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (10/12): "As
opposed to other recent natural disasters, the earthquake in
Kashmir is centered exactly where the world's geo-political
equilibrium is most threatened. The geo-political consequences
of the disaster will depend on how the post-crisis management
is handled. The fact that Pakistan has accepted India's offer
of assistance is an encouraging sign. A rapprochement between
Greece and Turkey had followed the 1999 earthquake. Let us
hope that India and Pakistan, who have already initiated steps
towards their re-conciliation, will be similarly inspired. In
Kashmir, the devastation is such that survival overtakes
political considerations. If rescue efforts are successful,
they can reduce the influence of Islamic radicals. Conversely,
if they are not, President Musharaff will come out weakened
and the extremists will regain new power. These stakes are
well understood by all: in Islamabad as well as Washington.
This is why the U.S. is mobilizing all its means available in
the region."

Harriet Miers Nomination

"The New Supreme Court"
Pierre de Charentenay in Catholic La Croix (10/12): "The two
new judges to the U.S. Supreme Court are indeed Republicans,
but they are far less conservative than initially feared. The
equilibrium of the Supreme Court is overall preserved. The
American press has noted that President Bush has shown a
certain degree of caution in making these nominations. He
wants to avoid an ideological war as well as costly political
adventures at a time when he is greatly weakened politically,
including within his own party. The negative effects of the
war in Iraq have cost the U.S. President much support.
Arrogance and haughtiness have disappeared from a White House
which is no longer taking any risks." STAPLETON

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