Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Iran - Ahmadinejad's

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 008471

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 - Iran - Ahmadinejad's
Revisionism Iraq - Elections
PARIS - Thursday, December 15, 2005

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

Iran - Ahmadinejad's Revisionism
Iraq - Elections

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

Dealing with the national debt is one of today's major front-
page stories. Inside, the EU summit and the battle between
Blair and Chirac get wide coverage. International stories
focus on Iran's President Ahmadinejad and his latest remarks
denying the existence of the Holocaust. Several national and
regional editorials comment on Iran's "madman" (regional La
Republique des Pyrenees.) (See Part C)

The elections in Iraq are a major story: Le Monde illustrates
two sides of Iraq's reality with an editorial entitled
"Ballots and Bombs." In Le Figaro correspondent Philippe Gelie
reports on "Washington's concerns" about the possibility of
continued "political instability" in Iraq. "Washington is
getting ready for months of post-electoral negotiations." In
Liberation Pascal Riche notes President Bush's "strategy for
victory in Iraq." (See Part C)

Le Figaro's correspondent Philippe Gelie pens an analysis of
the U.S. and the death penalty, in connection with the
execution of `Tookie' Williams: "If the U.S. abolishes the
death penalty one day, the decision will come from the Supreme
Court rather than Congress. But that day is far into the
future: the recent nominations made by President Bush do not
point that way. The power held by Supreme Court Justices
explains why each nomination triggers such heated political
battles."

Alexandre Adler pens an op-ed in Le Figaro on the Middle East
and "its Omega point." "Four independent phenomena are getting
ready to converge: Lebanon's independence, the programmed end
of the Syrian regime, the growing confrontation between Iraq's
Shiites and Sunnis, or an Iraqi historic compromise, and the
positioning of Iran's President."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

Iran - Ahmadinejad's Revisionism
"Quarantine"
Patrick Sabatier in left-of-center Liberation (12/15): "When a
head of state dreaming of the A bomb puts himself outside the
law and negates History, it is no longer possible to continue
having a dialogue with that nation. What are the Europeans,
and France in particular, waiting for to freeze their
diplomatic relations with Iran? Ahmadinejad's outbursts
represent the public version of a virus which is widespread
throughout Muslim nations. The virus is propagated by the
media, the regimes, religious and intellectual figures who
find this a comfortable way to hide the harsh reality of
poverty from their publics. This anti-Semitic virus was
inoculated by the Europeans themselves. It is not an excuse
not to quarantine those who have been infected. Trying to
pacify an enemy for the sake of peace leads often, as
Churchill said, to dishonor, and war."

"Regression in Iran"
Jean-Christophe Ploquin in Catholic La Croix (12/15):
"Ahmadinejad is obviously not very sure of his following: for
the second time in a week he has chosen a theme which promises
the automatic alliance of his people. These horrendous
diatribes prove his concern to close the ranks behind him. His
strategy aims also to cut all ties with Europe before next
Wednesday's new attempts to negotiate the nuclear issues. The
EU-3 members immediately condemned the remarks and a deep
pessimism prevails before next week's meeting. Europe's
diplomats watch, powerless, the regression of a regime that
for a time seemed on the way to reform. Dialogue is becoming
increasingly difficult with Iran. This dramatic evolution can
have a very negative impact on the Muslim world where denying
the existence of the Shoah is very popular. Despite this
cultural chasm, the Europeans must find a way to negotiate and
sound convincing, while never conceding an inch about the
Holocaust."
"Iran's Revisionism Returns"
Dephine Minoui in right-of-center Le Figaro (12/15):
"Ahmadinejad's latest remarks have elicited reactions of
indignation from around the world, starting with the White
House, which has characterized the remarks as `scandalous.'
Yet for the Iranians, their President's words are but the
repetition of a perpetual revolutionary refrain which has
dominated Iran's political stage since 1979. But since
Ahmadinejad's election, such statements have become more
systematic and contrast with the more open policy adopted by
Khataami. According to a western diplomat, the problem with
Ahmadinejad is that he is `doing everything imaginable to fit
his own caricature as drawn by Washington's neo-conservatives.
In so doing, he feeds their rhetoric and does a disservice to
his country.'"

"A Madman Made King"
Jean-Marcel Bouguereau in regional La Republique des Pyrenees
(12/15): "The Iranians are beginning to realize they elected a
madman as their president. Not only is Ahmadinejad beginning
to seriously worry the world at large, he is also beginning to
worry those who made him king. So much so that a battle is
raging among Iran's conservatives themselves. The Iranian
President's declarations are symptomatic of a political team
which has been unable to implement none of the reforms
promised during the campaign."

Iraq - Elections

"Washington Fears Prolonged Political Instability"
Philippe Gelie in right-of-center Le Figaro (12/14):
"Washington's preference goes to Allawi, a tough politician
and a secular Shiite who allowed the `clean-up' of Najaf by
the U.S. Army last year and who extended a hand to the Sunnis.
With Allawi, the risk of the Iraqis asking for an anticipated
withdrawal of American troops would disappear. According to
diplomatic sources, Arab ambassadors in Washington were
invited to openly support the candidate, but the Department of
State has denied this and the allegations that U.S. funds have
financed Allawi's campaign."

"Ballots and Bombs"
Left-of-center Le Monde in its editorial (12/15): "The good
news is that the Iraqis will be voting on December 15 for the
third time this year. In a country such as Iraq, this is an
undeniable success. Unfortunately the long lines waiting to
cats their ballots tell only part of the story. The other
reality, the one dominating the news since May 2003, when
President Bush thought he could proclaim the war was over, are
the bombs, the suicide attacks, and the guerrilla attacks
directed at the `occupying' Americans, their allies and the
civilian or military Iraqi representatives. President Bush has
just acknowledged that this other war has caused 30 000
deaths, including 2 000 American soldiers. For the U.S., a
semblance of democracy, short of a real one, is needed so that
the Iraqi adventure does not end in shameful defeat. To bring
the troops back, the U.S. needs the Iraqi security forces to
take over, at least partially. But this is not possible yet.
Short of a purely military solution, the Americans are
counting on the virtuous effects of the ballots. But far from
triggering calm, the situation continues to worsen. It would
be nave to believe that these elections will be enough to
change the situation, and it will not resolve the dilemma of
the Bush administration: to stay and re-enforce the fight
against a foreign presence; to leave and see Iraq sink into a
civil war. To come out from under, the U.S. President might be
tempted to choose a middle road where all the disadvantages
would be coming together."

"Regression in Iraq"
Didier Eugene in regional Ouest France (12/15): "The worst has
happened in Iraq: a new sanctuary for terrorists, poverty and
civil war. International law has regressed, torture has become
routine, state lies are becoming a habit. Saddam is winning
against the virtues which President Bush claimed to be
bringing to Iraq. The government and the parliament that will
come out of these elections will be facing a double challenge:
finding a common basis for a viable state and ensure the
nation's security so that the Iraqis' wish for the U.S. Army's
departure might become reality. But a unilateral withdrawal of
American troops will not happen soon, despite the midterm
elections. The end of President Bush's second term may not
suffice to resume appeased international relations. Meanwhile,
seven years will have passed since a certain September 11."
STAPLETON

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