Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3196
2006-06-09 06:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION IRAQ - TOKYO

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO JA 
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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.

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