MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA-NEW

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000170 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: PRESIDENT OBAMA-NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY, SRI LANKA; 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. -------------- -------------- PRESIDENT OBAMA-NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY -------------- -------------- ¶1. "OBAMA'S SIGNAL TO PAKISTAN" editorial in the January 28, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily NAVASHAKTI. "Two U.S. missile strikes that killed at least 20 people at suspected terrorist hideouts in northwestern Pakistan three days ago could be interpreted as a tangible sign of U.S. President Barack Obama's definite policy to curb terrorist insurgency in Pakistan. In fact, Pakistan seems to have gotten the message, as is manifest in the recent softened stance of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Gilani, who at one point disregarded any piece of evidence provided by India, has now expressed exceptional readiness to expose the hidden hands behind the terrorist attacks in Mumbai..." ¶2. "CONGRATULATIONS... BUT BEWARE" op-ed article by member of Indian parliament and former editor Bharatkumar Raut in the January 28, 2009, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "The American people do not wish to be part of any military aggression or preemptive strike in any part of the world. Weary of the Bush administration's war-mongering, Americans are finding it difficult to cope with the self-imposed world policing. The point is whether the Obama administration will be able to avoid involvement in prolonged wars and war-like missions. The American economy has so far served the interests of the weapon manufacturers - the war- profiteers who draw maximum benefits from wars waged by the U.S. government. Will Obama be able to survive, politically, if the interests of this lobby are not served?.." -------------- SRI LANKA -------------- ¶3. "SRI LANKA'S VICTORY" editorial in the January 28, 2009 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "Sri Lanka has triumphed in decimating the scourge of terrorism that ravaged peace in this island nation for the past two decades... Without taking any outside help, the Sri Lankan army maintained their calm and followed a calibrated strategy while advancing into the LTTE strongholds leaving the terrorists with no option but to surrender.... The Sri Lankan army deserves all the credit for their operations. The government has set an example by decimating this nuisance and ensuring that its citizens do not fall victim to such mindless acts of terrorism any longer." MULFORD