Cablegate: Santiago Dec 2 Media Report

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TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: Santiago Dec 2 Media Report

Afghanistan

1. All Santiago major news dailies covered President Obama's
announcement on Afghanistan. While both conservative, influential
El Mercurio and conservative, independent La Tercera ran front-page
headlines on the announcement, El Mercurio headline highlighted the
withdrawal of troops starting 2010 and La Tercera the deployment of
additional troops. Government-owned La Nacion had a more negative
tone. It ran a two-page spread on the President's announcement and
in its subheadline and article noted with irony that the "Nobel
Peace Prize" had announced the deployment of 30,000 additional
troops to Afghanistan.

2. Headline: "Obama to Reinforce Military Presence in
Afghanistan"

Lead: West Point... was the scenario chosen by President Obama to
announce to his fellow citizens and the world his highly awaited
new strategy for Afghanistan.... The Nobel Peace Prize winner
said... he would be sending another 30,000 soldiers to the battle
field to join the 68,000 thousand already deployed to the Asian
country (Government-owned La Nacion, 12/2).

3. Headline: "Obama Announces 30,000 additional Troops to
Afghanistan"

Subheadline: The U.S. President announced ... his highly
awaited strategy which considers deploying new troops in the next
six months and a calendar for the withdrawal from that country
starting July 2010, to end the war in three years (Conservative,
independent La Tercera, 12/2).

4. Headline: "New U.S. Strategy: Obama deploys 30,000
additional soldiers to Afghanistan and announces withdrawal from
that country starting 2011"

Subheadline: The goal is to weaken strongholds. The President
warned the government of Afghanistan that 'there will be no more
blank checks' and that it must start to show progress
(Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record, El Mercurio12/2).

Honduras

5. At the Ibero-American Summit, President Lula da Silva
flatly denied views that his country had toned down its objection
to the election in Honduras. "No, no, no, and no. We cannot make
concessions to those who promoted the coup and go on as if nothing
has happened," said Lula. With regard to Lobo, Lula said, "it is
within his right to do what he believes is necessary. But we will
wait and see if something new occurs" (El Mercurio, 12/2).

6. Porfirio Lobo interview: "The United States has recognized
the transparency of the election and our victory We has also
received the support of many other countries such as Germany,
Israel, Japan, Switzerland, and France and I've received calls from
the presidents of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and
Colombia's recognition .... Brazil will accept the situation over
time... as it begins to realize that the election strengthened our
democracy (Alvaro Vargas Llosa, La Tercera, 12/3).
SIMONS

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