VZCZCXRO3057
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0121 0160228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160228Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1004
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 5510
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7904
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4184
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6116
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9175
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1116
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2074
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7183
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7838
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000121
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 - BUSH VISIT TO MIDDLE
EAST
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning
include separate announcements on Tuesday by Citigroup
and Merrill Lynch on their steps to deal with their
huge losses from the subprime loan crisis.
2. "U.S. Responsible for Easing Tensions in Middle
East" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (1/16): "...We
hope President Bush during his remaining one year in
office will bring about peace between the Israelis and
Palestinians and help the people of Iraq, who are tired
of war, to live in peace and quiet. Although some say
the president's mediation efforts come too late,
President Clinton held talks with then Israeli Prime
Minister Barak and the late Palestinian leader Arafat
only six months before leaving office. It is not too
late. But it will be important for President Bush to
remain fair in order to win the confidence of both
parties. Unlike his father, President Bush has been
viewed as too sympathetic to the Israelis. The Bush
administration needs to review its 'unconditional
support' for Israel. Although Washington's strong
alliance with Israel should be respected, Israel will
not be secure in the long run through U.S. support
alone.... President Bush has a responsibility to ease
the tensions in the Middle East and among Muslim
nations. Although the president stressed the threat of
Iran during his visit to the Gulf nations, Arab states
are increasingly looking to improve their ties with
Tehran. The U.S. approach of dividing the world into
enemies and friends will not be effective. The Bush
administration should take a new approach to dealing
with Middle East peace. It needs to make additional
efforts to promote dialogue with the concerned parties,
including Iran."
DONOVAN