Gov't controls message on rescue timeline

 SAN JOSE, Chile (AP):

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said yesterday he hopes 33 miners trapped nearly a half-mile underground will be home by Christmas, a lengthy rescue timeline that doesn't square with experts' shorter estimates but could reflect a political strategy aimed at avoiding unmet expectations.

The mine disaster, which began with an underground collapse August 5 and captured the world's attention when the men were found alive 17 days later, presents both huge opportunities and risks for the billionaire-turned-politician who took office earlier this year.

"Piñera is gambling his presi-dency on this accident," said Patricio Navia, a professor of Latin American studies at New York University. "Of course, he has to get them out now. It would be impossible for him to govern if the rescue operation fails."

Officials at all levels, from the mining minister to Piñera, have vigorously rejected shorter rescue timelines. But when discussing their own projections, they add that they also are "exploring other options", an apparent acknowledgment it could happen faster than they are saying.

In his speech on Wednesday, Piñera said there was no chance the miners would be freed by Chile's independence day celebrations, which begin September 18, but added that the government was doing all it could "so we can celebrate Christmas and New Year's" with them.

While no one claims the men could be rescued in weeks, the government's timeline is extremely conservative, twice as long as it should take, experts say.