Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3238
2006-06-13 02:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION IRAQ AND BUSH RESHUFFLES -
how-toVZCZCXRO6350 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #3238 1640224 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 130224Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3138 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 6690 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9924 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2758 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1087 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8929 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0713 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003238
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 AND BUSH RESHUFFLES -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged
Japan's loss to Australia in their Monday World Cup match
in Germany.
UNCLAS TOKYO 003238
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 AND BUSH RESHUFFLES -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged
Japan's loss to Australia in their Monday World Cup match
in Germany.
1. "Hasn't President Bush Forgotten to Dismiss One More
Senior Official?" The liberal Asahi editorialized (6/13):
"Public support for President Bush remains low. With this
falls mid-term elections in mind, it appears that Mr.
Bush has been reshuffling senior administration officials
in rapid succession in order to rebuild the foundation of
his administration. During the past several months, the
president reshuffled his White House chief of staff, OMB,
USTR, White House press secretary and CIA director. More
recently, President Bush has sacked Treasury Secretary
Snow and nominated Goldman Sachs Chairman Paulson as his
replacement. Isn't there still another senior
administration official that the president has forgotten
to discharge? Such calls may rise from both home and
abroad against Defense Secretary Rumsfeld....
2. "Although a new, formal government has been formed in
Iraq, terrorist attacks have continued against both
innocent civilians and US troops. Few predict that the US
killing of al-Zarqawi will help improve the security
situation in that country. With US military fatalities
exceeding the 2,400 level and US war expenditures for
2006 expected to top 100 billion USD, it is only natural
that the popularity of President Bush has declined. Mr.
Rumsfeld is not only being held responsible for creating
an Iraq quagmire but also faces calls from retired army
generals that he step down.... President Bush called the
Abu Ghraib scandal the biggest US mistake made in Iraq.
In that case, the president should not only close down
military prisons at Guantanamo and other places but also
thoroughly probe into the alleged massacre of innocent
civilians in Iraq. We do wonder whether the president
cannot fire Mr. Rumsfeld out of concern that his
discharge would imply responsibility for the situation on
both Vice President Cheney and himself."
SCHIEFFER
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 AND BUSH RESHUFFLES -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged
Japan's loss to Australia in their Monday World Cup match
in Germany.
1. "Hasn't President Bush Forgotten to Dismiss One More
Senior Official?" The liberal Asahi editorialized (6/13):
"Public support for President Bush remains low. With this
falls mid-term elections in mind, it appears that Mr.
Bush has been reshuffling senior administration officials
in rapid succession in order to rebuild the foundation of
his administration. During the past several months, the
president reshuffled his White House chief of staff, OMB,
USTR, White House press secretary and CIA director. More
recently, President Bush has sacked Treasury Secretary
Snow and nominated Goldman Sachs Chairman Paulson as his
replacement. Isn't there still another senior
administration official that the president has forgotten
to discharge? Such calls may rise from both home and
abroad against Defense Secretary Rumsfeld....
2. "Although a new, formal government has been formed in
Iraq, terrorist attacks have continued against both
innocent civilians and US troops. Few predict that the US
killing of al-Zarqawi will help improve the security
situation in that country. With US military fatalities
exceeding the 2,400 level and US war expenditures for
2006 expected to top 100 billion USD, it is only natural
that the popularity of President Bush has declined. Mr.
Rumsfeld is not only being held responsible for creating
an Iraq quagmire but also faces calls from retired army
generals that he step down.... President Bush called the
Abu Ghraib scandal the biggest US mistake made in Iraq.
In that case, the president should not only close down
military prisons at Guantanamo and other places but also
thoroughly probe into the alleged massacre of innocent
civilians in Iraq. We do wonder whether the president
cannot fire Mr. Rumsfeld out of concern that his
discharge would imply responsibility for the situation on
both Vice President Cheney and himself."
SCHIEFFER