Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3121
2006-06-07 04:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION SUSPECTED US TROOPS' KILLING OF

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO JA 
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UNCLAS TOKYO 003121 

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION SUSPECTED US TROOPS' KILLING OF
IRAQI CIVILIANS - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
reports concerning a set of recommendations on
telecommunications and broadcasting reform compiled
Tuesday by an advisory panel to Minister of Internal
Affairs and Communications Takenaka, including a complete
breakup of NTT and a reduction in the number of NHK's
radio and satellite TV stations.

UNCLAS TOKYO 003121

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION SUSPECTED US TROOPS' KILLING OF
IRAQI CIVILIANS - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
reports concerning a set of recommendations on
telecommunications and broadcasting reform compiled
Tuesday by an advisory panel to Minister of Internal
Affairs and Communications Takenaka, including a complete
breakup of NTT and a reduction in the number of NHK's
radio and satellite TV stations.


1. "Incomplete Investigation Cannot Build Confidence in
the US" An editorial in the liberal Mainichi commented
(6/7): "...In the aftermath of the Abu Ghraib scandal,
there are suspicions that US troops have killed innocent
Iraqi civilians in a number of cities. Although US
military authorities have determined that there were no
problems with some of the killings, the suspicions
continue to deepen. At this point, we hope for a serious
investigation on the part of US military authorities. Now
that a permanent Iraqi government has been formed,
attention is turning to the withdrawal of foreign troops,
including Japan's GSDF unit. Earning the antipathy of
Iraqis will make it more difficult to improve the
security situation and to create the conditions that
would allow the pullout of foreign troops. This is not an
issue for the US alone....


2. "It is said that more than 30,000 Iraqi civilians have
already died in the war. If the US military wishes to
view itself as a liberation force that freed Iraqis from
a dictatorship, it should take the greatest possible care
to prevent civilians from being caught in the crossfire
and should strictly bring to account those responsible
for killing or wounding civilians, whether accidentally
or deliberately. Some within the US have linked the
suspected killings with the My Lai massacre during the
Vietnam War.... We wonder whether the madness of war that
reared its head 40 years ago is sneaking up on US troops
in Iraq. This is a point that the US must examine in the
most careful and humble way possible."

SCHIEFFER