Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO6903
2006-12-08 06:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - ISG REPORT - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO9850 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #6903 3420618 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 080618Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8962 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 9110 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2541 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5126 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1406 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1225 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2706 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 006903
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 - ISG REPORT - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
exclusive interview Thursday with Okinawa Governor-elect
Nakaima in Naha, during which he expressed flexibility
toward a GOJ plan to relocate the functions of Marine
Corps Air Station Futenma to Camp Schwab.
UNCLAS TOKYO 006903
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 - ISG REPORT - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
exclusive interview Thursday with Okinawa Governor-elect
Nakaima in Naha, during which he expressed flexibility
toward a GOJ plan to relocate the functions of Marine
Corps Air Station Futenma to Camp Schwab.
1. "President Bush Should Immediately Act on ISG Report"
The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/8): "While pointing
out numerous US policy mistakes committed since the start
of the war, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group (ISG)
proposed that President Bush should change his policy in
that country.... We agree with the report's proposal.
Robert Gates, who won Senate approval as the next defense
secretary on the same day the ISG submitted the report to
SIPDIS
President Bush, admitted that the Bush administration
mismanaged some US operations in Iraq. The president
should now move to substantially change his Iraq policy.
We also agree with the basic direction of the ISG report.
Although the report did not touch on specific procedures
regarding a US withdrawal, it specified the goal of
recalling troops and a timetable for doing so. This is
significant in that the continued presence of US troops
is worsening the situation rather than improving it. A
declaration that the US will not remain in the country
forever will be effective in alleviating anti-American
sentiment both in and outside Iraq."
2. "ISG Report a Map out of Iraq Chaos?" An editorial in
the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri observed (12/8):
"...Saying that present US policy in Iraq is not
functioning, former Secretary of State Baker and other
members of the bipartisan ISG came up with 79
recommendations to break the Iraq deadlock. President
Bush said he would consider the recommendations in a
serious manner and come up with a new policy in several
weeks. The question is what the contents of a new Iraq
policy will be.... If the Bush administration follows the
ISG's proposals, the phased withdrawal of 140,000 US
troops in Iraq will start as early as next year. This is
tantamount to accepting calls from Democrats for an early
withdrawal. Nevertheless, the administration has rejected
calls for an immediate pullout, saying that this would
lead to further bloodshed or anarchy."
3. "US Exit Strategy Needs Multilateral Modifications"
The business-oriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (12/8):
"...The recommendations from the ISG were just proposals
for discussion. In reality, it is the Bush administration
that will decide how to change US policy in Iraq....
President Bush needs to realize that it is difficult to
give shape to and implement some of the ISG policy
options submitted to him.... It will be worth seriously
considering a proposal that the US build a multilateral
framework, invite Iran and Syria to take part, and engage
these countries in a serious manner. The reconstruction
of Middle East peace is imperative to improve the
regional environment surrounding Iraq. Inasmuch as former
Secretary of State Baker said there was no 'magic
SIPDIS
formula' to resolve the situation, the US should resort
to as many policy options as possible to break the
stalemate."
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 - ISG REPORT - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
exclusive interview Thursday with Okinawa Governor-elect
Nakaima in Naha, during which he expressed flexibility
toward a GOJ plan to relocate the functions of Marine
Corps Air Station Futenma to Camp Schwab.
1. "President Bush Should Immediately Act on ISG Report"
The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/8): "While pointing
out numerous US policy mistakes committed since the start
of the war, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group (ISG)
proposed that President Bush should change his policy in
that country.... We agree with the report's proposal.
Robert Gates, who won Senate approval as the next defense
secretary on the same day the ISG submitted the report to
SIPDIS
President Bush, admitted that the Bush administration
mismanaged some US operations in Iraq. The president
should now move to substantially change his Iraq policy.
We also agree with the basic direction of the ISG report.
Although the report did not touch on specific procedures
regarding a US withdrawal, it specified the goal of
recalling troops and a timetable for doing so. This is
significant in that the continued presence of US troops
is worsening the situation rather than improving it. A
declaration that the US will not remain in the country
forever will be effective in alleviating anti-American
sentiment both in and outside Iraq."
2. "ISG Report a Map out of Iraq Chaos?" An editorial in
the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri observed (12/8):
"...Saying that present US policy in Iraq is not
functioning, former Secretary of State Baker and other
members of the bipartisan ISG came up with 79
recommendations to break the Iraq deadlock. President
Bush said he would consider the recommendations in a
serious manner and come up with a new policy in several
weeks. The question is what the contents of a new Iraq
policy will be.... If the Bush administration follows the
ISG's proposals, the phased withdrawal of 140,000 US
troops in Iraq will start as early as next year. This is
tantamount to accepting calls from Democrats for an early
withdrawal. Nevertheless, the administration has rejected
calls for an immediate pullout, saying that this would
lead to further bloodshed or anarchy."
3. "US Exit Strategy Needs Multilateral Modifications"
The business-oriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (12/8):
"...The recommendations from the ISG were just proposals
for discussion. In reality, it is the Bush administration
that will decide how to change US policy in Iraq....
President Bush needs to realize that it is difficult to
give shape to and implement some of the ISG policy
options submitted to him.... It will be worth seriously
considering a proposal that the US build a multilateral
framework, invite Iran and Syria to take part, and engage
these countries in a serious manner. The reconstruction
of Middle East peace is imperative to improve the
regional environment surrounding Iraq. Inasmuch as former
Secretary of State Baker said there was no 'magic
SIPDIS
formula' to resolve the situation, the US should resort
to as many policy options as possible to break the
stalemate."
SCHIEFFER