VZCZCXRO1995
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5692 3650200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310200Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0680
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5249
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7645
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3944
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5867
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8914
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0885
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2054
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6944
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7617
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005692
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning include
the Japanese government's plan to strengthen monitoring
of foreign airlines serving in Japan with an aim of
improving safety of their operations.
2. "U.S. Concerned about Rise in Extremists" The
liberal Asahi's report from Washington claimed (12/31):
"Criticism of the Bush administration's policy of
giving complete support for President Musharraf is
emerging in the U.S. following the assassination of
former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto. A call for the
resignation of Musharraf is heard in the U.S. as well.
The U.S. Department of State made a quick move to
contact a wider range of political groups in Pakistan,
including former Prime Minister Sharif, whose
connection with Islamist extremists has been of
concern. The U.S. government is afraid of the further
rise of Muslim extremists in Pakistan. If the Pakistani
government were to weaken, extremists would likely
increase their activities and the situation in
Afghanistan could further deteriorate. Washington is
also concerned about Pakistan's control of its nuclear
weapons. The U.S. government had pinned its hope on
charismatic opposition leader Bhutto's potential
coalition with the unpopular Musharraf administration.
Although Washington has given a total of $10 billion in
military and other forms of aid to Pakistan since 9/11,
doubts about the effectiveness of such assistance are
emerging in the U.S."
DONOVAN