MEDIA REACTION: HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002313 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: HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, POTUS ASIA TRIP, AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS; 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. -------------- HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶1. "HALF-BAKED EVIDENCE," editorial in November 16 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Anti-India terror plotters David Headley and Tahawwur Rana are in the net thanks to America's FBI. The sorry Indian intelligence has once again been caught napping. May we ask Home Minister P Chidambaram why the Indian intelligence was twiddling its thumbs while Headley was camping in India and plotting terror? Indian investigators who visited the U.S. did not get access to the two terrorists. If the U.S. wants to cooperate with India, it will have to go the whole hog and give us access to the culprits." ¶2. "HEADLEY'S `DISCOVERY OF INDIA'," editorial in November 17 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "The investigation of the terror network set up in India by LeT operative David Headley have revealed that Headley had visited India at least five times, using a fake passport. He was involved with a LeT sleeper cell in Mumbai. These revelations only prove one fact - the ease with which terrorists from across the India- Pakistan border can move around in India, particularly Mumbai..." ¶3. "MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS: STILL AWAITING ACTION," editorial in November 17 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "It is worrying indeed that the bulletproof jacket worn by ATS chief late Hemant Karkare during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks has gone missing. More than a logistical blunder, the development raises very serious questions on the manner in which the attack is being investigated. At a time when India is supposed to strategically counter Pak- sponsored terrorism, a mere jacket cannot be preserved safely..." ¶4. "TAKING 9/11 CASES TO GROUND ZERO," editorial in right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "The world's faith in U.S. democracy and judiciary has been shaken with the passing time. That is why the Obama administration has announced civil trials of the 9/11 cases. We have to watch how Obama maintains America's moral supremacy over the world when the 9/11 cases are brought to trial in a civilian court." -------------- POTUS ASIA TRIP -------------- ¶5. "OBAMA'S ASIAN MANTRA," op-ed in November 16 right- of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "India does not NEW DELHI 00002313 002 OF 002 figure anywhere in President Obama's ongoing Asian tour. Instead, India's Prime Minister will meet Obama later in Washington. There was a time when Asia meant India, but not anymore! China has overtaken India and has taken the prime place in Asia. It is quite evident that United States wants to keep in China's good books, despite the latter's human rights violations. That is why Obama declined a meeting with the Dalai Lama. All to keep Beijing in good humor! Obama wants U.S. goods to enter the Asian marketplace, so that his country can tide over the recession. For that, he is prepared to overlook China's wrongdoings." -------------- AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS -------------- ¶6. "U.S. SHAMELESSNESS IN AFGHAN ELECTIONS," op-ed in November 16 right-of-center Urdu daily, SAHAFAT: "The U.S wants to push South Asian countries on the verge of destruction, with the motive of tightening its grip over the region. It has already trapped and destroyed Pakistan, and is eyeing India and China. In Afghanistan, the U.S. has shamelessly violated the electoral process, inciting more Afghans to join groups who hate America." ROEMER