Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3223
2006-06-12 06:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION IRAQ - TOKYO

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO JA 
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PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #3223 1630604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120604Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3109
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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6673
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9907
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2741
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1086
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8912
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0696
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003223 

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: Monday morning's conservative Sankei front-
paged an "out-of-season" outbreak of influenza across
Japan, saying that many patients have been stricken with
type-B flu, particularly in the southern and northern
parts of the country.

UNCLAS TOKYO 003223

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: Monday morning's conservative Sankei front-
paged an "out-of-season" outbreak of influenza across
Japan, saying that many patients have been stricken with
type-B flu, particularly in the southern and northern
parts of the country.


1. "Can Zarqawi's Death Be Utilized?" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (6/10): "...Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki
welcomed the killing of al-Zarqawi by calling for Iraq's
religious and ethnic groups to join hands, while
President Bush called it a good opportunity to turn the
tide in Iraq. To be sure, many Iraqi heaved a sigh of
relief over the death of this terrorist leader. Given the
daily terrorist bombings that have claimed the lives of
many innocents, it would be overly optimistic to expect a
dramatic improvement in the security situation.


2. "The US military capture of former Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein in late 2003 was viewed as a major turning
point in the Iraq war. But what has happened since then?
More than three years after the launch of the war,
sectarian and ethnic violence continues to grow.... With
suspicions that US Marines have massacred innocent Iraqi
civilians, there is a rising sense of war-fatigue in the
US. If the USG thinks Zarqawi's death will change the
unfavorable tide of public opinion, it is mistaken."


3. "Will Zarqawi's Death Improve Iraq's Security
Situation?" An editorial in the top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri commented (6/10): "The death of al-Zarqawi, the
Jordanian-born international terrorist, is a development
that both Iraqis and the international community hope
will improve the security situation in Iraq.... Of
course, there is no guarantee that Zarqawi's death will
lead directly to an improvement in Iraq's security
situation, but this is nevertheless a good opportunity
for the Iraqi government to take new measures."

SCHIEFFER