Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO347
2007-01-25 04:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -
how-toVZCZCXRO7667 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0347 0250409 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 250409Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0083 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 9652 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3116 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5591 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1473 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1679 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3094 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000347
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 - STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi and Mainichi front-
paged Japan's plan to run for a nonpermanent seat on the
UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2008. According to the
dailies, the plan follows a telephone conversation
Wednesday between Prime Minister Abe and Mongolian
President Enkhbayar, who proposed that Japan run in the
election instead of Mongolia, which has decided to
withdraw its candidacy for nonpermanent membership.
UNCLAS TOKYO 000347
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 - STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi and Mainichi front-
paged Japan's plan to run for a nonpermanent seat on the
UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2008. According to the
dailies, the plan follows a telephone conversation
Wednesday between Prime Minister Abe and Mongolian
President Enkhbayar, who proposed that Japan run in the
election instead of Mongolia, which has decided to
withdraw its candidacy for nonpermanent membership.
1. "US Burden in Iraq Casts Shadow on its DPRK Policy"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(1/25): "The burden of Iraq rests heavily on the
shoulders of President Bush, whose remaining term in
office is about two years. The question is what impact
America's Iraq policy will have on other vital diplomatic
issues, including North Korea, which is linked directly
to the security of Japan. In his State of the Union
Address, Bush called for support for his new Iraq policy
centering on the dispatch of an additional US 21,000
troops.... It is certain that Iraq will become a breeding
ground for terrorism by international terrorist
organizations and armed insurgents should the US military
withdraw.... The US is responsible for preventing the
situation from worsening.... North Korea moved forward
with its development of ballistic missiles and nuclear
weapons at a time when the US was bogged down in Iraq....
Recently, the US has softened its stance toward North
Korea by holding bilateral talks, something it had
previously rejected. The US should not make an easy
compromise and accept a nuclear North Korea as a fait
accompli."
2. "Did State of the Union Address Reflect Iraq Fatigue?"
An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai
commented (1/25): "President Bush's State of the Union
Address sounded a little different from the one he
delivered last year. His previous speeches, including the
one in 2002 that highlighted an 'Axis of Evil,' were
essentially wartime addresses. Though this year's speech
was similar, the president also set aside time to speak
about the economy and other domestic issues, a move
indicating his desire to reunite an American society
divided by the Iraq war. Did this reflect 'Iraq
fatigue'?"
3. "President Bush's Isolation Deepening" The liberal
Asahi wrote (1/25): "In his State of the Union Address on
Tuesday, President Bush again sought understanding for
his new Iraq policy with his call to 'give it time to
work.' Though most lawmakers on both sides of the aisle
remained silent, they gave him a standing ovation when he
called for support for US troops on the frontline,
highlighting the isolation of the commander-in-chief. At
a time when US war expenditures are expected to rise, it
hard to believe that the president's promise to balance
the budget in five years will be realized."
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 - STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi and Mainichi front-
paged Japan's plan to run for a nonpermanent seat on the
UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2008. According to the
dailies, the plan follows a telephone conversation
Wednesday between Prime Minister Abe and Mongolian
President Enkhbayar, who proposed that Japan run in the
election instead of Mongolia, which has decided to
withdraw its candidacy for nonpermanent membership.
1. "US Burden in Iraq Casts Shadow on its DPRK Policy"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(1/25): "The burden of Iraq rests heavily on the
shoulders of President Bush, whose remaining term in
office is about two years. The question is what impact
America's Iraq policy will have on other vital diplomatic
issues, including North Korea, which is linked directly
to the security of Japan. In his State of the Union
Address, Bush called for support for his new Iraq policy
centering on the dispatch of an additional US 21,000
troops.... It is certain that Iraq will become a breeding
ground for terrorism by international terrorist
organizations and armed insurgents should the US military
withdraw.... The US is responsible for preventing the
situation from worsening.... North Korea moved forward
with its development of ballistic missiles and nuclear
weapons at a time when the US was bogged down in Iraq....
Recently, the US has softened its stance toward North
Korea by holding bilateral talks, something it had
previously rejected. The US should not make an easy
compromise and accept a nuclear North Korea as a fait
accompli."
2. "Did State of the Union Address Reflect Iraq Fatigue?"
An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai
commented (1/25): "President Bush's State of the Union
Address sounded a little different from the one he
delivered last year. His previous speeches, including the
one in 2002 that highlighted an 'Axis of Evil,' were
essentially wartime addresses. Though this year's speech
was similar, the president also set aside time to speak
about the economy and other domestic issues, a move
indicating his desire to reunite an American society
divided by the Iraq war. Did this reflect 'Iraq
fatigue'?"
3. "President Bush's Isolation Deepening" The liberal
Asahi wrote (1/25): "In his State of the Union Address on
Tuesday, President Bush again sought understanding for
his new Iraq policy with his call to 'give it time to
work.' Though most lawmakers on both sides of the aisle
remained silent, they gave him a standing ovation when he
called for support for US troops on the frontline,
highlighting the isolation of the commander-in-chief. At
a time when US war expenditures are expected to rise, it
hard to believe that the president's promise to balance
the budget in five years will be realized."
SCHIEFFER