Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.K. Elections; Dhaka

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 002173

SIPDIS

FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR,
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON)

CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45
(MAJ NICHOLLS)

USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: U.K. Elections; Dhaka

Summary: Several newspapers commented on the Labour Party's
victory in Britain. "Sangbad" says that Britain will think
twice before participating in Iraq-like campaigns in future.
"Bhorer Kagoj" worries with the rise of the racist British
National Party. "Amar Desh" reports that the re-election of
both Blair and Bush is not a good omen for Muslim nations.
"News Today" suggests that the Labour government will have
to recast its domestic and foreign policy to arrest their
declining popularity.
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U.K. Elections
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"Labour Wins Third Term"
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Sangbad"
editorially comments (5/8):
The victory of the Labour Party shows that so-called "New
Labour" image continues. Although voters did not accept
increasing tuition fees and reforms in the health sector,
the Iraq issue surpassed all others. Nevertheless, the
Labour Party won an absolute majority, showing that its rule
will not end easily. However, the Parliament will not be
able to ignore the massage they received from voters. Tony
Blair's authority over the party and government will be
reduced greatly and it would not be surprising if he has to
leave the post before the end of his tenure. Against the
backdrop of Britain's mistake as an accomplice of the U.S.
in the Iraq war, the government will think twice in the
future. It will nevertheless maintain its special
relationship with the U.S. We congratulate Tony Blair and
his Labour party for their third victory in a row.
-----------------
"Blair's Historic Win"
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Bhorer Kagoj"
editorially comments (5/8):
The rise of the racist British National Party is a matter of
concern. Although it did not win any seats in the
elections, the fact that it received votes in most
constituencies is a matter of concern not only for Britain
but also for civil society all over the world.
In spite of Labour's win, Tony Blair's leadership is facing
challenges. We believe that his third term will reflect the
knowledge he has gained from his experiences. We hope that
Bangladesh's friendly relations with Britain will strengthen
further under his leadership.
-----------------
"Tony Blair's Hatrick"
Independent Bangla language newspaper "Amar Desh"
editorially comments (5/8):
Tony Blair has himself said that the Labour Party lost some
votes due to the Iraq war. The Labor Party lost some 40
seats where immigrants and Muslims voters were a determining
factor.... The victory of Tony Blair and George Bush, the
two leaders of the war against terror, will strongly
influence global politics, which may not be beneficial to
Third World nations, especially to Muslim countries.
---------------
"Britons follow their American cousins"
Independent English language newspaper "News Today"
editorially comments (5/8):
Though British voters have replicated their American
cousins' decision to continue with George W. Bush Jr., they
have done so with a stinging rebuke for Tony Blair. While
2004 was an electoral improvement for Bush over 2000, Tony
Blair returns to No.10 Downing Street for a historic third
term with a greatly reduced majority in the House of
Commons. The reason, as ex-Labour and now the lone Respect
Party MP Galloway put it, " the people you killed and the
lies you told have come back to haunt you." By giving the
new Labour 100 fewer seats in the House of Commons than it
previously occupied, British voters have not sung exactly
Blair's song. The victory came with a stick.

There is no doubt that Tony Blair will go down in British
history as one of the most popular Prime Ministers.... But
his ganging up with Bush over Iraq didn_ft go down well
with the British people. To justify the invasion, he had to
resort to a maze of deceptions, lies and half-truths.
Unlike the Americans, who were excited by their
President_fs heroics, the inheritors of Britain_fs long
imperialist history saw in it a shocking lack of morality.
They also didn_ft like their Prime Minister acting like an
American poodle. So, the endorsement came with a reprimand.
Conservatives have improved their position, but they still
have a long way to go.

For Labour to stop this slide it will have to go back to
the drawing board to recast both its domestic and external
policies. No major shifts are expected, but there will be
changes. Anyway, we congratulate Mr. Blair and wish him,
his family and his party all the best.

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Chammas

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