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Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Terrorist Bombing In

Published: Mon 22 Sep 2008 02:01 AM
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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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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 - TERRORIST BOMBING IN
ISLAMABAD, U.S. ECONOMY, AND RUSSIA
1. LEAD STORIES: All Monday morning papers gave
prominent front-page coverage to the reelection on
Sunday of DPJ President Ozawa as party chief, as well
as the anticipated landslide victory today of LDP
Secretary General Aso in the party presidential race.
2. "Review of War on Terrorism Needed" On the terrorist
bombing of the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, the liberal
Mainichi editorialized (9/22): "...The world must not
succumb to terrorism; measures to fight it must be
undertaken without hesitation. However, the
effectiveness of those measures is important.... The
U.S. would find it more productive to hold talks humbly
with concerned parties on how to improve the situation
in Afghanistan. The details of the bombing remain
unclear. However, if it occurred as a result of U.S.
military incursions into Pakistan from Afghanistan,
Washington's approach will be called into question...."
3. "Bombing Intended to Press New President to Be Soft
on Extremists" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
wrote from New Delhi (9/22): "Given that the Marriot
Hotel had the heaviest security in the nation's
capital, the bombing was so shocking that calls may
mount among the Pakistani people for the government to
talk with radicals rather than confront them."
4. "More Remains to Be Done" On Washington's decision
to set up a mechanism for purchasing nonperforming
loans, the liberal Asahi wrote (9/21): "We welcome the
U.S. decision as an important step toward tamping down
the crisis in the financial markets. However, the
gravity of the situation is such that this move alone
will not bring about an overnight resolution of the
problems.... Financial institutions with no hope of
reconstruction need to be closed while minimizing the
possible negative effects on the market. There is no
way out of the crisis except for the steady
implementation of these measures."
5. "Will Financial Turmoil Prompt Russia to Change?"
The business-oriented Nikkei contended in an editorial
(9/22): "Signs have been emerging pointing to a change
in Russia's hard line toward the U.S. and Europe, which
became pronounced following its conflict with Georgia.
The unexpected outbreak of financial turmoil within has
prompted this shift in attitude.... It is arguable that
the turbulence in the Russian market illustrates that
the country, unlike the former Soviet Union, is now a
part of the world economy. The U.S. and Europe, as well
as Russia, should take advantage of the financial
turmoil to ease tensions over the Georgia crisis and
instead prioritize economic coordination."
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