MEDIA REACTION Q LEBANON CRISIS - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 004134 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 Q LEBANON CRISIS - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged a WTO decision to suspend the ongoing Doha Round talks due to differences among member nations on agricultural trade reforms. ¶1. "Dispatch of European Troops the First Step to Resolving Lebanon Crisis" An editorial in the conservative Sankei commented (7/25): "Though it has been two weeks since the Israeli military began action against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the situation appears to be taking a turn for the worse rather than for the better. Against this backdrop, a proposal has surfaced for NATO forces led by European nations to be sent to Lebanon to contain the crisis. Major European nations strongly support the plan, and Israel and the US are inclined to accept it. Given concerns that an unchecked crisis could lead to an Israeli attack on Syria and a growing regional conflict, we support the idea of dispatching European forces to quickly contain the crisis." ¶2. "Lebanon: Measures Must be Taken to Avoid Spilling Civilian Blood" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (7/25): "Although the fighting has been escalating and the number of civilian casualties increasing day by day, the international community has yet to take any effective measures. The US, Israel's ally, is allowing the situation to continue, contending that calling for a ceasefire without the proper political conditions is meaningless.... The number of dead on both sides has now surpassed 400. With the Middle East engulfed in flames, why does the US refrain from calling for a ceasefire? Given that it has touted a foreign policy based on human rights, the Bush administration's stance is hard to fathom." SCHIEFFER