MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN, PALESTINE / GAZA

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN, PALESTINE / GAZA
INCURSION, IRAN / PALESTINE, INDIA-SRI LANKA 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.

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AFGHANISTAN
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1. "OBAMA'S AFGHANISTAN POLICY," editorial in January 23
centrist Cuttack Oriya daily SAMAJA. "President Obama's
plan to deploy 30,000 troops to Afghanistan to intensify
the war on terror has received only lukewarm response
from the European nations. At the upcoming April 3 NATO
Summit Obama will seek the allies' support for his anti-
terror moves. Response from Germany, which does not
approve of the Obama plan, and Pakistan, which has some
reservations, will be crucial. It seems military
operations in Afghanistan will be strengthened in the
coming days. This will make fundamentalists stir the
anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. In this situation
Obama will be compelled to review the diplomatic ties
with Islamabad which may result in a shift in America's
South Asia policy."

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PALESTINE / GAZA INCURSION
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2. "IDEAL COURAGE BY TURKEY", editorial in February 3
right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad: "The
courage and boldness shown by Turkish Prime Minister
Tayyib Erdghan at the World Economic Forum's session is
extremely laudable. Israel's aggression on Gaza continues
on one pretext or another. People affected by bombardment
and missile attacks on Gaza are facing severe misery and
troubles. But the Arab and Muslim rulers are mute
spectators, even today. Consider the speech delivered by
the Turkish Prime Minister as a first drop of rain; it is
high time Muslim rulers start criticizing and condemning
Israel and America, in strict words, so that the flag
bearer of Change, President Obama, and his special envoy
realize the environment and atmosphere around Israel has
been changed. On the other hand, there are Arab countries
that can pressure America and its western allies using
their oil wealth, but they lack the required courage,
boldness, sense of brotherhood and sympathy. They are
habitually making appeals and requests. And this weakness
of theirs is the basis of Israel's strength."


3. "WALKOUT BY TURKISH PRIME MINISTER IS A LESSON",
editorial in February 3 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA
SAMAJ, New Delhi: "Had the leaders of the Islamic world,
particularly the extravagant leaders of the Arab world,
realized the feelings of millions of their people, they
too would have walked out of the meeting along with the
Turkish Prime Minister. Their gesture would have made
Israel and their western supporters think twice about
their deeds. It would have provided Israel with an
opportunity to admit its wrongs. If Arab rulers and other

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rulers of the Islamic world had no chance to stop Israeli
aggression, they could have broken their silence at last.
But they have become mute spectators because of the fear
of America and Israel. Millions of people throughout the
length and breadth of the globe applaud the ideal
attitude of the Turkish Prime Minister."

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IRAN / PALESTINE
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4. "REHEARSAL OF ATTACK ON IRAN", editorial in February 3
right-of-center Urdu daily URDU TIMES, Mumbai: "Since the
time Obama entered the White House, dissension throughout
the Muslim world has suggested that Muslims, in a
nutshell, have not learnt any lesson from America and
Israel. Muslims around the globe seem to be happy and
satisfied with President Obama's inaugural remarks. It is
now quite evident that there are preparations being made
to victimize Muslims deceptively. In my opinion, such
remarks aim at deceiving Muslims. One important Israeli
diplomat said that the attack on Gaza is, in fact, a
rehearsal of possible Israeli attacks on Iran. We can
guess the next three or four years are important for the
entire Middle East. So far as America is concerned, the
change in leadership there does not matter. Israel's
safety and security is the axis of American foreign
policy. It matters little whether it is Bush or Obama,
unless the forces of the Middle East like Hizbullah and
Hamas rise in support of Iran."

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INDIA-SRI LANKA RELATIONS
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5. "AFTER THE LTTE'S DEFEAT.." op-ed article by retired
major general Shashikant Pitre in the February 4, 2009,
Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. "Even as
the war between the separatist LTTE and the Sri Lankan
army is about to end, India needs to help the Sri Lankan
government reach a political settlement in this regard.
The average Tamil citizen in Sri Lanka is feeling
increasingly insecure because he is being equated with
the separatists. With general elections just a few months
away in India, the UPA-led Indian government cannot
afford to be seen to be irresponsive to Tamil sentiment
and demands, since the Sri Lankan Tamils have an impact
on the votes in Tamil Nadu. India is generally expected
to stand up for the Tamils in every possible way. India
needs to play a constructive role in bringing peace in
Sri Lanka, and not just for narrow electoral reasons, but
also in the interest of stability in South Asia..."
MULFORD