MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, PAKISTAN, IRAQ; NEW

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001397 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, PAKISTAN, IRAQ; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶1. "NORTH KOREA'S FRUSTRATION," editorial in July 6 right-of-center Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "What is wrong with North Korea? It again test fired missiles Thursday and Saturday, in complete disregard of international opinion. What was Pyongyang trying to convey by testing on the U.S. Independence Day? Today, North Korea is on the verge of collapse because of its own mistakes. North Koreans are dying of hunger and no nation except China wants to help. What is the use of this misplaced bravado? Pyongyang is failing on both internal and external fronts and its recent act is an expression of this frustration. North Korea is already isolated, and if its people take to the streets, it will become very difficult to save it from collapse. North Korea should be a lesson for Pakistan, which is internally failing but not willing to mend its ways." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶2. "EYE ON LASHKAR," editorial in July 6 centrist Hindi daily, HINDUSTAN: "In the eyes of the western world Pakistan is fighting against terrorism. At the same time, however, it continues to support terrorists. Al- Qaida is protecting its existence by merging into Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. Lashkar is slowly replacing Al-Qaida with the help of the ISI. Now Lashkar poses a danger to the entire world by becoming an international organization. Pakistan specializes in the genetic breeding of terrorism. Besides Lashkar, the United Nations and U.S. organizations will have to think about controlling the ISI too. That will be good for Pakistan itself." -------------- IRAQ -------------- ¶3. "IRAQ WAR: A HEAVY PRICE PAID BY AMERICA," op-ed article in July 7 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHANAGAR: "The U.S. mission in Iraq has affected America in terms of political power, popularity, and global prestige. In what could be termed as one of the worst ever foreign policy decisions, Iraq has literally drained the American economy at a time when the global recession has already ripped the world apart. The world is asking America if the loss of lives and dollars in Iraq was worth it. America did not get any WMDs in Iraq, neither did it lay its hands on any oil reserves." BURLEIGH