Cablegate: Media Reaction Q Global War On Terror - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 005146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged
reports from London concerning British Prime Minister
Blair's announcement that he will step down within a
year.

1. Most Friday evening papers gave prominent front- and
inside-page play to reports from Washington concerning
President Bush's speech Wednesday at the White House, in
which he acknowledged for the first time that the CIA has
interrogated dozens of terrorist suspects at secret
overseas locations. The president also disclosed that 14
key suspects have been sent to the US military prison at
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. There were no immediate
editorials or commentaries on the president's speech.

2. "US Discloses Existence of Secret Detention
Facilities" Washington correspondent Umehara of the
liberal Asahi commented (9/7): "President Bush for the
first time acknowledged the existence of secret overseas
detention facilities run by the CIA for terrorist
suspects. With the fifth anniversary of 9/11 approaching,
the president took the unusual step of disclosing
information that had been kept secret for reasons of
national security. By defending the methods through which
the CIA has collected information, it appears that the
move was intended to quell domestic and international
criticism of Guantanamo."

3. "President Admits Existence of Secret Overseas CIA
Detention Camps" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri's
Washington correspondent Igarashi commented (9/7):
"...Without disclosing the locations of any specific
overseas interrogation locations, President Bush defended
the methods used to interrogate terrorist suspects,
saying they are safe and legal. It is unclear whether the
president's speech will be able to dispel concerns held
by people in the United States and overseas, especially
in Europe. According to a high-ranking USG official,
nearly 100 terrorist suspects have been detained and
questioned at CIA facilities, but there are none there
now following the transfer of suspects to Guantanamo."

SCHIEFFER

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