MEDIA REACTION IRAQ - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 003196 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 IRAQ - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: All six Friday morning papers front-paged the death of al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, in a US air strike. ¶1. The moderate Tokyo Shimbun also front-paged a White House press conference by President Bush, at which he described the US air strike as a crushing blow to al- Qaeda. ¶2. "Good News for US, Which is Stalemated in Iraq" Washington correspondent Wada of the liberal Mainichi commented (6/9): "It is fair to say that the killing of al-Zarqawi, whose presence the US regarded as symbolic of the unstable security situation in Iraq, is a great achievement for the Bush administration, which is planning a large reduction in the number of US troops stationed in Iraq.... There is little chance, though, that Zarqawi's death will bring an end to the continuing chaos in Iraq, which is on the brink of civil war. The US administration will likely remain stuck in a quagmire." ¶3. "An Opportunity to End Terrorism and Sectarian and Ethnic Violence" The conservative Sankei editorialized (6/9): "...We hope that the death of al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born international terrorist who was most responsible for obstructing reconstruction and stability in Iraq, will serve as an opportunity to end the long- running terrorism and sectarian violence in Iraq. A permanent constitutional government was finally formed on May 20, thus completing the political process that called for the creation of a democratic government in postwar Iraq.... ¶4. "The same day al-Zarqawi's death was announced, the Iraqi National Assembly approved the nomination of defense and interior ministers. It was an unusual coincidence.... Nothing is more important in Iraq than improving the security situation. Without this, the Iraqis cannot begin rebuilding their nation, and the international community cannot extend full-scale economic assistance to the Iraqi people." SCHIEFFER