Cablegate: Media Reaction - Afghanistan - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 006512

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 - AFGHANISTAN - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Tuesday morning's Tokyo Shimbun gave top
play to the GOJ's decision to increase to 33 the number
of "luxury items" to be banned from export to the DPRK.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki will announce the
decision following cabinet approval today.

1. " Afghanistan Five Years On: Reconstruction Looking
Shaky" The liberal Asahi editorialized (11/14): "The
deteriorating situation in Iraq has brought about the
takeover of the US Congress by the Democratic Party and
the resignation of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. What has
become of Afghanistan, another country where the Bush
administration sent troops after 9/11? It has already
been five years since the fall of Kabul, and Afghanistan
has since been overshadowed by the Iraq war. The security
situation there, too, has been worsening, and
reconstruction work is looking shaky. September saw a
series of suicide bombings in Kabul, with an explosives-
laden car crashing into a US military convoy near the US
Embassy, causing numerous casualties.... With the Taliban
resurgent in parts of the country and the security
situation becoming exacerbated, reconstruction work has
ground to a halt.... Unlike in Iraq, members of the
international community joined hands at the beginning to
rebuild Afghanistan.... If reconstruction there is
allowed to falter, it will inevitably have an adverse
impact on international unity. The countries that took
part in the Afghanistan reconstruction conference held in
London in February pledged 10.5 billion USD in
assistance. These nations must implement their pledges
and support the Karzai government."

SCHIEFFER

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