US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO1543

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001543 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA 
STATE FOR INR/IAA, L/WHA, DRL, S/P 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC, KMDR, KPAO, PHUM, CI, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM: 
LONDON BOMBING 
 
1.   On July 18, business and financial daily "Diario 
Financiero" (circ. 20,000) carried a signed article by 
international analyst Libardo Buitrago entitled, 
"Chronogram of Terror."  Quote: 
 
"New York; Bali, Indonesia; Casablanca; Istanbul; Madrid; 
Baghdad; and London are part of the chronogram of 
terror....  We have had too many attacks one after the 
other, yet we are still unable to act together to contain 
terrorist organizations....  The United States, Spain, 
Great Britain, Indonesia, and the Philippines have 
polices that facilitate immigration, turning them into 
examples of multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and--until 
now-tolerant nations toward foreigners.... Terrorists 
want to topple the pillar of social understanding that is 
the key to the political process and the foundation of 
democracy: consensus.  Terrorists want to create dissent 
in our societies in order to pave the road to anarchy and 
chaos...  Therefore, the global strength of consensus is 
the best mechanism to bring to an end the lethal rhythm 
imposed by the terrorist chronogram.  Consensus 
strengthens development, gives us a vision of each 
society's role and is the cornerstone of economic, 
material, social and cultural affairs.  It is the concept 
on which we build our future.  That is why they want to 
destroy it with bombs." 
 
2.   Center-left "Diario Siete" (circ. 23,000) carried an 
editorial entitled, "Intolerance Helps Terrorism." 
Quote: 
 
"There are those who believe that one cannot fight 
terrorism without fighting Islam...and that the global 
threat of Islam to Europe and the West must be answered 
globally....  This view seems to represent a strong stand 
against terrorism, but actually supports the logic of 
terrorism....  Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to 
define a policy to strike the intellectual and material 
authors of the attacks...and stressed that this is not a 
clash of civilizations because all peoples are civilized 
regardless of their beliefs....  He has insisted that the 
fight against terrorism is global, because it is a battle 
of hearts and minds that demands winning support in the 
Islamic world.  Blair has correctly drawn a dividing line 
on this matter but has not done too well in denying the 
connection between the Iraq war...and the London 
attacks....  To present a solid front against the 
terrorist threat, Great Britain must show it upholds 
individual freedom and opposes indiscriminate violence in 
Baghdad just as in London; that it rejects all forms of 
terrorism--not just those that affect Britain.  It is 
becoming increasingly evident that the fanatics behind 
the London bombings cannot be confronted with other types 
of fanatism.  They must be faced with a strong commitment 
to human rights, freedom, and pluralism." 
 
YAMAUCHI