MEDIA REACTION Q IRAQ - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000002 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 IRAQ - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Wednesday's liberal Tokyo Shimbun led with a German government decision to strengthen technical cooperation with Tokyo for reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses by such emerging economies as China and India in order to reinforce the Kyoto Protocol. ¶1. "Urgent Need to Draw Up Strategy for Overcoming Crises" The top-circulation, moderate conservative Yomiuri editorialized (1/3): "Crises are deepening across the globe in the face of the relentless pursuit of nuclear programs by Iran and North Korea, as well as the stalemated situation in Iraq. How to overcome these problems is one of paramount challenges facing the international community. As these issues cannot be resolved overnight, the international community must work together patiently to create a new world order. The Bush administration must do its utmost to address these matters." ¶2. "As President Bush is set to release a new Iraq policy shortly, the issue is whether he would be able to present a viable plan for stabilizing Iraq. Almost four years have elapsed since the start of the Iraq war, and the country is on the edge of entering a civil war. With the steady deterioration of security, the US is being forced to maintain deployment of about 140,000 troops there. More than 3,000 American troops have already perished... President Bush must come up with a plan to facilitate political reconciliation between warring factions in Iraq, as well as promote dialogue with Syria and Iran. There is no panacea for the Iraq problem, but Bush must do all he can to prevent a worsening of the situation. A US pullout from Iraq should be premised upon the creation of a stable political foundation there. Allowing Iraq to become a hotbed of terrorism would throw the world into further chaos. The international community must do its part to stabilize Iraq." DONOVAN