US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO1631

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Identifier:	05SANTIAGO1631
Wikileaks:	View 05SANTIAGO1631 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Santiago
Created:	2005-08-02 14:25:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	KMDR KPAO OPRC PTER CI TERRORISM
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001631 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, PM, INL 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, OPRC, PTER, CI, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - TERRORISM 
 
 
On July 31, government-owned, editorially independent "La 
Nacion" (circ. 3,800) carried an article by defense 
journalist Raul Sohr entitled, "The Puzzle of Terrorism." 
Quote: 
 
"After the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks, President 
George Bush announced he was waging the `first war of the 
21st century.'  Since then, Washington and many of its 
allies use the phrase `war on terrorism.' ... But, what 
is a terrorist? ...Many cynics say it's someone who has a 
bomb, but not an air force...and members of the armed 
forces will say that, unlike terrorists, they never 
deliberately hurt civilians.  But it is evident that air 
raids threaten the lives of civilians and that they are 
conducted despite the conventions that prohibit them.... 
Bush and the Pentagon have taken an important turn in 
their fight against terrorism.  The change is evident in 
the new language, which now calls for `a global fight 
against the enemies of freedom.' General Richard 
Myers...has also put the problem in a new perspective by 
stating it has `more of a diplomatic and economic aspect 
than a military one.'" 
 
KELLY