VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSO #0030 0192236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191708Z JAN 10
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0296
INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO IMMEDIATE
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000030
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR
IIP/R/MR
WHA/PD
STATE PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP XM OPRC XR KMDR BR
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Haiti; SAO PAULO
"Brasil and the U.S. in Haiti"
Editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (1-19) says: "The
initial reaction of Brazilian authorities to the U.S. humanitarian
operations in Haiti was nothing less than awkward.... The absolute
priority for Haitians is to receive help, with the utmost urgency,
regardless of who it comes from. The Brazilian reaction ignored the
basic reality, which was clear to President [Ren????] Perval, that no
other country had comparable means to help Haiti other than the
U.S.....For President Barack Obama the rescue in Haiti is both an
act of humanity and an opportunity to show the world what the U.S.
is capable of when it dealing with destructive forces.... A
teleconference on Sunday...was the first initiative to share the
work of managing the Haitian hell.... If it works, the
Brasilia-Washington bilateral relationship will have overcome one
of the most severe tests in many years."
"In the Heart of Darkness"
Opinion in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (1-19) states: "No one knows
what will become of Haiti once its misery leaves the headlines.
Once more there is a great risk that the industry of humanitarian
help will serve more the interests of a network of activists and
international organizations than the rebuilding of the
infrastructure and the building of public services in the country.
We've seen this happen before. It is unfortunate, wearisome,and
ends poorly."
"The Defeat of Victory"
Article by columnist Eliane Cantanhede in liberal Folha de S.Paulo
(1-19) says: "Truth be said: both [Defense Minister Nelson] Jobim
and [Foreign Minister Celso] Amorim asked, several times, for more
funds and for a change in the status of the [Minustah] mission from
a peace mission (in other words, a police mission) to one of
rebuilding the country.... The UN (in other words, the U.S.) never
responded."
"God and Men"
Article by columnist Carlos Heitor Cony in liberal Folha de S.Paulo
(1-19) states: "The worst seems to have passed in Haiti, God's work
is done.... The U.S. with its financial and military powers has put
itself in the role of manager of the tragedy...the attitude upset
other countries who have been there for a long time as part of the
UN peace mission , including Brazil.... But the vanities, spites
and forces that are getting in the way of distributing
reinforcements to police a society with no state structure are acts
of men."
White