MEDIA REACTION: STATE OF THE UNION,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000227 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: STATE OF THE UNION, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS; 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. -------------- STATE OF THE UNION -------------- ¶1. "OBAMA IN SEARCH OF AN ENEMY," op-ed in February 2 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "From President Barack Obama's State of the Union address it appears as if he has found a new enemy in the form of the fast growing economies, India and China. The Obama Administration is trying to tell Americans that Indians and Chinese are responsible for their economic and financial problems. Obama has called for a check on outsourcing business processes. If he really wants healthy competition, he should not resort to protectionism. Instead, he should go for an internal assessment of America's economic systems. Does Obama have the courage to do so, or will he -- like former presidents -- perpetuate the policy of fighting against an imaginary enemy?" -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶2. "INDIA'S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN," op-ed in February 2 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The Afghanistan conference in London came up with new formulas. The U.S. and its allies now are concentrating on peace in Afghanistan instead of eliminating terrorism, because it is turning out to be very expensive. If the U.S. leaves Afghanistan without wiping out the Taliban, it will become impossible for the Afghanistan administration to handle them. This will also jeopardize India's strong position in Afghanistan." ¶3. "AMERICA LIAISES WITH THE 'GOOD TALIBAN' BUT IS THERE ONE?" editorial in February 3 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "The U.S. is now desperate to move out of Afghanistan. But since there is no visible end to the aggression over there, nor is there an end to the hostilities between the U.S.-led occupation forces and the extremist groups like the Taliban, the Obama administration is toying with the idea of negotiations with `the good Taliban.' The Obama administration is not just desperate, but also ignorant and naive to believe that there is a moderate faction in the Taliban which will help the U.S. to accomplish its mission in Afghanistan. It does not take a political commentator to predict how violent this moderate faction will turn once the U.S. is out of Afghanistan." -------------- PAKISTAN NEW DELHI 00000227 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶4. "PAKISTAN PLAYING WITH DANGER," op-ed in January 31 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin has said after his recent Pakistan-visit that he does not have much expectations from Islamabad in the war against terrorism. He thinks that it is a matter of will, and a strong political decision is needed. Despite all efforts, the U.S. has failed in getting assurances from Pakistan to act against terrorist organizations. Pakistan knows if the terrorist network is destroyed, U.S. aid to Pakistan will stop. A joint U.S.-India review of Pakistan's duplicity is a must." -------------- SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶5. "TENSION IN SINO-U.S. RELATIONSHIP," editorial in February 2 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Tension escalated between China and the U.S. over the alleged sale of weapons to Taiwan. America is reeling under an economic crisis these days. Countries like China, Japan and India are giving the U.S. stiff competition. Under the circumstances, the so-called champion of peace is left with only one source of income -- arms trade. That is why even today America is the biggest arms-trader." ROEMER