TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - AFGHANISTAN AND

UNCLAS TOKYO 002894 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 - AFGHANISTAN AND FINANCIAL CRISIS ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Friday morning included the plunge in Tokyo stocks on Thursday. ¶2. "Broad View Needed for Afghanistan" The liberal Asahi editorialized (10/17): "...We should isolate the al-Qaeda terrorist network by seeking dialogue and achieving peace with moderates in the Taliban. Afghan President Karzai and the U.S. government recently recognized this possibility. At the same time, we should increase support for the reconstruction of the nation and quickly bring the dividends of peace to the Afghan people.... International frameworks for political, humanitarian, and military assistance to Afghanistan should be rebuilt. It may be difficult to hold in-depth discussions on the matter until a new U.S. administration is launched. Until then, cross-border attacks into Pakistan should be avoided so as not to complicate the situation." ¶3. "Financial Measures Not Sufficient" The moderate Yomiuri opined in an editorial (10/17): "...The U.S., the source of the current financial turmoil, needs to realize its responsibility to prevent the current financial crisis from developing into worldwide economic turmoil. All measures, including further interest rate cuts and an increase in public spending, are called for. The lessons of Japan, which overcame a crisis of its own using the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, may help the U.S." SCHIEFFER