MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN, PALESTINE / GAZA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000214 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: 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. -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶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." -------------- PALESTINE / GAZA INCURSION -------------- ¶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 NEW DELHI 00000214 002 OF 002 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." -------------- IRAN / PALESTINE -------------- ¶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." -------------- INDIA-SRI LANKA RELATIONS -------------- ¶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