MEDIA REACTION: WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, U.S.-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001565 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: WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, U.S.- INDIA RELATIONS; 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. -------------- WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶1. "WELCOMING ARIHANT: INDIA NEEDS TO BE ALERT TO A POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM THE SEA," editorial in July 28 centrist Marathi daily, LOKMAT: "India's naval defense preparedness has taken a decisive leap forward with the launch of the first indigenously-built nuclear powered submarine, INS Arihant, which has the capability to fire nuclear weapons from the sea as well as land and air. Considering that India has deceitful neighbors like Pakistan, who have repeatedly backstabbed India using newer and increasingly ingenious technology, a country like India should be in a state of permanent military alert. After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India has to keep a stricter vigil on the sea which was used by terrorist outfits to unsettle the financial capital." ¶2. "NEW GRAMMAR OF WAR," editorial in Chennai-based pro-DMK Tamil daily, DINAKARAN: "Countries of the world were shocked to see the way in which the US has wiped out the key leaders of Al-Qaeda. The United State has executed these attacks through tiny aircrafts by way of remote control operation. It was all done brilliantly that the US not lost even a single soldier in the action. In another way, the US has rewritten the grammar of war." -------------- U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS -------------- ¶3. "U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS," op-ed in July 27 right of center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "It is natural to raise questions about the U.S. condition of surveillance of its weapons and technology, but India has also added its conditions on the date and time of surveillance. The U.S. cannot make unilateral changes in this. The end-use agreement ends India's dependence on Russia, France and Israel for its defense equipment and requirements. In fact, all three agreements in the defense, space and the science and technology sectors are in India's interest. Ms. Hillary Clinton clarified that the U.S. government will not become a hurdle in the implementation of the U.S.-India nuclear deal. Both countries are holding talks in Geneva to resolve the enrichment and fuel reprocessing technology dispute. Under these circumstances, the current opposition in India to the agreements made during Secretary Clinton's visit is illogical. India's defense ties with the U.S. are important in all respects and the matter should be seen from this viewpoint." ¶4. "CHANGE IN U.S. INDIA POLICY NECESSARY," analysis in NEW DELHI 00001565 002 OF 002 July 27 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "The U.S. has always had a switch on-switch off relationship with India. One moment it extends a hand of friendship and the other moment it fears that this may get the latter in a challenging position. The U.S. and India consider themselves strategic partners, but it does not seem so from the civil nuclear deal, and the three agreements signed during Secretary Clinton's visit. The strategic partnership should be based on equality. India will purchase its technology, which will be in the interest of the collapsing U.S. economy, but the U.S. makes it seem as if it is doing India a favor. If the U.S. wants to have genuine relations with India, it will have to shed its adhoc-ism. An example for the U.S. should be the longstanding India-Russia friendship." ¶5. "WHERE WILL IT END?" editorial in Chennai-based right-of-center Tamil daily, DINAMANI: "Congress party leaders had earlier seen the US-India civil nuclear deal as a great victory for Indian diplomacy. But to their discontent, the US has come up with a rider now- the deal is linked with signing of NPT! The United States, through this demand, has subtly indicated that India should first relinquish its non-aligned policy to become a slave to it (the US). As India is in a fix now, we do not know where this imbroglio will lead to." ROEMER