Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO375
2009-02-19 01:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - AFGHANISTAN AND RESCUE

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO JA 
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UNCLAS TOKYO 000375 

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 - AFGHANISTAN AND RESCUE
OF GM

UNCLAS TOKYO 000375

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 - AFGHANISTAN AND RESCUE
OF GM


1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning
included Prime Minister Aso's meeting yesterday with
Russian President Medvedev in Sakhalin.


2. "Vietnam Syndrome Still Haunts (U.S.)" On President
Obama's decision to beef up U.S. troops in Afghanistan,
a Washington correspondent for the liberal Asahi wrote
(2/19): "The security situation in Afghanistan has
deteriorated so rapidly that President Obama had no
choice but to commit additional troops before devising
a long-term strategic plan. With the phrase 'rerun of
Vietnam and Iraq' being already circulated in
Washington, concerns are mounting that the U.S. again
will find itself in a quagmire in Afghanistan."


3. "Obama Administration to Face Crucial Moment" The
liberal Mainichi reported (2/19): "With President
Obama's decision to deploy additional 17,000 troops,
the U.S. war on terrorism in Afghanistan, which started
in October 2001, is now entering into a new stage. From
now on, it will be regarded as 'Obama's war' and the
President will be heavily criticized if his deployment
plan fails to produce results."


4. "Will President Obama Offer Additional Support?" On
the submission of a new set of business revival plans
by GM, the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (2/19): "GM's restructuring plan was
insufficient in key elements in that it failed to
stipulate how to reduce the snowballing deficit topping
$60 billion and to scale down comparatively high labor
costs.... If the automaker fails to come up with extra
cost cutting measures, the Obama administration would
not be able to provide the additional money, which
would result in corporate bankruptcy. That scenario
could be catastrophic for Japanese auto makers and
component suppliers as well."

ZUMWALT