US embassy cable - 05MADRID2902

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002902 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2015 
TAGS: KISL, KPAO, PGOV, PREL, American - Spanish Relations 
SUBJECT: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES 
 
REF: STATE 14238 
 
1.  (C) Embassy Madrid plans to deploy reftel points on GITMO 
and detainees as appropriate in several sets of outreach 
programs led by the Ambassador which we are planning for the 
coming months.  This will be addition to our on-going 
engagement on the subject with the Spanish press and 
political elite,  which is limited during the slow summer 
period when most/all Spanish leaders are out of town.  Two of 
our planned outreach programs, which will include a series of 
events tied to each subject, center on Muslim 
outreach/religious tolerance and promoting a more favorable 
image of the United States in Spain.  Both will offer 
opportunities to deal with GITMO and related issues.  We 
would welcome a DVC with Ambassador Prosper (we have had at 
least two successful DVCs with him on this issue) or other 
appropriate senior department officials as part of our 
efforts. 
 
2.   (C) Spanish opposition to US policies regarding GITMO 
and detainees is widespread, and is shared across the 
political spectrum, including by the previous staunchly 
pro-American government.  We will need to tailor our efforts 
appropriately to avoid provoking counterproductive coverage 
of the issue.  Our aim in deploying our message will be to 
mitigate misconceptions about US activities in the war on 
terrorism, underline the need for new approaches in dealing 
with the terrorist threat, and promote a more educated view 
of the challenges to traditional laws of war that global 
terrorism poses to democratic societies. 
AGUIRRE