MEDIA REACTION - IRAQ - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006694 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: Most Friday morning papers front-paged the car bombing on Thursday in Baghdad, which killed at least 145 people and injured more than 230. ¶1. "Review US Middle East Policy Thoroughly" The liberal Mainichi's editorial writer Fuse commented (11/24): "The bipartisan 'Iraq Study Group,' led by former Secretary of State James Baker, is reviewing the US Iraq policy. Although it is not known what proposal the group will come up with, the Bush administration should be prepared this time around to thoroughly review its Middle East policy. The world will become even more dangerous if the administration fails to resolve the Iraq stalemate and deal more effectively with other crises, including the North Korean nuclear program.... Finding it difficult to extricate itself from the 'Iraq quagmire,' the US cannot reduce anti-US feelings among Iraqis with only a partial revision of its Iraq policy. At a time when Syria and Iran, both anti-US nations, are showing moves to strengthen ties with Iraq, the US needs a sense of magnanimity and balance to unite countries in the region.... Cooperation among Middle East nations is indispensable to prevent Iran from strengthening ties with North Korea over nuclear development programs.... The US should review its Iraq policy in a humble manner, keeping in mind that the number of Iraqis who died in the Iraq war reportedly rose to the tens or even hundreds of thousands." SCHIEFFER