MEDIA REACTION Q IRAQ - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000301 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: A front-page report from Cairo in Tuesday morning's Asahi quoted AFP reports as claiming that about 100 people died Monday in what were believed to be terrorist bombings in Iraq. ¶1. "US Troop Increase Intensifying Terrorism" Cairo correspondent Hajime Yoshioka of the liberal Asahi wrote (1/23): "Armed insurgents are intensifying their terrorist attacks at a time when the US military is moving to bolster its forces in Iraq. Sectarian violence between Shiites and Sunnis has become less noticeable. Ironically, though, insurgents have instead returned to attacks on US troops and indiscriminate terrorism, suggesting that the US dispatch of additional troops to Iraq will only deepen the quagmire. On Saturday in the Shiite-dominated city of Karbala, armed insurgents broke through two checkpoints and into the provincial government office, where they killed five US troops inside before fleeing. According to a senior official of the provincial government, the attackers rode in seven four-wheel drive vehicles often used by senior US military officials, wore US military uniforms, possessed what looked like military ID cards, and spoke natural English. They also captured a senior US military officer who was discussing security measures with local Iraqi officials and torched two US military vehicles. The attackers switched vehicles in the city's suburbs, and their trail has been lost. Both the US military and the provincial governor are blaming the attack on a militia." SCHIEFFER