US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA3170

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 003170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR PD/WHA (MBUCKLEY) 
INFO IIP 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, APAOS, Ios, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, HO, PA 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:"GREEN LIGHT" 
 
Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based daily "La Tribuna"(liberal 
party periodical) (11/16),"Green Light": The victory of the 
Republicans in the recent elections has given Bush a 
majority in both the Senate and the House, which has not 
occurred since President Eisenhower. 
 
"The vast majority of the voters relegated to second 
priority their normal concerns with the economy and their 
personal well-being." 
 
"The Democrats underestimated Bush's popularity. In all the 
elections, Bush made the difference.  His campaign expert 
Karl Rove did not allow the voters to forget the terrorist 
attacks. And coincidentally, during the two weeks preceding 
the election, a sniper was terrorizing Washington, D.C.-- 
individual security, collective security, the security of 
the nation were the only real themes of this election". 
 
"The final triumph of Bush is the victory he obtained in the 
Security Council of the UN. Any negative reaction by Sadam 
would now give Bush the green light he needs to invade Iraq 
with the consent of the entire international community. 
Bush does not want to disarm Iraq -- he wants to eliminate 
Hussein. It has been a long time since a U.S. President has 
had such support for his initiatives. This victory presages 
a much greater role for the imperial power in world 
politics." 
 
 
Palmer