MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001107

STATE FOR SCA/INSB, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, PGOV, OPRC, NP
SUBJ: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH ON
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

1. SUMMARY: Nepal's largest vernacular daily
"Kantipur", with circulation of 150,000, ran an OP-
ED in its December 4, 2009 edition about the
President's address on the way forward in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. The piece entitled
"Obama's trial in Afghanistan" was written by a
Nepali journalist and columnist. Reiterating the
President's statement, the piece said that the U.S.
security was at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It further said that unless the Taliban and Al Qaeda
are quelled in Pakistan and Afghanistan, 'Uncle Sam'
would always be under threat. It also said that the
American victory would be uncertain without first
winning the confidence of the nuclear powers
Pakistan, India and China.

TRANSLATED EXCERPTS:

2. "His serious concern could be guided by the
strategy aimed at boosting the morale of the US and
NATO troops fighting against the Taliban and Al-
Qaeda. It could also be due to mounting internal
pressure against the 900 soldiers killed in the
eight-year long unpopular and expensive war. Or it
could be a combined form of real security threats
and to provide a psychological boost needed fight
this decisive war."

3. "As Obama said, America's national security
after 9/11 indeed depends on Afghanistan and
Pakistan. In other words, unless Al-Qaeda and the
Taliban are quelled, Uncle Sam would always be under
threat."

4. "But can Afghanistan's problems be solved by war
and the deployment of around 150,000 troops? The aim
of the American coalition is not just to ensure that
the controversial and corruption-ridden Karzai
government stays in power. If the US wants to
establish a free and sovereign Afghanistan, it
should first be able to win the confidence of Asian
and South Asian countries. There is doubt that
America can win this war without first winning the
confidence of nuclear powers Pakistan, India and
China. Could the deployment of additional 30,000
troops result into a never-ending war and
instability in Asia and South Asia? Obama hasn't
satisfactorily addressed these issues."

5. "America and China are competing to be the
world's superpower. China will be the happiest
country the day America's Afghanistan policy fails,
because this would cause a stain on Washington and
of which Beijing will undoubtedly take full
advantage. That is why Obama needed to win the
confidence of China."

6. "Another aspect is Pakistan. Pakistan's initial
public response that it will evaluate the review
policy cautiously means that Pakistan's support
cannot be expected, even though 2.3 of the total 680
billion dollar US defense budget has been set aside
for Pakistan's security. Despite setting aside so
much money for Pakistan, the US doesn't seem to be
getting Islamabad's full support because of its
nuclear pact with India."

BERRY