VZCZCXRO1011
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2647 2690222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250222Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7491
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 0037
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2396
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8127
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0612
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3779
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5505
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2539
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1500
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1787
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002647
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 SPEECH AT UNGA AND
TERRORIST BOMBING IN PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave
prominent top play to the launch of the Aso cabinet on
Wednesday.
2. "U.S. Commitment to UN Remains Unclear" The top
circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote (9/25): "In his
farewell speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday,
President Bush stressed the importance of the world
body. This act symbolized his move from the
unilateralism of the Iraq war to multilateral
diplomacy. While UN officials welcomed the speech,
doubts about the effectiveness of the UN are
deep-rooted in the U.S., and it is unclear what the
next president's approach to the UN will be."
3. "Deep Impact of Suicide Bombing in Pakistan" The
business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (9/25):
"President Bush and Pakistani President Zardari agreed
to enhance coordination to fight terrorism. Pakistan is
facing an unprecedented terrorist threat. The two
nations are called upon to deliver results in rooting
out terrorist bases.... Antiterrorism measures require
more than military operations. Poverty is widespread in
Pakistan's tribal areas in the absence of economic
development. The central government in Islamabad, while
citing local autonomy, has not undertaken appropriate
development measures there. A comprehensive aid package
is called upon for these regions."
SCHIEFFER