MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ELECTIONS/OBAMA PRESIDENCY,

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ELECTIONS/OBAMA PRESIDENCY,
IRAQ; 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."

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U.S. ELECTIONS/OBAMA PRESIDENCY
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1. "OBAMA'S NEW ECONOMICS!" op-ed article by columnist
Girish Jakhotia in the November 21, 2008, Mumbai edition
of left-of-center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES.
"President-elect Obama should realize that America's
economic woes stem from many of its own counterproductive
and self-serving policies and missions. Many of America's
past foreign policy initiatives were directed at pitting
many developing countries against each other and thereby
selling them arms and ammunition. After inciting violence
and mayhem, America zeroed in on some countries for
preemptive military action. And after systematically
annihilating these conflict-ridden societies, the U.S.
then seized `rebuilding and reconstruction' contracts in
the war-weary zones. Such similar exercises have happened
for many years, each move directed at serving the U.S.
business interests... The new president will have to
recognize the limitations of earlier policies and set
aside a lot of 'narrow self-serving U.S. power politics.'
Only then can he think of bringing in some financial
discipline. He will have to give a human and social
dimension to U.S. economics as well as give adequate
importance to global partnerships..."


2. "AMERICA'S DREAM, AMERICA'S HOPE -- OBAMA IS NOT
MARGINAL, RATHER A MAINSTREAM LEADER," commentary in
November 17 influential Kolkata Bengali bimonthly DESH by
senior columnist Sumit Mitra. "...The Communist Party of
India (Marxist) faces a discomfiture following Obama's
victory. A Black has been elected as America's President.
The CPI (M) cannot proactively congratulate him and is
thinking twice before opposing him... It is not possible
now for CPI (M) to become overwhelmed with Obama's
victory. Again, it cannot immediately issue any negative
statement lest it brands them racist. (Prakash) Karat
(the party's secretary) and his colleagues have clearly
been put in a great dilemma. America has indeed set an
example for West Bengal to learn where the ruling party
still continues to propagate rotten ideologies of
Marxism-Maoism-Socialism... Therefore, the state does not
see any change, and nobody can tell when such change will
occur. So, while the Americans can dream a dream, the
people of Bengal (under the Marxists' rule) cannot."

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IRAQ
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3. "WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN FORCES FROM IRAQ", editorial
in November 20 right- of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA
SAMAJ", New Delhi: "An agreement regarding withdrawal of

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American forces from Iraq, entered into on Monday in
Baghdad, is being considered as historic. However, it
attracted a chain of criticism in both the countries.
Despite disagreements, both the parties will try their
level best to implement the agreement, which saw the
light of the day after continuous hard work for a year.
Obviously, it should be implemented gradually in order to
get positive results. It is, in fact, the revival of a
saner foreign policy envisaged by the United States of
America, a country which experienced defeat in war. This
policy may also find a place in Afghanistan, in the near
future. If extremists like the Taliban and terrorist
groups like Al Qaeda toe the same line, a new era of
peace and security may dawn in West Asia."


4. "IRAQ: BUSH RELENTS," editorial in November 19 Cuttuck
Oriya daily SAMAJA. "At long last America is going to
call back its troops from Iraq. President Bush is about
to reach an agreement with the Iraqi government... The
withdrawal from Iraq was an election issue during Obama's
campaign. However, the Bush proposal has not yet
received the Congress approval. In fact, the Iraqi
government that is in power with Bush's support was not
willing to accept certain proposals made by Bush. The
deadlock would have lingered, but for Obama who wants an
early end to the Iraq turmoil. Bush has no way but to
relent - now it is for Obama to follow up."

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KASHMIR ELECTIONS
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5. "KASHMIR ELECTION" editorial in November 21 Guwahati
Assamese left-of-center ASAMI]A PRATIDIN. "...A high
turnout of voters in the first phase of Kashmir's
election clearly demonstrated that the majority of
Kashmiris do not support separatist activities, and they
want to stay with India's mainstream... One of the
redeeming features is the large participation of young
voters... The Kashmiri people...have sent out a clear message
that they are not in league with those who call for
freedom'. The election shows the secessionist forces
have failed to alienate the Kashmiris from India."
WHITE