MEDIA REACTION: WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS, U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002824 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS, U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, UNITED STATES & ARMS RACE, PAKISTAN; NEW DELHI. This cable reports on relevant media reaction from India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi reports on English-language media via email in the daily "Early Edition". USG customers please write to Geeta Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early Edition." -------------- WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS -------------- ¶1. "MANMOHAN ON RECESSION," editorial in the October 27 AMAR UJALA Hindi daily: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clearly said in the 7th Beijing Asia-Europe summit that this economic crisis is a result of developed countries' economic policies and the developing countries are paying the price. He suggested to set-up a global regulatory mechanism to monitor monetary activities and warn the corresponding financial institutions and countries against the risk in advance. But the question arises-- will the developed nations agree to it? The situation in the U.S. is pretty bad and the effect of recession is also evident in U.K. Asia will not be affected so badly. Both Prime Minister and the Reserve Bank have also said this. But, the biggest concern at present is to save our economy from this financial crunch and to start foolproof preparations for the security of the global economy. A global financial mechanism will have to be formed sooner or later." -------------- U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -------------- ¶2. "THE FINANCIAL MORASS CAN BRING ABOUT VICTORY FOR OBAMA," edit-page article by columnist Subhankar Mukhopadhaya in the October 31 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali daily, BARTAMAN. "Enough is enough. So, change we need. This slogan of the Democrats during the presidential campaign has become the focal theme for the common Americans. Till some time ago, the average Americans were confused about who will be the 44th U.S. President, Obama or McCain. But the recent economic meltdown has totally changed the direction of the confusing politics... So McCain, the Republican will be defeated in the election... Practically, the American economy was quite strong when Bill Clinton, the Democrat, was in power but the problems started when Bush, the Republican, became the President... The Americans have come to their senses now and they have turned their faces away from the Republicans... Of course, it is unlikely that the Democrats will put everything into order when they assume power. They may need a long time but let them be given the chance... Still, after all said and done, if McCain wins it will be proved that social reformation of the 'most modern' America is yet to be complete... And, if Obama wins then a Nelson Mandela will have a birth in the U.S...." ¶3. "WILL AMERICA ACCEPT OBAMA? op-ed article by columnist in the October 31, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist NEW DELHI 00002824 002 OF 004 Marathi daily SAKAAL. "The failed Iraq mission, rising prices, shrinking jobs - there could be a thousand reasons for Americans not to vote for the Republican McCain. Varied opinion polls claim a general disenchantment with the current administration and a strong desire for change. But the point is whether these factors are going to help Democrat senator Barack Obama to win? Is America ready to accept a man whose race has been called into question so many times in the campaign. It remains to be seen if Americans can really identify with a half-White man of Kenyan ancestry..." ¶4. "U.S.-ELECTION SCENARIO," op-ed in the October 31 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by Dr. Devarshi Sharma: "The U.S. presidential election is taking an interesting turn. Barack Obama is not becoming popular only among Americans, but also in other countries. President Bush's popularity-graph has drastically fallen. The U.S. economic crisis, growing unemployment, bankruptcy etc. are the main reasons behind it. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are obviously on the top. The situation is, automatically, turning in favor of Obama. The U.S. is deeply sucked into a quagmire of economic recession. Even the 700-billion economic rescue package could not save the economy.... McCain is paying the price for President Bush's erroneous policies. The age factor also seems to be going against him. On the other hand, unlike Maccain Obama lacks the political experience, but people still like him for his transparency about the main issues and policies and his slogan of change. Obama's youth and dynamism are also positive factors. Let us see if the nation of 74%-white-population will send him to the White House or not." -------------- WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. "CONFLAGARATION IN ASSAM" editorial in the October 31, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. "The serial blasts in Assam underline many truths. First, there is a serious communication gap between Assam's state government and the federal government in Delhi. The federal government has blamed the state administration for failing to avert the terrorist attack, despite sufficient warnings from the center. However, the state government has pointed an accusing finger at the center and in turn expressed helplessness in the wake of unprecedented powerful blasts. These blasts have indeed caught the state and intelligence agencies completely by surprise. Even more worrying is the fact that ULFA, one of Assam's oldest militant groups, has allegedly organized the attacks with the help of the Bangladeshi group, HuJi or Harkat ul Jihadi Islami. Security experts say there is sufficient reason to believe that it couldn't be only ULFA because it has no such capability to carry out powerful blasts and that too in a rapid succession...." ¶6. "THE ENTIRE CLAN STANDS EXPOSED", editorial in the October 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN NEW DELHI 00002824 003 OF 004 EXPRESS", New Delhi: "Now it has become evident before everybody that there exists a special kind of relation between terrorism and western capitalism. The terrorist elements are apparently against America. However, they are somehow preparing the ground for the expansion of American capitalism. As terrorism escalates, the American forces also swell up. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq & now Syria are the latest examples before us. Further, terrorism seems to have taken up several shapes and hues in the aftermath of September 11. The Zionist, Jewish and fascist forces are carrying out terrorist activities while putting the blame squarely on their enemies, particularly the followers of Islam, so that the international powers as well as the national and local government agencies push in all their energies against them. Without a trace of doubt, the war unleashed against terror being fought all across the globe, is nothing but a reflection of the expansionist policies of the United States. In pursuance of its notorious motives, the American capitalism is even trying to snatch away the basic rights of civilians to live in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, while an abominable lull prevails amidst the international fraternity." -------------- UNITED STATES & ARMS RACE -------------- ¶7. "FEARS OF A NEW ARMS RACE", editorial in the October 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "In spite of the fact that America today is in the throes of a major economic crisis, translating into a sharp reduction in the number of employment avenues, it still nurtures the ambition of exerting its hegemony over the world and impressing its status as the superpower of the world. That is precisely the reason why the American defense secretary, Robert Gates has been keen on upgrading the weapon systems of the country in order to maintain its military prowess. In fact, the issue pertaining to up gradation of weapons is not attributed to the perceived fears of the growing influence of China or Russia in the world, but it is the madness behind exerting its hegemony over the globe, which drives it to do so. Whenever America talks about a world sans nuclear weapons, it prefers to keep itself aloof from the list. This is perhaps because America feels that it is its bounden right to establish peace and hegemony over the world using the nuclear arsenal, while no other country in the world has got the right to acquire military powers or upgrade its forces in order to protect its sovereignty." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶8. "ECONOMIC CRISIS IN PAKISTAN", editorial in the Oct 31, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "ETEMAAD", Hyderabad: "Pakistan is on the verge of financial collapse. Pakistani leadership blames price hike in petroleum and food products for this situation. Terror attacks have NEW DELHI 00002824 004 OF 004 also increase difficulties of this ill-fated country. Foreign investment has gone down. In past; America, China and Saudi Arabia had come forward to help Pakistan to come out of the crisis but in the current world wide financial situation, it seems impossible for these countries to come forward to help. Mr. Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan's Ambassador in America observes that America should help Pakistan as his country is an important ally in the U.S.' war on terror." MULFORD