TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN AND IRAQ

UNCLAS TOKYO 000211 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN AND IRAQ ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning included the successful development by Japanese researchers of a new vaccine that appears to be effective in animal tests against all types of influenza. ¶2. "Dark Clouds Hanging over Obama-led War on Terror" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun's correspondent reported from Bangkok (1/29): "U.S. forces in Afghanistan have continued cross-border missile attacks against Taliban operatives in Pakistan, unleashing strong resentment among local residents against the Obama administration. If such strikes continue, the civilian government in Islamabad would have little choice but to become critical of the U.S. in the face of mounting pressure by domestic Islamic fundamentalists. It is possible that President Obama' policy of winning the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan will hit a snag within only months of assuming the presidency." ¶3. "Political Landscape in Iraq to Change after Local Elections" On upcoming nationwide local elections in Iraq on Saturday, a Baghdad-based reporter for the top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote (1/29): "The nationwide polls, a prelude to the parliamentary elections scheduled for December, will be a litmus test of domestic stability, as well as of President Obama's announced commitment to pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq.... The elections will offer a glimpse of who will have a big say in a post 'U.S.-occupation' Iraq. As most of the major local parties have their own militias, there is the possibility that violence will erupt among them over the election results, which in turn may affect the timetable for U.S. military withdrawal." ZUMWALT