VZCZCXRO4060
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2505 3022215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 292215Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7148
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 7161
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9517
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4406
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7673
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0979
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1630
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3065
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8287
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7799
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002505
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 PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave front-page play to
Prime Minister Hatoyama's Diet remarks on Wednesday, during which he
expressed his determination to carry out his party's policy platform
within four years.
2. "International Coordination Important for Eliminating Terrorism"
The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/29): "Although the armed
insurgents penetrating Afghanistan and Pakistan are not necessarily
under the same chain of command, it is highly likely that they are
forming a united front. In this regard, internationally coordinated
operations will be important. The U.S. and other nations are
concerned that acts of terrorism by armed insurgents will increase
the confusion and that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into
the hands of terrorists. This must be prevented."
3. "Taliban Stepping up Offensive Ahead of Run-Off Election" The
conservative Sankei wrote (10/29): "The terrorist attacks in Kabul
on Wednesday were the Taliban's 'declaration' to the Afghan
government and the international community that it has launched a
full-fledged offensive to obstruct the run-off election on November
7.... The U.S. and the international community, which place
importance on the implementation of a run-off election, are facing a
major challenge from the Taliban, as acts of terrorism are likely to
escalate in the future."
4. "Vulnerable Public Security Situation Casts Shadow over Run-Off
Election" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun wrote (10/29): "The simultaneous
terrorist attacks in Kabul on Wednesday carried out by the Taliban
revealed that public security arrangements in the country remain
vulnerable ahead of the run-off election on November 7. If the
Taliban, which has declared that it will obstruct the election,
steps up its offensive, voter turnout is highly likely to be
affected. The legitimacy of the election, on which the
international community pins its hopes, is in jeopardy because no
effective measures to prevent election fraud from occurring again
have been taken yet."
ROOS