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UNCLAS TOKYO 005182
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 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published Monday
morning because of a press holiday. Broadcasters reported
on President Bush's appearance at Ground Zero in New York
Sunday with First Lady Laura Bush, where they offered a
wreath to 9/11 victims in observance of the fifth
anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
1. "International Community Needs to Realign Front to
Fight Terrorism" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (9/10): "Five years have passed since the
9/11 terrorist attacks in the US.... Establishing an
effective strategy to combat and eliminate terrorism
remains an unfinished task for the international
community. The US, which wields dominant capabilities in
the diplomatic, military, and financial fields, is the
only country capable of playing the leading role in the
fight against terror. The US has also been a victim of
terrorism. However, some five years after the attacks, it
is difficult to say that the war on terrorism has yielded
satisfactory results.
2. "The Bush administration points to the changes in
Afghanistan and Iraq following US military operations as
the greatest achievements in the war on terror.... The
reality is, though, that these two countries cannot
maintain order or rebuild without international
assistance.... The world community needs to enhance
cooperation to ensure the stability of these two
countries. From that standpoint, what is worrying is the
deepening division of opinion within the US....
Regardless of the policies the US employs, the most
important thing is that the terrorist forces that reject
freedom and tolerance must be stamped out. Stepping up
cooperation is the only way to contain and eradicate
terrorism."
3. "Five Years After 9/11: Wisdom and Patience Tested" An
editorial in the liberal Asahi wrote (9/10): "...Five
years after 9/11, it is time for both the international
community and the US to review the war on terrorism....
Full efforts should be made to hunt down and capture
Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qaeda members. No
matter how you look at it, the war on terror is a war
against terrorist criminals and should not be conflated
with religion or ideology.
4. "Former Iranian President Khatami, who has proposed a
dialogue of civilizations and cultures, was in the US on
the fifth anniversary of 9/11. Speaking at the Washington
National Cathedral, he stressed the importance of
interfaith dialogue and reconciliation. Within the US,
where strong anti-Iranian sentiment exists, there was
opposition to the visit of this moderate former
president. The standoff over Tehran's uranium enrichment
program is also deepening. The fact that this visit was
able to take place is testimony to a desire to avoid a
'clash of civilizations.' This kind of cool-headed
response is important.... The 21st century cannot be a
century of war and terrorism. Wisdom and patience are
needed to prevent this from happening."
SCHIEFFER