Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2143
2007-05-14 01:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002143
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 BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
reports from Tehran concerning the Iranian Foreign
Ministry's announcement Sunday that Iran and the US have
agreed to direct discussion on the security situation in
Iraq.
UNCLAS TOKYO 002143
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 BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
reports from Tehran concerning the Iranian Foreign
Ministry's announcement Sunday that Iran and the US have
agreed to direct discussion on the security situation in
Iraq.
1. "Blair Stuck in Iraq QuagmireQ The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (5/12): "... British Prime
Minister Tony Blair was obliged to announce his
resignation halfway through his remaining term of office
because of a sharp drop in public support and under
rising pressure from his own Labour Party, which is
concerned about a possible poor showing in next general
election expected for 2009. The biggest reason for a
sharp drop in public support for the Blair government was
the stalemate in IraqQs security situation. Mr. Blair,
giving top priority to maintaining the Anglo-American
alliance, had Britain join the US in starting the war in
Iraq in 2003 despite objections from the public and his
party.... Blair is expected to formally resign in late
June, while Nicholas Sarkozy has been elected the next
French president. What influence will a the change of
leadership in Britain and France have on the European
Community (EU)?"
2. "Blair Q Creator of New Middle-of-the-Road Politics
An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai
commented (5/12): "British Prime Minister Blair will be
remembered by many around the worled for a long time.
Blair, who has successfully shifted his Labour Party from
its long-held left-leaning dogma to a new middle-of-the-
road party since he became premier in 1997 at age 43,
will step down on June 27.... Mr. Blair consistently
tried to maintain a close British-US alliance with both
the Clinton and Bush administrations. Although PM Blair's
decision to have Britain join the US in the Iraq war led
to a setback for his government, he emphatically said he
did what he considered right for the country."
DONOVAN
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 BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
reports from Tehran concerning the Iranian Foreign
Ministry's announcement Sunday that Iran and the US have
agreed to direct discussion on the security situation in
Iraq.
1. "Blair Stuck in Iraq QuagmireQ The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (5/12): "... British Prime
Minister Tony Blair was obliged to announce his
resignation halfway through his remaining term of office
because of a sharp drop in public support and under
rising pressure from his own Labour Party, which is
concerned about a possible poor showing in next general
election expected for 2009. The biggest reason for a
sharp drop in public support for the Blair government was
the stalemate in IraqQs security situation. Mr. Blair,
giving top priority to maintaining the Anglo-American
alliance, had Britain join the US in starting the war in
Iraq in 2003 despite objections from the public and his
party.... Blair is expected to formally resign in late
June, while Nicholas Sarkozy has been elected the next
French president. What influence will a the change of
leadership in Britain and France have on the European
Community (EU)?"
2. "Blair Q Creator of New Middle-of-the-Road Politics
An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai
commented (5/12): "British Prime Minister Blair will be
remembered by many around the worled for a long time.
Blair, who has successfully shifted his Labour Party from
its long-held left-leaning dogma to a new middle-of-the-
road party since he became premier in 1997 at age 43,
will step down on June 27.... Mr. Blair consistently
tried to maintain a close British-US alliance with both
the Clinton and Bush administrations. Although PM Blair's
decision to have Britain join the US in the Iraq war led
to a setback for his government, he emphatically said he
did what he considered right for the country."
DONOVAN