Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO883
2008-04-01 08:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO9813 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0883 0920822 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010822Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3042 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6995 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9378 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5453 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7591 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0664 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2537 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2194 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8575 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9123 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000883
SIPDIS
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 - SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
IRAQ, NATO SUMMIT, AND PAKISTAN
UNCLAS TOKYO 000883
SIPDIS
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 - SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
IRAQ, NATO SUMMIT, AND PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave top
play to yesterday's expiration of gasoline surcharges
for road construction, noting that pump prices fell at
a number of stations across Japan at midnight.
2. "'Six-Day War' Highlights Instability" The liberal
Asahi reported from Cairo (4/1): "While the recent
battle between Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Army
of Shiite cleric al-Sadr, termed a 'Six-Day War,'
appears to be coming to an end, it demonstrates the
fragile security situation in Iraq, which had been said
to be improving. This conflict could have an impact on
the compilation of plans for a full-fledged pullout of
U.S. and British forces.... Prime Minister Maliki went
to Basra with the resolve that it be the final
showdown. However, as the battle demonstrated the
strength of the Mahdi Army while exposing the limit of
his security forces, the prime minister appears to have
little choice but to accept a 'truce' through
behind-the-scenes negotiations."
3. "Russia Determined to Prevent Encroachment into its
Backyard" A Moscow correspondent for the conservative
Sankei wrote (4/1): "Russia is deeply concerned about
NATO coming into its 'backyard,' namely Georgia and
Ukraine. President Putin considers the possibility of
their membership in NATO 'intolerable' and will use
every means available to prevent this from coming to
pass.... Putin is expected to attend a NATO session
scheduled for Friday. He apparently will attempt to
head off NATO's eastward expansion by NATO cargo bound
for Afghanistan to pass through Russian territory."
4. "Pakistan Opts for Dialogue to Combat Terrorism" The
conservative Sankei said in a report from Bangkok
(4/1): "In his key policy address on Saturday,
Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani revealed a change in
the country's hard line toward Islamic armed rebels by
declaring that he would hold talks with them. As the
prime minister has at the same time pledged to continue
the war on terrorism with the U.S., there appears to be
an inconsistency in his statements. The outlook for the
war on terrorism in Pakistan is becoming increasingly
murky."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
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 - SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
IRAQ, NATO SUMMIT, AND PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave top
play to yesterday's expiration of gasoline surcharges
for road construction, noting that pump prices fell at
a number of stations across Japan at midnight.
2. "'Six-Day War' Highlights Instability" The liberal
Asahi reported from Cairo (4/1): "While the recent
battle between Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Army
of Shiite cleric al-Sadr, termed a 'Six-Day War,'
appears to be coming to an end, it demonstrates the
fragile security situation in Iraq, which had been said
to be improving. This conflict could have an impact on
the compilation of plans for a full-fledged pullout of
U.S. and British forces.... Prime Minister Maliki went
to Basra with the resolve that it be the final
showdown. However, as the battle demonstrated the
strength of the Mahdi Army while exposing the limit of
his security forces, the prime minister appears to have
little choice but to accept a 'truce' through
behind-the-scenes negotiations."
3. "Russia Determined to Prevent Encroachment into its
Backyard" A Moscow correspondent for the conservative
Sankei wrote (4/1): "Russia is deeply concerned about
NATO coming into its 'backyard,' namely Georgia and
Ukraine. President Putin considers the possibility of
their membership in NATO 'intolerable' and will use
every means available to prevent this from coming to
pass.... Putin is expected to attend a NATO session
scheduled for Friday. He apparently will attempt to
head off NATO's eastward expansion by NATO cargo bound
for Afghanistan to pass through Russian territory."
4. "Pakistan Opts for Dialogue to Combat Terrorism" The
conservative Sankei said in a report from Bangkok
(4/1): "In his key policy address on Saturday,
Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani revealed a change in
the country's hard line toward Islamic armed rebels by
declaring that he would hold talks with them. As the
prime minister has at the same time pledged to continue
the war on terrorism with the U.S., there appears to be
an inconsistency in his statements. The outlook for the
war on terrorism in Pakistan is becoming increasingly
murky."
SCHIEFFER