VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #0186/01 0481853
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 171852Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0536
INFO RHMCSUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000186
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL AR IR AF
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN; 2/17/10; BUENOS AIRES
SUMMARY
-------
1. Iran's nuclear program continues to make international
headlines, with a focus on the increased pressure from the
international community on Iran. One opposition paper reported on
the role of Brazilian government as a mediator between the
Washington and Tehran, as well as the Obama Administration's
declaration that it "doesn't rule out any options. In addition,
major newspapers printed headlines about the U.S. and Pakistan
capturing the Taliban's second-highest ranking leader. End
summary.
BRAZILIAN INTERVENTION IN IRAN
------------------------------
2. In an article headlined "The Iranian revenge will be
terrible," left-of-center, opposition newspaper Critica reports
that Brazilian President Lula da Silva will visit Iran in May to
"look for solutions" to "avert a larger crisis" over Iran's nuclear
program. Critica observed that European Union and U.S. lawmakers
welcome Brazil as a mediator, and quoted Republican Rep. Roger
Wicker commenting that if "Brazil can persuade Iran...it is
something good."
http://www.criticadigital.com.ar/impresa/inde x.php?secc=nota
=38658
3. Clarin, Argentina's largest circulation daily, used newswires
from international agencies DPA and AP reporting that Russia had
"joined" the U.S. and France in urging Iran to stop increasing its
level of uranium enrichment. The newswire notes that Iran's latest
move "strengthens suspicions that Tehran wants to build nuclear
arms" and that Iran's nuclear program is "an open defiance to the
international community."
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/02/17/elmun do/i-02141673.htm
4. Under the headline "Obama already uses the Bush rhetoric on
Iran," conservative Ambito Financiero writes that Obama is
considering a military option in Iran. Ambito Financiero
highlighted White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' claim that
the U.S. government "doesn't rule out any options" on Iran, and
Iran's reluctance to engage in diplomacy is "not pursuing the goals
[Iran] officially communicated."
http://www.ambito.com/diario/noticia.asp?id=5 08289
5. Daily La Prensa covered Brazil's intervention and Iranian
President Ahmadinejad's reaction to "welcoming a possible Brazilian
mediation in the conflict." However, similar to Ambito Financiero,
La Prensa reported that Obama is using similar rhetoric to the Bush
Administration, quoting the President as saying "we don't rule out
any options."
TALIBAN'S SECOND-IN-COMMAND ARRESTED
------------------------------------
6. Maria Avignolo, Clarin's Paris correspondent, reported that
U.S. and Pakistan authorities' arrest of the Taliban's "number two"
leader, Abdul Baradar, is a "hard strike" to the Taliban, but is
also "surrounded by mysteries and questions." Avignolo questions
Pakistan's motives to arrest Baradar as possibly part of its
"strategy to force its participation" in "secret negotiations"
between Afghan President Karzai and the Taliban. The article also
notes that the U.S. labeled the arrest as a "joint operation"
between the CIA and Pakistan, despite Pakistan's "previous public
rejection" of these missions due to "profound anti-American
sentiments crossing the country."
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/02/17/elmun do/i-02141671.htm
7. Critica labeled Baradar's arrest as the "largest strike
against the Afghan insurgency" since 2001. However, Critica also
cautioned that this development does not signify "the final battle"
and observed the Taliban's "great capacity to replace leaders
quickly," even though the arrest could "delay new operations."
Additionally, the article noted the U.S. hope that Pakistan is
"more available" to "deny a safe refuge to Afghan militants."
http://criticadigital.com/impresa/index.php?s ecc=nota
=38657
8. Second-largest daily La Nacion and financial dailies Ambito
Financiero and Buenos Aires Economico reprinted Reuters and EFE
newswires giving an overview of the developments surrounding
Baradar's arrest. Newswires observed the U.S. achieving its
"greatest success" since 2001, but also divulged comments from the
Taliban denying Baradar's capture. In addition, financial daily El
Cronista reprinted an article from Britain's Financial Times noting
that although a U.S. General said six months ago the "West could be
destroyed in Afghanistan," Baradar's arrest "has strengthened hopes
of rescuing the conflict."
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 234008
http://www.cronista.com/notas/221406-con-el-a rresto-un-lider-taliba
n-clave-crece-la-esperanza-un-final-negociado -afganistan-
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website
at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
MARTINEZ