Cablegate: Media Reaction: Headley Case/ War Against

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002313

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USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST
TERRORISM, POTUS ASIA TRIP, AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS; NEW
DELHI.

This countrywide cable reports on relevant media
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press.
The Mission reports on English-language media via email
through the daily "Early Edition" summary.

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HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
-----------------------------------

1. "HALF-BAKED EVIDENCE," editorial in November 16
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Anti-India
terror plotters David Headley and Tahawwur Rana are in
the net thanks to America's FBI. The sorry Indian
intelligence has once again been caught napping. May we
ask Home Minister P Chidambaram why the Indian
intelligence was twiddling its thumbs while Headley was
camping in India and plotting terror? Indian
investigators who visited the U.S. did not get access
to the two terrorists. If the U.S. wants to cooperate
with India, it will have to go the whole hog and give
us access to the culprits."

2. "HEADLEY'S `DISCOVERY OF INDIA'," editorial in
November 17 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "The
investigation of the terror network set up in India by
LeT operative David Headley have revealed that Headley
had visited India at least five times, using a fake
passport. He was involved with a LeT sleeper cell in
Mumbai. These revelations only prove one fact - the
ease with which terrorists from across the India-
Pakistan border can move around in India, particularly
Mumbai..."

3. "MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS: STILL AWAITING ACTION,"
editorial in November 17 left-of-center Marathi daily,
MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "It is worrying indeed that the
bulletproof jacket worn by ATS chief late Hemant
Karkare during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks has gone
missing. More than a logistical blunder, the
development raises very serious questions on the manner
in which the attack is being investigated. At a time
when India is supposed to strategically counter Pak-
sponsored terrorism, a mere jacket cannot be preserved
safely..."

4. "TAKING 9/11 CASES TO GROUND ZERO," editorial in
right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "The
world's faith in U.S. democracy and judiciary has been
shaken with the passing time. That is why the Obama
administration has announced civil trials of the 9/11
cases. We have to watch how Obama maintains America's
moral supremacy over the world when the 9/11 cases are
brought to trial in a civilian court."

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POTUS ASIA TRIP
---------------

5. "OBAMA'S ASIAN MANTRA," op-ed in November 16 right-
of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "India does not

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figure anywhere in President Obama's ongoing Asian
tour. Instead, India's Prime Minister will meet Obama
later in Washington. There was a time when Asia meant
India, but not anymore! China has overtaken India and
has taken the prime place in Asia. It is quite evident
that United States wants to keep in China's good books,
despite the latter's human rights violations. That is
why Obama declined a meeting with the Dalai Lama. All
to keep Beijing in good humor! Obama wants U.S. goods
to enter the Asian marketplace, so that his country can
tide over the recession. For that, he is prepared to
overlook China's wrongdoings."

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AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS
---------------------

6. "U.S. SHAMELESSNESS IN AFGHAN ELECTIONS," op-ed in
November 16 right-of-center Urdu daily, SAHAFAT: "The
U.S wants to push South Asian countries on the verge of
destruction, with the motive of tightening its grip
over the region. It has already trapped and destroyed
Pakistan, and is eyeing India and China. In
Afghanistan, the U.S. has shamelessly violated the
electoral process, inciting more Afghans to join groups
who hate America."
ROEMER

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