US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO1644

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001644 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA, 
EUR/RUS, EAP/CM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KNNP, KMDR, KPAO, OPRC, PARM, CI 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - ATOMIC BOMB 
 
1.   On August 3, conservative, influential Santiago 
newspaper "El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) ran an editorial 
by international commentator Karin Ebensperger entitled, 
"60 Years since the Atomic Bomb."  Quote: 
 
"Six decades ago, U.S. President Harry Truman gave the 
order to drop two atomic bombs on Japan....  The U.S. is 
the country of liberty and democracy.  It is noteworthy 
that it is also the only country that has used a nuclear 
bomb against civilians.  It was in wartime.  Also, like 
all powers in history, Washington was forcefully 
exerting its foreign policy.  The Manifest Destiny 
dictated by its founding fathers moved it to conquer two 
oceans, become the masters of America and attain global 
power status....  It has been 60 years since the attacks 
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and it would be desirable for 
U.S. civil society to launch a major campaign explaining 
the threat of weapons of mass destruction.  The fallout 
of the only wartime use of nuclear power are not 
underscored strongly enough.  It is urgent that it be 
done." 
 
KELLY