Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO518
2007-02-05 09:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS U.S. IRAQ POLICY "NAIVE"
how-toVZCZCXRO7638 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHKO #0518 0360932 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050932Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0378 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS U.S. IRAQ POLICY "NAIVE"
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS U.S. IRAQ POLICY "NAIVE"
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (U) Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso termed U.S. policy
toward Iraq "naive" in a speech he gave last Saturday in
Kyushu, according to press reports. He reportedly stated
that once the initial combat operations were completed
"everything went bad." He continued that "after the
occupation started its operations, it was extremely naive
from the start, and nothing went well." Chief Cabinet
Secretary Shiozaki, speaking to the press today, subsequently
SIPDIS
attempted to clarify Aso's remarks, saying that Aso's use of
the term "naive" was inappropriate. He continued that what
Aso meant to say "was that perhaps the United States can
utilize Japan's know-how in peace building", and that Japan's
expertise in peace-building through "soft power" to ensure
human security and stabilize people's daily lives should be
utilized more.
2. (C) COMMENT: Prime Minister Abe has suffered in recent
weeks from a public perception that he is weak and indecisive
in managing his cabinet. Aso's comments will add to that
criticism. It is unclear right now whether Aso's comments
along with similar criticisms voiced recently by Defense
Minister Kyuma are the remarks of loose cannons or the
product of a deliberate effort by the Abe Government to
distance itself from the Bush Administration on Iraq.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS U.S. IRAQ POLICY "NAIVE"
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (U) Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso termed U.S. policy
toward Iraq "naive" in a speech he gave last Saturday in
Kyushu, according to press reports. He reportedly stated
that once the initial combat operations were completed
"everything went bad." He continued that "after the
occupation started its operations, it was extremely naive
from the start, and nothing went well." Chief Cabinet
Secretary Shiozaki, speaking to the press today, subsequently
SIPDIS
attempted to clarify Aso's remarks, saying that Aso's use of
the term "naive" was inappropriate. He continued that what
Aso meant to say "was that perhaps the United States can
utilize Japan's know-how in peace building", and that Japan's
expertise in peace-building through "soft power" to ensure
human security and stabilize people's daily lives should be
utilized more.
2. (C) COMMENT: Prime Minister Abe has suffered in recent
weeks from a public perception that he is weak and indecisive
in managing his cabinet. Aso's comments will add to that
criticism. It is unclear right now whether Aso's comments
along with similar criticisms voiced recently by Defense
Minister Kyuma are the remarks of loose cannons or the
product of a deliberate effort by the Abe Government to
distance itself from the Bush Administration on Iraq.
SCHIEFFER