VZCZCXRO7799
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2894 2910743
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170743Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8005
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 0427
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2780
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8487
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1000
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4173
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5879
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2566
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1875
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2129
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002894
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 - AFGHANISTAN AND
FINANCIAL CRISIS
1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Friday morning
included the plunge in Tokyo stocks on Thursday.
2. "Broad View Needed for Afghanistan" The liberal
Asahi editorialized (10/17): "...We should isolate the
al-Qaeda terrorist network by seeking dialogue and
achieving peace with moderates in the Taliban. Afghan
President Karzai and the U.S. government recently
recognized this possibility. At the same time, we
should increase support for the reconstruction of the
nation and quickly bring the dividends of peace to the
Afghan people.... International frameworks for
political, humanitarian, and military assistance to
Afghanistan should be rebuilt. It may be difficult to
hold in-depth discussions on the matter until a new
U.S. administration is launched. Until then,
cross-border attacks into Pakistan should be avoided so
as not to complicate the situation."
3. "Financial Measures Not Sufficient" The moderate
Yomiuri opined in an editorial (10/17): "...The U.S.,
the source of the current financial turmoil, needs to
realize its responsibility to prevent the current
financial crisis from developing into worldwide
economic turmoil. All measures, including further
interest rate cuts and an increase in public spending,
are called for. The lessons of Japan, which overcame a
crisis of its own using the Industrial Revitalization
Corporation of Japan, may help the U.S."
SCHIEFFER