TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 002634 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning included the Japanese securities firm Nomura Holdings' agreement with Lehman Brothers to purchase the U.S. company's European and Middle Eastern operations in addition to its Asia-Pacific business. ¶2. "Concern about Pakistan Becoming Asia's Arms Market" The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (9/24): "...The bombing of a Marriot Hotel in Islamabad appears to have been a cowardly attack by Islamist extremists on President Zardari, who has limited political experience and is following in the path of his assassinated wife former President Bhutto. How will he contain these armed insurgents? The situation facing Zardari is serious.... A split has emerged with the U.S., which was a close ally of Pakistan under the Musharraf government.... The people of Pakistan are living in dire poverty due to rising oil and food prices. Their anger is aimed at the Zardari administration and the U.S. We need to prevent Pakistan from being caught in a vicious circle of anti-American sentiment and poverty that would lead its people to carry out suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism that would only worsen such problems. We must also not allow Pakistan to become Asia's arms market." SCHIEFFER