MEDIA REACTION: BANGLADESH, UNITED STATES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000359

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: BANGLADESH, UNITED STATES,
PAKISTAN; 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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BANGLADESH
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1. "THE REBELLION IN BANGLADESH" editorial in the
February 26, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi
daily SAKAAL. "In a land that has witnessed several
rebellions in the recent past, the latest uprising of the
Bangladesh Rifles (BR - paramilitary troops) is the most
shameful in Bangladesh's history. It is shocking that
nearly 50 people were killed when the BR mutinied over a
pay dispute at their headquarters in Dhaka. The uprising
in the capital underscored the challenges facing the new
Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, and the mutinous
soldiers are a prime security concern for neighboring
India as well. The Bangladesh Rifles are a notorious and
corrupt paramilitary force known for its anti-India
activities. They are responsible for most of the 100,000+
unauthorized Bangladeshis infiltrating India." A
similar editorial appeared in centrist Marathi daily
LOKMAT of February 26, 2009.


2. "MILITARY MUTINY IN BANGLADESH" editorial in the
February 26, 2009 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati
daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "The discontent among the
Bangladeshi Rifles was so enormous that their soldiers
targeted its headquarters and held officers hostage.
This incident highlights the inflammatory nature of the
current situation, despite the establishment of a
democratically elected government. Terrorist
organizations like Al Qaeda keep a hawk's eye on such a
situations, and take full advantage to spread their
nefarious activities. It is high time for Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina to take corrective measures to avoid the
recurrence of such incidents."


3. "BDR REVOLT IN BANGLADESH," editorial in the February
26 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali BARTAMAN "The development in
Bangladesh is a matter of deep concern for India. If the
BDR mutiny gets support from a section of the Bangladesh
army the situation may turn even more dangerous. It would
be good both for Bangladesh and India if the crisis is
settled amicably. Otherwise, the Hasina government will
be in difficulty and India too will not be in a
comfortable position."

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UNITED STATES
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4. "BARACK OBAMA'S LITMUS TEST BEGINS NOW" editorial in
the February 26, 2009 Mumbai-based right-of-center
Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. "After completing a
month in office, Barack Obama's popularity ratings are
dipping, if one is to believe the reports appearing in
the American media. Obama's popular slogan 'Yes we can'

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hasn't proved to be magical in making any significant
impact thus far. While all this is true, it would be
unfair to expect Obama to deliver results considering
there are soaring expectations for him under challenging
circumstances. Having said that, the Obama
administration faces herculean tasks. Resurrecting the
economy, withdrawal from Iraq, and confronting enormous
challenges in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region are some of
the major ones. Besides, one can only hope that the
stimulus packages will yield results if they work out as
planned. Never in the history of American politics has
the U.S. President grappled with such enormous challenges
as Obama is now. All eyes are focused on this hopeful
president who faces a real litmus test."


5. "OBAMA ERECTING WALLS AROUND AMERICA" editorial in
the February 26, 2009 multi-edition centrist Gujarati
daily DIVYA BHASKAR. "President Obama is erecting a
protectionist wall around America to safeguard the
economy and bring back lost jobs. This is clear in his
inaugural address to the Congress stating that his
administration won't provide tax relief to American
companies outsourcing their jobs offshore. The immediate
impact will be felt by Indian IT companies, who are the
largest beneficiaries of such IT enabled services in the
BPO sector. We do not know yet whether or not such a
step might also benefit the companies. This also
indicates a policy shift from the previous
administration. While it is certainly bad news for India,
we also need to understand that such a step was in the
offing considering the prevailing economic scenario in
the United States, where hundreds of thousands of people
have lost their jobs. Obama is addressing and pleasing
his domestic constituency."

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PAKISTAN
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6. "PAKISTAN-I-TALIBAN?" editorial-page article in the
February 26 independent Kolkata Bengali ANANDABAZAR
PATRIKA by Assistant Editor Semanti Ghosh. "The western
part of Pakistan will become a sanctuary of the joint
forces and resources of al-Qaeda and the Taliban if
things continue this way. Whether or not other parts of
the country will also come under their control in the
near future is hard to say. Pakistani political workers,
service members, the middle class, and even media people
who have a hardcore attitude have already inclined toward
the Taliban. The Punjab province in East Pakistan poses
the main concern. Once the Punjabi military and
diplomatic associations mingle with the Taliban ideology,
the source of danger will not be far from the Indian
border. The mainstream Obama Administration is confident
that Islamabad is going the wrong way. The danger cannot
be averted by making compromises. Obama believes that
former President Bush made the greatest diplomatic
blunder by ignoring the drug-Taliban-fundamentalist-
terrorism network of Afghanistan. Still, Islamabad is on
the forefront of the battle against the Taliban. Both
India and the U.S. would suffer if Islamabad is put into

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much difficulty."
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