Cablegate: Media Reaction Q Lebanon Crisis - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 004134

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION Q LEBANON CRISIS - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged a
WTO decision to suspend the ongoing Doha Round talks due
to differences among member nations on agricultural trade
reforms.

1. "Dispatch of European Troops the First Step to
Resolving Lebanon Crisis" An editorial in the
conservative Sankei commented (7/25): "Though it has been
two weeks since the Israeli military began action against
Hezbollah in Lebanon, the situation appears to be taking
a turn for the worse rather than for the better. Against
this backdrop, a proposal has surfaced for NATO forces
led by European nations to be sent to Lebanon to contain
the crisis. Major European nations strongly support the
plan, and Israel and the US are inclined to accept it.
Given concerns that an unchecked crisis could lead to an
Israeli attack on Syria and a growing regional conflict,
we support the idea of dispatching European forces to
quickly contain the crisis."

2. "Lebanon: Measures Must be Taken to Avoid Spilling
Civilian Blood" The liberal Mainichi editorialized
(7/25): "Although the fighting has been escalating and
the number of civilian casualties increasing day by day,
the international community has yet to take any effective
measures. The US, Israel's ally, is allowing the
situation to continue, contending that calling for a
ceasefire without the proper political conditions is
meaningless.... The number of dead on both sides has now
surpassed 400. With the Middle East engulfed in flames,
why does the US refrain from calling for a ceasefire?
Given that it has touted a foreign policy based on human
rights, the Bush administration's stance is hard to
fathom."

SCHIEFFER

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