JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/07/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001844 SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/07/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials Bush-Fukuda summit meeting: 3) President Bush, Prime Minister Fukuda in Hokkaido summit meeting agree to closely cooperate on North Korea nuclear and abduction issues (Mainichi) 4) Gist of Bush-Fukuda exchange in bilateral meeting (Nikkei) 5) President Bush eager to persuade Japan of U.S. sincerity on abduction issue, but dilemma on policy toward North Korea remains (Sankei) 6) Perception gap exists between U.S., Japan over cooperation on North Korea policy (Nikkei) 7) After eight years of the Bush administration, the golden age of U.S.-Japan alliance may be over (Mainichi) 8) Time to rethink the practice of dickering over the price of the U.S-Japan alliance: Asahi bureau chief Yoichi Kato (Asahi) 9) Prime Minister Fukuda surprises President Bush with a cake on his 62nd birthday (Tokyo Shimbun) 10) On Olympics controversy, Bush, Fukuda stress sports and politics should be kept separate (Mainichi) 11) Fukuda formally announces that he will attend the Olympics opening ceremony (Tokyo Shimbun) Environment issue: 12) President Bush remains reluctant to go along with Japan-promoted goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by half (Mainichi) 13) Japan, Russia agree to cooperate on measures to protect the environment threat to the Sea of Okhotsk (Sankei) 14) Government to provide India with 30 billion yen in ODA loans to introduce energy conserving machinery (Sankei) 15) Ruling and opposition camps both split into hardliners and softliners on dealing with North Korea issues (Nikkei) 11 Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Japan, U.S. confirm cooperation on abduction issue, remain split over global warming Mainichi, Yomiuri & Nikkei: Japan, U.S. leaders assure close cooperation on nuke, abduction issues Sankei: Fukuda, Bush both favoring nuclear issue over abductions Tokyo Shimbun: President Bush: "I will not abandon Japan" 
Akahata: Toyota Motor pays 190 billion yen in tax 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Japan-U.S. relations: Twilight of Bush era TOKYO 00001844 002 OF 011 (2) New National Theatre, Tokyo: Constructive debate on arts urged Mainichi: (1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Intrinsic value of Japan-U.S. alliance to be tested (2) Primary LDP presidential election extremely effective to select leader Yomiuri: (1) Japan-U.S. summit: North Korea must act on nukes, abductees (2) Middle East peace efforts: What should be done to make most of ceasefire agreement? Nikkei: (1) Toyako talks have eased Japan-U.S. relations, but (2) Banning dispatch of day workers good? Sankei: (1) Japan-U.S. summit: How will Japan and U.S. cooperate over abduction issue? (2) Re-restriction on taxes: Reform of tax service industry should be done first Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Fukuda-Bush talks: Abduction issue should be resolved as two leaders assured cooperation (2) Recovery of farm land: Japan must increase self-supply ratio Akahata: (1) Ban on dispatch of day workers: Worker Dispatch Law should be drastically reformed 3) Japan, U.S. to closely cooperate on nuclear, abduction issues MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) July 7, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with U.S. President Bush yesterday for about one and a half hours at the Windsor Hotel Toya in the town of Toyako in Hokkaido, where this year's Group of Eight (G-8) summit will be held. The two leaders agreed that the Japan-U.S. alliance has greatly deepened in the 21st century, and they also confirmed that Japan and the United States will further strengthen the alliance. Concerning North Korea's nuclear and abduction issues, Fukuda and Bush agreed that Japan and the United States will continue to cooperate closely. When it comes to global warming, they went no further than to clarify their stance of cooperating in an aim to reach an agreement at the G-8 summit. "The alliance between Japan and the United States has greatly deepened in the security and economic areas and also in human exchanges and various other areas since January 2001 (when Bush came into office)," Fukuda said, stressing that the bilateral alliance is now wide-ranging from a security standpoint. "That's welcome," Bush said. He also said, "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation for the United States' diplomacy in East Asia." Touching on North Korea, Bush said the United States "will not forget" the abduction issue. "There is no change at all in the United States' position clearly supporting Japan's position concerning the abduction issue," he added. Fukuda noted: "The important thing is what to do now. We must sufficiently verify North TOKYO 00001844 003 OF 011 Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs." The two leaders agreed to verify the declaration in a thoroughgoing way in order for North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs completely. 4) Main points from Japan-U.S. summit talks NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 7, 2008 The following is a gist of the Japan-U.S. summit meeting between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and U.S. President Bush: Japan-U.S. alliance Fukuda, Bush: The alliance between Japan and the United States is the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Fukuda: Since 2001 when President Bush came into office, the Japan-U.S. alliance has greatly deepened with enhanced cooperation in the security and economic areas. Bush: I agree. We will continue to strengthen our cooperation. North Korea Fukuda, Bush: Japan and the United States will need to sufficiently verify North Korea's nuclear declaration in order for North Korea to abandon all its nuclear weapons and nuclear programs as the ultimate goal. Fukuda: In the recent talks with Japan, North Korea agreed to reinvestigate the abduction issue. However, they have gone no further than follow words with more words; they should immediately proceed to the stage of action for action (on the abduction issue, as well). Bush: The United States has not changed at all its stance of clearly supporting Japan's position on the abduction issue. Asia Fukuda: Relations between Japan and various countries in Asia are in good shape. This is the fruit of cooperation between Japan and the United States. Japan and China have improved relations through such steps as reaching an agreement on the issue of gas field development in the East China Sea. Bush: I welcome it. Africa Fukuda: Japan wishes to promote cooperation with the United States on African development. Bush: We will cooperate. Global warming Fukuda, Bush: Japan and the United States agree to continue to cooperate in the Group of Eight (G-8) summit meeting (on July 8) and the major emitters meeting (MEM) (on July 9). TOKYO 00001844 004 OF 011 5) U.S. President trying hard to dispel distrust of U.S. growing in Japan over abduction issue SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) July 7, 2008 U.S. President Bush in a meeting with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held after arriving in Japan yesterday reiterated his administration's basic policy of never allowing the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese citizens to be forgotten. Bush focused attention on the issue in the meeting in an effort to mitigate growing distrust of the U.S. within Japan for its decision to delist Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism. In a joint press conference, although the President spoke from the heart repeatedly about the emphasis his administration placed on Japan, he is eager to pave the way for resolving the North Korea nuclear problem as a crowning diplomatic achievement. With only less than 200 days left until the President leaves office, the question is which issue will the Bush administration give priority to. "The U.S. stance of supporting Japan's position remains unchanged." President Bush has repeated this remark since he notified Congress late last month of his decision to delist the North, keeping in mind Japan and the Congress, where distrust of North Korea runs deep. Prior to the Japan-U.S. summit, National Security Council Asian Director Dennis Wilder, who is accompanying the President on his visit to Japan, told U.S. reporters: "The Japanese people have an extremely distinct feeling about positive progress (on the abduction issue)." He added: "The Japanese prime minister is also hopeful of hearing the President's words promising (to help resolve the abduction issue)." Wilder's statement indicates the U.S. government's bewilderment at the fact that Japanese public's reactions to the U.S. delisting decision are fiercer than it had anticipated. President Bush has had strong confidence in his relationships with Britain and Japan. Wilder pointed out: "Japan-U.S. relations under the Bush administration entered a golden age." But Bush still cites only former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as a friend who helped create that golden age. The President had not anticipated that he had to use such caution in making remarks intended for Japan. It is also true that Washington's removal of obstacles in succession in promoting relations with North Korea, starting with lifting financial sanctions, apparently represents the Bush administration's policy being at an impasse. But its anxiety to produce positive results on issues with North Korea could lead to undermining the foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance. If his commitment to help Japan resolve the abduction issue proved to be just lip service, the next U.S. president may be pressed with the task of repairing relations with Japan. 6) President Bush puts high priority on North Korea's denuclearization, while Prime Minister Fukuda stresses need to resolve abduction issue at same time; Gap in motives for cooperation over North Korean evident NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) July 7 2008 TOKYO 00001844 005 OF 011 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and President George W. Bush confirmed in their meeting yesterday a policy course to aim at settling the issue of denuclearizing North Korea in tandem with the question of Japanese nationals abducted by the North. In the joint press conference that followed the bilateral meeting, President Bush first touched upon the abduction issue out of concern over growing anti-U.S. sentiment in Japan in reaction to the President's notification to Congress of his decision to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. At the same time, the President indicated that he would push the nuclear issue forward based on the principle of action for action. A gulf with Japan, which puts top priority on the abduction issue, is clear. Referring to his meeting (in 2006) with Sakie Yokota, the mother of abductee Megumi Yokota, President Bush said: "As a father of little girls, I can't imagine what it would be like to have my daughter just disappear." President Bush, a father of two daughters, also repeatedly indicated that the United States will not ignore the abandon issue or abandon Japan. At the same time, the President announced that the North's declaration of its nuclear programs and actions and the detonation of a cooling tower have been "verified," describing them as "a positive step." In connection with Washington's decision of take the North off its list of terrorist blacklist, President Bush also said: "North Korea is the most sanctioned nation in the world," adding, "We have other concerns, and one such concern, of course, is the abduction issue." There is visibly a difference in views between the United States and Japan, which puts high priority on the abduction issue. Meanwhile, touching on progress on the nuclear issue, Prime Minister Fukuda showed a degree of understanding toward America's policy, saying, "As far as the nuclear issue is concerned, we have moved on to a new phase," adding, "I think we need to make sure this will be successful. At the same time, in parallel, we need to bring the abduction issue to successful conclusion, as well." On the diplomatic front, President Bush, who will leave office in six months, cannot expect substantial results on any challenges other than the North Korean issue. In line with an agreement to handle the North's highly enriched uranium (HEU) program separately, Pyongyang's declaration did not include information on nuclear weapons that directly affect the security of Japan. The Bush administration still hailed Pyongyang's declaration as a "positive step" based on the principle of action for action, though with a tinge of wariness. The six-party talks are now approaching the end of the second phase consisting of disabling the North's nuclear facilities and the declaration of its nuclear programs. The focus is on whether Japan will join the program to provide 950,000 tons of heavy oil to the North. In the third phase, full-fledged energy aid to the North in return for dismantling nuclear facilities and abolishing nuclear weapons will be a subject of discussion. The gulf between the United States and Japan is likely to expand in this phase. A high-ranking U.S. official recently underlined the need to move the stalled plan to realign U.S. force in Japan forward. President Bush, too, called for Japan's cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on Iran's nuclear program. Security issues cover wide-ranging areas, including multilateral cooperation. If the TOKYO 00001844 006 OF 011 fissure between Washington and Tokyo deepens over the North Korean nuclear and the abduction issues, it might have a negative impact on the overall Japan-U.S. alliance. 7) "Golden age" of Japan-U.S. relations under Bush administration over MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) July 7, 2008 After his meeting with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday expressed his appreciation for Japan's contributions to Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to the Japan-U.S. summit yesterday, National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder told the press in a strong tone: "The Bush administration has built a golden age of the U.S.-Japan alliance." The more the significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance was underscored, the more the sense of exhilaration of the golden age was dampened. The terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, greatly changed the course of U.S. foreign policy. Then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately supported the U.S.-led war on terrorism. Along with Britain, Koizumi even supported the Bush administration's unilateral attack on Iraq in March 2003. Bush called Koizumi "his best friend." The Japan-U.S. golden era was strongly backed by the good relationship between Bush and Koizumi. Fukuda said yesterday that the cooperative relations between Japan and the United States have taken shape further and stabilized and that various types of cooperation have been carried out. To that end, the Japanese government has enacted security-related laws one after another. Japan dispatched its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to a battlefield for the first time in the postwar period. The meaning of the alliance has changed to the "Japan-U.S. alliance in the world." Pro-U.S. governments have been inaugurated in Germany and France, which opposed the United States when the Bush administration started the Iraq war, but the Koizumi government and the British government of Prime Minister Tony Blair have gone. Since Washington has now taken a policy of placing emphasis on international cooperation, the presence of Japan and Britain has generally weakened. Late last year, President Bush instructed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to produce some diplomatic achievements on North Korea. The President must be caught now between his desire for a historical legacy and his effort to place importance on the Japan-U.S. alliance. 8) The Bush administration and Japan: Time to rethink the practice of dickering over the price of the alliance; After 9/11, U.S. lost its room for maneuvering on security issues (Asahi) ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) July 4, 2008 By American Bureau Chief Yoichi Kato TOKYO 00001844 007 OF 011 President Bush's roundtable with the Japanese press on July 2 was probably the last such press conference he will do in office. That is because until next January, when he leaves the Oval Office, there are no plans for him to revisit Japan. Although it is still early, one can say that the Japan-U.S. alliance has reached a turning point with the ending of the Bush administration. Mr. Bush summed it up: "While I have been in office, the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship has become extremely good." He used the word "cornerstone" three times, in the sense that the U.S.' alliance relationship with Japan has been most important to America's Asia diplomacy. He even affirmed: "We no longer have to negotiate base issues. That is because our bilateral relationship has made it possible to manage such issues." However, the seven-year period since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. can be said to have been a severe time for Japan, in that the meaning of having an alliance with the United States has been put to the test. After 9/11, the U.S. lost any room for maneuvering in its alliance relationships, having turned its eyes away from anything except its own national security. After 9/11, when the government was presenting anti-terrorist special measures legislation to the Diet to make it possible (for the Self-Defense Forces) to carry out operations on the high seas in the Indian Ocean, a government official told a certain Diet member, "It is vital to Japan that the U.S. come to our aid should something happen on the Korean Peninsula." For Japan to have misgivings at the time about the U.S. possibly abandoning it on North Korea issues is indeed ironic. However, what seems to be the basis for such fear was the perceived limits of the alliance-management policy, namely, the practice of looking at the haggling or dickering over the price of the alliance while watching the reactions of the American side. It would be fine if the U.S. had the leeway to carefully watch out for Japanese interests, but after 9/11, everything changed. Instead, allies of the U.S. were faced with a difficult choice, undergoing a test of loyalty in which the U.S., no longer able to be content with the current state of old allies, evaluated them on whether they would join a new "coalition of the willing." As a result, when North Korea successfully carried out a nuclear test, it led to a diminution of the feeling that Japan was safe from nuclear attack, which had been the foundation of Japan's security. The Washington Post reported on July 2 that the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan in June was the highest there ever. Just when public security in Iraq has been recovering to a certain degree, the focal point of the U.S.' war on terror has shifted to Afghanistan. For Japan, this brings up the issue of whether to extend the Indian Ocean refueling law that expires next January. Why is it necessary to assist Afghanistan? In answering my question, the President replied: "It is because Al Qaeda is using (that country) as a safe haven from which it could even attack Japan." Expectations of Japan are high in the Obama camp, as well. It is doubtful that Japan really shares the threat consciousness that accompanies going beyond the risk until now of assisting the U.S. On global warming, the top item on the agenda of the Toyako Summit in Hokkaido, the President took a stance of avoiding a simple TOKYO 00001844 008 OF 011 compromise on setting a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which the Fukuda administration is aiming to achieve. The practice until now of niggling over the price of the alliance is a method by Japan that no longer passes U.S. muster. From now on, Japan, while carefully keeping an eye on its own national interests, must clearly be seen as doing what it must do in running its diplomacy. The seven and a half years of the Bush administration have taught Japan that reality. 9) Bush celebrates 62nd birthday with ballpark-shaped cake from Fukuda TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) July 7, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda threw a dinner party last night for U.S. President George W. Bush who turned 62 yesterday. The event was highlighted by a birthday cake for Bush from Fukuda that was in the shape of the ballpark of the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball team Bush co-owned. Bush said in appreciation: "When I was young, I thought 62 was old. I'm 62 now, and I don't feel that way at all. I am looking forward to riding a mountain bike during my stay in Japan." 10) Fukuda, Bush to attend Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony; "Sports and politics are two separate matters," two leaders say MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) July 7, 2008 In a joint press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and U.S. President George W. Bush expressed the significance of attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 8. The two leaders appear to have given consideration to China, which has come under criticism for cracking down on the riots in Tibet. Emphasizing that the Olympics are sports events, President Bush stated: "If we did not attend the opening ceremony, such would mean to insult the Chinese people. If not taking part, it would be difficult for us to hold frank discussions with Chinese leaders." The President indicated that he would urge Chinese President Hu Jintao in a meeting on July 9 to improve human rights and freedom of religion. Fukuda revealed for the first time his intention to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. He then said: "I would like to attend the opening ceremony with the hope that our neighboring country will become a healthy, bright country." 11) Fukuda officially announces his decision to attend Beijing Olympics opening ceremony TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) July 7, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda officially announced in a joint press conference after the Japan-U.S. summit yesterday that he will attend the August 5 opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. As the reason of his decision to addend the event, the prime minister said: "The Olympics is a sporting event, and we want people to really live up TOKYO 00001844 009 OF 011 to the spirit of the sports, sportsmanship. And I certainly encourage that." 12) U.S. cautious about long-term goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) July 7, 2008 U.S. President Bush remained cautious in a press conference held after a meeting with Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday about the goal of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This long-term goal will be a key theme of discussions on global warming at the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido. Fukuda said: "We will continue to work together at the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit." But the two leaders stopped short of any specific reference to the goal. The G-8 leaders are expected to endeavor to coordinate views on the long-term goal until the last minute of the summit. Bush emphasized: "I am a pragmatist. It will be impossible to resolve the problem unless China and India share our view," indicating his unwillingness to agree (on the long-term goal) at the G-8 Summit if China and India, whose greenhouse gas emissions are sharply increasing recently, do not agree on it. Japan, which chairs the G-8 Summit this year, is aiming at bringing about agreements on common goals among the G-8 nations and other matters in an effort to gain more results than at the G-8 Summit in Germany last year, in which the joint statement used this abstract expression: "The goal of halving gas emissions will be studied in a serious manner." Bush's remark yesterday in one sense indicates his disapproval of such an expectation by Japan. Meanwhile, Bush stated that the U.S. is also studying the possibility of issuing a constructive statement. This remark can be taken as indicating the President's eagerness to produce some results at the major economies' meeting (MEM) to be held under the lead of the U.S. on the last day of the G-8 Summit. The U.S. stance will inevitably incur criticism from European countries. A Foreign Ministry official said: "Various views were presented, but we would like to refrain from giving an explanation since negotiations on the contents of a joint document are now underway." 13) Japan, Russia to agree to cooperate in protecting environment in Okhotsk Sea SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) July 7, 2008 The leaders of Japan and Russia will agree in a bilateral meeting tomorrow to cooperate in protecting the environment in the Sea of Okhotsk, according to informed sources yesterday. Japan and Russia remain unable to resolve the pending Northern Territories issue, but they aim to build a cooperative relationship by jointly protecting the environment in the waters near the territories. The two governments have decided to cooperate in working out measures to protect the environment, including the protection of the ecosystem, in the waters between the two countries. China has contaminated the waters around Japan as a result of its rapid economic growth. TOKYO 00001844 010 OF 011 Observers expect that Japan and Russia will agree to examine the state of marine pollution and then to work out measures to protect the ecosystem. Strengthened measures by Japan and Russia to protect the environment in the waters near the two countries will lead to the security of marine resources such fishes and crabs. As a Chinese diplomatic source called Russia as "a great power from China's perspective," strengthened ties between Russia and Japan will work to apply political pressure to China. Climate and environment issues are high on the agenda at the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido. The government, while also placing emphasis on bilateral approaches, intends to make use of the Summit as an opportunity to "give specificity to what it should do with its neighbors," a government source said. By expanding cooperative ties with Russia in the environment sector, Japan aims to build a relationship of trust with that nation, with an eye on a settlement of the Northern Territories issue. 14) Government to provide India with yen loans of 30 billion yen as assistance to introduce energy-conserving machinery SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) July 6, 2008 It was learned yesterday that the government has firmed up its intention to provide India with yen loans worth 30 billion yen to assist that country in introducing energy-conserving machinery. The aim is to pressure India to adopt measures to counter global warming. At the Hokkaido Toyako Summit that opens on July 7, the focus will be on debating a post-Kyoto Protocol international framework for the period beyond 2013 aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. In that context, by strengthening energy-conservation assistance to India, a major gas emitter, Japan will urge that country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 15) North Korea Policy: Sense of frustration in both hard-line and dialogue favoring groups NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 7, 2008 A series of statements yesterday coming out of the ruling and opposition camps on the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korean agents revealed that there still is a lot of skepticism among lawmakers about the Bush administration's stance of cooperating on the abduction issue. A sense of impasse has emerged in both those favoring a hard-line approach toward Pyongyang and others who place priority on a dialogue with that country. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Committee on Abduction Issue Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa made this comment on yesterday's Japan-U.S. summit: "I felt a sense of aloofness (about the abduction issue). I don't expect much to happen at the Summit." In a national gathering on the abduction issue held in Matsuyama City, Takeo Hiranuma, chairman of the Parliamentary League for Early Repatriation of Japanese Citizens Kidnapped by North Korea, stressed: "There should be economic sanctions rather than a dialogue." Now rudderless since the U.S. decided to delist North Korea as a country sponsoring terrorism, many hard-liners find their level of frustration to be growing. On the other hand, Tetsundo Iwakuni, vice chairman of the TOKYO 00001844 011 OF 011 Parliamentary Group to Promote Normalization of Diplomatic Ties between Japan and North Korea, stated: "We should consider lifting sanctions only on humanitarian exchanges." Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama criticized the Japan-U.S. summit, saying: "The two leaders did not underscore the abductions. They held a perfunctory discussion." SCHIEFFER