TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - FINANCIAL CRISIS AND AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 002120 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 - FINANCIAL CRISIS AND AFGHANISTAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Monday morning included competition between American Airlines and Delta Airlines to take control of ailing Japan Air Lines. ¶2. "'Irresponsible' Corporate Culture Remains Unchanged" On the collapse of Lehman Brothers a year ago, the liberal Mainichi editorialized (8/14): "The U.S. and European governments scrambled to head off the collapse of another financial institution like Lehman Brothers by injecting public funds and setting up business consolidations. Worst-case scenarios were averted as a result, but serious problems also emerged. An environment was created in which 'irresponsibility' runs rampant. In the U.S., small financial organizations have gone bankrupt one after another, while large institutions have been bailed out and are now poised to grow even larger.... The governments of major countries must not allow financial institutions to become bloated. The G20 is discussing a mechanism in which even a giant bank can go bankrupt in an orderly manner, but questions remain about the effectiveness of such a system. Instead, serious consideration should be given to measures aimed at preventing [institutions] from becoming overly large." ¶3. "For Whom Is the War Being Fought?" The liberal Mainichi reported from Afghanistan (9/14): "Afghan President Karzai is attaching importance to collaboration with regional armed groups, including the Taliban, who are regarded by the U.S. and Europeans as 'war criminals.' Although criticism runs deep within the U.S. and Europe, it is true that these warlords are gathering public support in selected regions and among certain tribes. A senior Afghan government official explained that [collaboration with regional armed groups] is a defensive measure aimed at preventing a civil war from breaking out following the withdrawal of foreign troops. For whom is this war being fought and who is paying the price? There are no Afghans who believe that the war is for them." ROOS