Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Afghan Presidential Election

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UNCLAS TOKYO 001934

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 - AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

1. LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Nikkei and Yomiuri gave top play
to their predictions about the August 30 general election, with both
pointing to a landslide victory for the DPJ.

2. "Rough Road Ahead toward Self-Reliance" The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote from Kabul (8/20): "The Afghan presidential
election was aimed at ending the nearly eight years of confusion
following the collapse of the Taliban government and demonstrating
the country's 'self-reliance' both at home and abroad. With
terrorist attacks occurring across the nation, the election ended up
exposing a rough road ahead toward self-reliance."

3. "Dawn of New Era of Confusion?" The conservative Sankei stated
(8/20): "The fact that [Afghan voters] cast their ballots at
heavily-guarded polling stations across the country illustrated that
the security situation is still declining.... The challenge of
restoring order and carrying out reconstruction will be passed on to
the administration that emerges after the election. However, the
election, depending on its results, may mark the opening of a new
chapter of confusion."

4. "War on Terror Looming Large behind Election" The liberal
Mainichi reported from Kabul (8/20): "President Karzai expressed his
intention to begin dialogue with the Taliban and also engaged in
campaign cooperation with the former military leaders who were
involved in a massacre that took place in the civil war in the
1990s. These moves were intended to improve his declining
popularity. However, he stopped short of proposing a clear path
toward the 'end of war.' His opponents also failed to do so.
Regardless of who is elected as the next leader, there is no light
at the end of the tunnel in sight for the post-election Afghan
situation."

ROOS

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