TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-IRAQ SECURITY PACT

UNCLAS TOKYO 003170 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 - U.S.-IRAQ SECURITY PACT AND PAKISTAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged the one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa on Monday, during which Ozawa reportedly urged Aso to submit a second supplementary budget bill to the current Diet session. ¶2. "Source of Conflict Remains over Waiver of Criminal Prosecution" On the U.S.-Iraq security pact that will govern U.S. troops in Iraq beyond January, a Cairo correspondent for the liberal Asahi wrote (11/18): "The biggest factor that prolonged bilateral negotiations was the issue of waiving criminal prosecution for U.S. personnel who commit crimes, as well as a timetable for a U.S. pullout.... The U.S. has agreed that Iraq will have jurisdiction in cases of serious crimes committed by service members while off duty. However, a final draft of the bilateral pact states that U.S. authorities are granted right to determine whether a crime was committed 'off duty.' It remains to be seen whether the Iraqi parliament will endorse this point. The Iraqis are focused on this matter, given that many have suffered from accidents and incidents (involving U.S. personnel)." ¶3. "Concern About Pakistan Sliding into Civil War" The liberal Mainichi reported from New Delhi (11/18): "Concern is mounting in Pakistan about President-elect Obama, as he during the campaign expressed his readiness to carry out cross-border missile attacks from Afghanistan and to deploy ground troops in Pakistan. In view of Pakistan's continued military operations against Taliban-affiliated militias in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the security situation in Pakistan is at the worst level since the nation's founding, with its economy on the verge of collapse. There exists a sense of crisis in Pakistan over the country possibly falling into civil war if U.S. pressure continues." SCHIEFFER