US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2052

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/PDA (OHILTON), IIP/G/WHA, IIP/T/ES 
FOR S/CT AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, KPAO, PTER, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON 9/11, SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 
 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" on 9/11, entitled "Three years later."  "Three 
years after the devastating attacks against the Twin Towers 
and the Pentagon, symbols of the U.S. economic and military 
power, Islamic and other anti-Western extremists have caused 
chaos around the world, where terrorism grows while freedom 
decreases." 
 
"If Osama bin Laden and the leaders of Al Qaeda wanted to 
unleash the irrational anger of the sole global superpower 
to get more followers out of the bloody remains of the war 
against terrorism, it appears that they've accomplished that 
goal, perhaps beyond their own expectations." 
 
"The U.S. failure in the `war' against terrorism is evident. 
Neither the Americans nor any other person in the world is 
safe anymore.  Meanwhile, the main leaders of Al Qaeda 
haven't been defeated yet: they keep planning other 
terrorist acts, threatening the world, and laughing at the 
Americans' `intelligence' and their technology.  There's no 
doubt that 9/11 still has repercussions everywhere." 
 
2. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La 
Prensa" on 9/11, entitled "Three years after."  "Thirty-six 
months after the most serious attacks on American soil, the 
balance still is unclear, while the risks and fear still 
remain because the structures of terrorism have become 
stronger and more diversified.  Now, terrorism may strike 
any place, any time, and we have to deal with it with 
determination because no one can feel totally safe, not even 
the children at their schools or the workers going to their 
jobs." 
 
"A terrorist is a terrorist, with no distinction.  To yield 
to their demands isn't only a matter of weakness, but above 
all, an insult to the justice owed to the victims of evil 
and fanaticism." 
 
Palmer